Piccolino in Manchester

The level is quite high, both in terms of service and food

Lovely meal with a group of friends food was delicious and service excellent highly recommend

This was my second visit to your restaurant. The first time, I came to celebrate my husband’s birthday, and the experience was brilliant. The service, especially from Hana, was excellent, making me feel like I had to return. However, today’s service was very disappointing. I came to celebrate my third wedding anniversary with my husband, but the experience did not meet expectations. Our assigned server was busy, so we initially waited for him. Another server approached us and asked if we were ready to order. Since we were, we placed our order with him instead. During the ordering process, the steak I originally wanted was sold out, so I had to choose another. However, the server did not ask how I wanted my steak cooked or which sauce I preferred—he simply made a decision himself and asked if it was okay, without giving me a chance to express my preference. Additionally, when we wanted to order an extra side dish, he stopped us, insisting that it would be too much food. While I can understand his concern about food waste, it should still be up to the customer to decide. We let it go, thinking we could order more later if needed. The biggest issue came when our food was served. I had ordered clam pasta, but they brought prawn pasta instead. The staff member who delivered the food was kind and immediately helped correct the mistake. A few minutes later, the manager came over to apologize and assured us the correct pasta would be ready soon. However, what truly disappointed us was the server who took our order. Right in front of us, he told the manager that he had not made a mistake and that there was no need to apologize. It was shocking to hear a staff member respond like that, showing no remorse. It made us feel extremely unsatisfied, so we addressed our concerns with the manager immediately. The manager seemed genuinely sorry and offered the pasta as a goodwill gesture. However, what we truly wanted was a sincere apology from the server—not a free dish. This experience left a bad impression on what was supposed to be a special anniversary dinner. I strongly suggest retraining this particular staff member on proper table service, politeness, and professionalism. What we paid for was not a fast-food experience—and honestly, even fast-food staff often provide better service. If we visit again, we would prefer not to be served by this staff member until he apologises.

Went for the calzone which was really good, as it was not too greasy! The wine was good and reasonable as well!

On arrival at 6:10 (for our 6:15 reservation) we were asked to wait in the bar area and order ourselves a drink, we didn’t fancy ordering a drink, only to be ferrying it to the table, so waited and we waited and we waited - it was nearly 20 minutes before a hostess came over to ask us if we had a reservation, despite us confirming the booking with one of her colleagues when we arrived, only for her to put us on a table that had been clear since we’d arrived at 6:10. Service during our meal was poor and lacked the care we’d expect for a £100+ bill. Small requests such as the request for a spoon and table water had to be requested by waving down another waiter. The fried squid for starter was excellent and was the highlight of the meal really. The mains were average and we’ve had better in cheaper restaurants. No one offered another drink despite our glasses empty and a 20 minute wait for a dessert. Our waiter during our meal was not to the standard people have “advised” to us of Piccolino. Forgetting requests, clearly seen eating between tables/ walking across the restaurant with a mouth full of food and arguing with colleagues and management in the middle of the restaurant. Frustration was clearly shared between ourselves and other tables in our section to the point where it became a talking point. Really poor experience for our first visit here, we won’t be returning.

Great meal, service a bit slow even though not really busy, and we needed to chase for some extra drinks. Didnt spoil the occasion though, just the difference between "ok" and "great".

I haven't been to this Piccolino for several years largely due to the fact that my last visit was underwhelming. I am so glad to be reacquainted with it. I genuinely could not fault anything (apart from the fact that the toilet facilities are downstairs which is a pet peeve of mine). I took my friend for lunch and had it not been for the fact that she had a train to catch, I could have happily stayed all afternoon lingering over dessert and wine.

Amazing restaurant, love the food, the ambience and the staff. Great choice of dishes, I personally like the fish and sashimi.

Coffes was very bland taste Environment not very welcoming and staff bit slower considering was quiet morning. I suggest management to improve more

We hosted our Wedding reception at the Manchester site recently and the service was fantastic. Megan handled our booking and responded to our emails promptly. The servers on the day were an absolute delight. The food was prompt, hot and plated beautifully. They took the stress out of hosting so could enjoy the company of our guests. We look forward to returning soon. Thank you for making our day so special.

We hosted our Wedding reception at the Manchester site recently and the service was fantastic. Megan handled our booking and responded to our emails promptly. The servers on the day were an absolute delight. The food was prompt, hot and plated beautifully. They took the stress out of hosting so could enjoy the company of our guests. We look forward to returning soon. Thank you for making our day so special.

Great restaurant, good food and a special thanks to our waiter José! Obrigado :)

The greeting was good and then after that the experience went downhill. Four of us were placed in a booth which is so long the person waiting on tables had to lean right over my friend and my husband to change cutlery etc made them uncomfortable. The garlic bread with rosemary and Seasalt was the worse I’ve had, very, very dry with little garlic taste. We were asked if we wanted some water for the table not realising this would add £5.50 to our bill! I had a chicken pasta dish which maybe should have just been listed as plain pasta as I had to hunt for very few small pieces of chicken. This dish was also dryer than I would have liked. There also seemed to be some tension amongst the staff which wasn’t very professional. I wouldn’t recommend this place to friends

Attended my sister's wedding, everything on point. Jose and all the staff were great and very welcoming, with a great sense of humour too. Made our experience wonderful. Thank you.

Amazing experience, the food was delicious and special mention to Jose to the high quality sevice. Will definitely come back !

Good restaurant, only downside is the quantity??? We pay €20 for pasta to eat in 5 minutes. We rarely comment but this was still exaggerated. Even after expressing our dissatisfaction, the waitress didn't care at all and brought us back her desserts except that for us we had the feeling of not having attacked the dish. Some things therefore need to be reviewed.

Food was delicious. It was very busy so quite noisy but a nice atmosphere.

I know it's a great place, but last night I went to take some pizza for my family, the girl at the entrance was very nice and treated me very nice, i ordered 2 pizzas, when they brought it in the boxes took it as it is in my car and went home, at home opened the boxes and here we are.... A disaster and disgrace to the kitchen..... Over burned and tossed as like for animals, pizza has been handed upside down, the second was ok. I don't want to judge them by one mistake and i really think many people had had a very nice time there but i had to share my experience.

called last minute with family as we have been before . The bruschetta was lazy cooking , slice of soggy bread with no seasoning , i asked for some crackled black pepper , none to be found only powered pepper and this 1 slice of soggy bread was £10 , the pizza was cold , soggy and undercooked in the middle . The waiter was rude , no manners, we will definitely not be returning customers and will not be recommending to family or friends.

Brilliant lunch today, very good quality and the service from Veronica was excellent. Very child friendly and a great place for a lunch with a buzzing atmosphere. We will be back.

Everything was perfect!! The fried calamari was great and the crudo tuna as well. I had the wagyu lasagna and the truffle sauce was exceptional! The duck and the sirloin were also amazing! I love how the staff is Italian as well! The PERFECT Italian dinner! The chocolate mousse with cherry was mind-blowing. I simply LOVED everything about this place, you have to try it!

Beautiful place. Staff was lovely and friendly. Will definitely go again.

Really dissappointed with dinner on Xmas eve last week. Dinner booked 6:15pm sat in the upper part of the restaurant. My son and I ordered spaghetti carbonara and my wife had a small rib eye steak. When the pasta came the portion size was so small (costing ~£17) it looked like a starter portion. I asked the waitress whether there had been a mistake but no. Anyway, no sooner had I contemplated asking for the manager when the waitress appeared again and whisked the both pastas away. The manager came over and said that they were replacing them and some 5-10mins later they reappeared but slightly bigger in size. Meanwhile, my wife had already been served her steak so we were playing catchup. Anyway, the pasta was flavourless, my wife's steak was fatty (more than usual for a ribeye) and the chips served with it were just warm, and by the time she'd eaten half the steak they were stone cold. When the waitress came over to collect the plates I commented on the dishes and asked to speak to the manager. I could see she'd lost that helpful look and instead turned on the one word answer / I'm not getting a tip here look! Anyway, sometime afterwards after asking the waitress again, he came over apologised and said he would look at the bill when we finished. We ordered sweets, I went for the xmas brandy tiramsu (my wife had the bread & butter pudding and my son had something chocolatey). When the Tiramsu came it looked like it had dissolved into the plate and was fairly small. It tasted Ok but nothing to warrant ~£11 cost. By now we'd had enough so I didn't want to complain again. When the bill came the manager true to his word did knock off a number of the items we'd ordered and did apologise again on the way out but the damage had already been done. These things happen but it's not something you want to happen on xmas eve when you look forward to it. We've been going to Piccolino's on Xmas eve for many many years so will really need to think twice before going again.

Quick cocktail, tasted amazing!

We chose Picolino for my daughter’s birthday, we travelled from Halifax due to the 5 star reviews, we were disappointed to say the least, the garlic pizza was average. We all decided that the Lasagna looked great on the photo in the menu so we went ahead and all ordered the more expensive Lasagna, when it arrived it clearly didn’t look like the one in the photo, it was bland and smaller than expected, as for the Wagu meat we had a time actually finding any. We paid a total of £140 for 3 meals with a portion of fries between us, a garlic bread to share and 5 drinks. It’s over priced and poor food, also the toilets are dirty. Not a good experience, we won’t return and don’t get the 5 star reviews.

Fab night. Jose amazing waiter. Smallish portions .Lasagne a bit sweet.

It was disgusting food wasn’t nice at all!

6:15pm Sat 21Dec for my son’s birthday. Jose was our server & he was excellent….very friendly & helpful….despite being absolutely run off his feet…..nothing was too much trouble. Also recommend zucchini frites & crab ravioli….delish 😋😋😋

Early dinner with friends after a carol service. Good company, good service, excellent food. Loved the Ossobuco. Wine was on the expensive side but the recommended wines were decent.

Jose is a top waitress great on everything

Work night out and a large group of us and the staff were great, as was the food. Excellent vegan and gf options and the quality of the food was great. Can't comment on the 'normal' menu but I'd definitely recommend this place.

Wonderful meal following our daughters Graduation Ceremony, service was excellent (Thank you Veronica)

Slightly busy Sunday but non the less, Piccolino is a delight for light Italian cuisine. Slight slow service with a few details missing I.E. starter plates missing, drink order wrong.. waited 20 minutes for Bruschetta, glad I had my cocktail! Do recommend maybe at less peak times

Jose is simple the best writer anyone could have hoped for. The food was lovely and we all adored our mains. But the best part of the meal was the service we got from Jose who was just fantastic.

Great food and great service from josé & Giovanna !

I went with my wife for my birthday the whole experience was excellent can’t fault anything. Made special by Rose who is an asset to the restaurant

Food and Atmosphere and very Nice place.

Charming, efficient service by truly professional waiters. We were a last minute 'show' and were so welcomed. The food was delicious and authentic. A fabulous restaurant with great ambience. Really recommend.

Had the prawns to start followed by lasagne absolutely fantastic the staff were really good . The price was a lot less than you would expect for such wonderful food and excellent service. Well worth a visit

I’m over from Ibiza to see my mum, we love Italian food so we asked around for the best italian in Manchester city centre, we were advised to go to Piccolino, the food was outstanding, Veronica the waitress was absolutely amazing, I wasn’t sure of what to order and she advised me in the best way possible, 10/10, we will be back!

Met up with my family for a meal 6 of us. I had paid a deposit of £60.00, all ordered a starter of garlic bread and olives then the sharing plate of meat and cheese. Then 2 different pizzas, carbonara frande for 2 pasta arriabata and fruit do mere pasta. The table was for 2 hours the entrees came, quickly followed by the anti pasta and very quickly by the main courses. We had just about finished the anti pasta when the mains arrived. The pasta were all Luke warm, sent all back to be re heated. My fruit de mere went back twice then they did a fresh pasta. Which was okay but didn't eat it as I had lost my appetite by then. Obviously we didn't have coffees or desserts, we asked for the bill at 7.50pm, we sat down at 7pm. Quickest meal ever. The pasta dishes were all our favourites and this time not a patch on what we expected. The company was great unfortunately the food wasnt we had paid alot of money and not one of us felt it was worth it.

Lovely lunch with great service from Cristina.

Jennifer was amazing!! Lovely service & atmosphere x

Really top notch food with a great atmosphere and service is impeccable. Highly recommended

I booked htis for my birthday dinner because they had oysters (which were excellent) and gluten free past options. Besides the oysters, everything besides the oysters was pretty meh, to be honest. The steak my partner ordered was over cooked. The pizza my son ordered was under cooked, and my pasta was good, but nothing I could not have made myself. The chocolate truffles at the end were also very good. Plus, they make sure to route you through the bar before seating you, so you stat drinking early. The service was fine, but it was chaotic and loud.

Very nice food, only stayed for the main as was going for drinks afterwards. Had king prawn pasta which was really good. 2 mains and 2 drinks each came to around £75 so reasonable price too.

Large, long tables and a very well-kept atmosphere for a feast with family or friends. Side salad with almost no sauce, lasagna with almost no meat, rather casual service, which should offer every guest (!) a good experience for these rather higher prices. Maybe we were just unlucky? Maybe the restaurant is a bit spoiled for success? In any case, we will come back soon and give it a second chance.

I've only been once, but it was an unforgettable evening with loved ones. We indulged in way too much food, and the highlight was the carbonara prepared in a cheese wheel - such a treat!

Great location,staff and food.A 5 star ⭐ is not enough for these guys.We had a bit of everything as we never been here and we were pleasantly surprised that any dish was a star . Definitely we recommend and visit again.

Fantastic food and fabulous service ! We had a lovely dining experience at Piccolinos - the best steak I remember having in a long time and tasty scallops and chocolate desert. The service really made it for us though - Jose was friendly, helpful, funny and we were also on a time scale and he ensured we were able to have three courses in the time we had without feeling rushed!

This place is amazing, food was stunning and well presented. A* service. Had bruschetta and fillet steak. Everything that my table ordered look so good. Definitely recommend.

We arrived during a busy lunch service. Had the lunch time two course special. Calamari to start with, followed by a very nice mushroom risotto. My husband had arrabbiata, which was OK, lacking in flavour, and the pasta was too undercooked. Took our drinks to the bar to free up our table. Advice: Don't leave your bill on the bar after paying. They chase you very vocally, asking if you have paid (which I can only assume some people don't). I had paid and found it somewhat embarrassing. Would I go back again, probably. It has a nice bar area and outdoor pavement space for dining.

Definitely not burford brown eggs as advertised :(

Delicious food. Friendly staff. Great service.

Excellent in everything: location, food and above all treatment by all the staff. Highly recommended.

Great food, great service and lovely vibe

Amazing food. Staff were friendly and efficient. The overall vibe was really welcoming!

We hand a grand birthday meal with our lad for his 21st. The staff were great and the food - outstanding.

Used to visit this place long time ago, took my girlfriend for a visit recently!lunch menu was little bland but atmosphere was great as always and good customiser service.

Excellent food and unbelievable service. José made us feel very welcome and helped us have a great evening!

Honestly Lauren Was the best perfect chef and the deserts were brilliant, amazing Jose as a waiter did amazing and Jenifer did amazing!!!

Jennifer and Jose were amazing and our waiters and Lauren our chef was brilliant the desserts were gorgeous best place I’ve been for a while their atmosphere was brill.

Lauren had the best service ever! Her dessert were astonishing! There were fabulous! Jose was amazing too his service was incredible! Jennifer was amazing too! Her timing was impeccable!

Lauren was the best chef i’ve ever had the pleasure of encountering, her deserts were divine. She was absolutely phenomenal also Jose was an absolutely fantastic server and gave me and my friends the most incredible experience at picolo. Lauren even let me know where the toilets were, incredibly down to earth and an enjoyable comforting environment.

Amazing place with amazing staff

Very busy but service was prompt. We sat outside with a nice view not too noisy

Atmosphere great , food presentation great. I only had breakfast hence only 3 stars, leaving room to be impressed. Happy with the prices given the quality of the atmosphere. The service was great . I would definitely return and recommend this place.

Absolutely fantastic meals and service. Highly recommended.

Thanks to Peppe and Giovanna for the splendid service. I'll be back

Highly recommended, excellent welcome, very beautiful location and excellent service. A big thank you to Veronica for the excellent advice. The meat was spectacular

Top class Italian in Manchester. Food and service were great. A buzzing atmosphere. The perfect place for a pre-show meal. Served by Veronica; polite, friendly, and efficient.

Lovely place where I often take business contacts to dine. Food and service is always first rate and the atmosphere is convivial. Our waiter on this occasion was José who was friendly and helpful without ever being obtrusive. My companion couldn’t decide what to choose and José made a recommendation for a vegetarian dish (my companion is a confirmed meat eater). My friend had the dish and loved it so thanks José!

Jennifer was amazing! What great service and great food. Will be back again

Staff very friendly, attentive, the food was great, we would love to come back. Remus had everything under control and was very friendly and extremely quick and professional.

Visited here after graduation and it was a perfect choice for the occasion. We were greeted with complimentary procession and exceptional service. The food was lovely and the interior is pretty.

Meal was excellent, and service was even better, José was particularly helpful and pleasant.

Simply a great place for lunch! Other meals are available!

Very nice restaurant. Has great food and atmosphere. Looking forward to going back and trying the Sunday lunch.

It is overpriced for basic food and simple taste. The calamari is too salty and slightly chewy.

Very busy lively place. However, the food was expensive & tasteless. We sent two dishes back. Can't fault the service, that was amazing and staff were very helpful.

Veronica was absolutely brilliant, love the place, love the food and love the staff, such an amazing experience and makes us feel special everytime! Would recommend for lunch, dinner or special occasion! X

For a number of years any solo trip to Manchester isn’t complete without a meal at piccolino’s. The food is exceptional and guaranteed fresh, 10/10 service there’s no need to ask for anything they will offer and the atmosphere is lively, bright and interior is clean. Veronica was my server on Thursday lunch and she particularly made me want to write a review, thank you for always being the perfect addition to my days.

The waiter Remus has been very friendly, and has served us super well and super fast!

Fantastic Italian restaurant. Food and Service exceptional ,would highly recommend this restaurant.

My five colleagues and I dined on a busy Wednesday evening. The food was excellent and everyone enjoyed it. We had three bottles of wine - a Gavi, a Brunello and an Amarone and they were all good. Our server (Remus) was great and, as we work in hospitality, we know what a difference good staff can make. All of my group were pleased that I had chosen this restaurant after a busy day working at a trade show. I've dined in the Knutsford restaurant a couple of times and it seems that the standards are consistently high across the group.

Veronica was very helpful Thank you Appreciated Mike

**Review for Piccolino Caffé Grande, Manchester** I recently visited Piccolino Caffé Grande in Manchester and was pleasantly surprised by the experience. Firstly, the restaurant is much grander than I anticipated. The elegant decor, with its high ceilings and tasteful Art Deco styling, creates a sophisticated yet welcoming atmosphere. The service was exceptional. The staff were friendly, helpful, and made me feel right at home. They were attentive without being intrusive, which added to the overall pleasant experience. Now, onto the food. The sweets were a highlight for me. They offer a delightful selection of desserts that are beautifully presented and taste as good as they look. I particularly enjoyed the tiramisu, which was rich and creamy, and the chocolate fondant, which was perfectly gooey on the inside. Overall, Piccolino Caffé Grande exceeded my expectations. It's a fantastic place for a special occasion or just a nice meal out. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for great Italian food in a stylish settings.

Had an incredible experience at this Italian restaurant! From the moment we walked in, we were greeted with warm, friendly service that made us feel right at home. The ambiance was cozy and authentic, perfect for a relaxed dinner. The food was nothing short of amazing – the pasta was fresh, the sauces rich and flavorful, and the pizza had the perfect crispy crust. Don't even get me started on the tiramisu; it was the best I’ve ever had! If you're craving genuine Italian cuisine, this place is a must-visit. We’ll definitely be back!

We came across Piccolino on a Sunday night and were warmly greeted by the staff at front of house. The decor and ambience is beautiful, spacious and very comfortable. All of the dishes we chose were delicious. The highlight for us was Jose our waiter. We’ve been travelling for close to 6 weeks eating out every night and because of him, we had the most memorable evening. He was attentive, funny and was able to connect with each of us through great conversation. Jose is the reason we will come back for dinner at Piccolino when we are next in Manchester!

Very good food! Nice atmosphere, Remus - our waiter was very nice and had to serve a table of 7 ladies! I would definitely come back here if I’m in Manchester again.

| have always wanted to visit here and did so recently on a Saturday night. The place was really buzzing and had a great vibe. Service was very good and our waitress, Rosy, was fabulous. Unfortunately the food was not quite up to the standard you'd expect. The starters came very quickly (too quickly!) but were rather disappointing.. The Arancini was to stodgy and not crisp on the outside. The Fish Skewers were lacking in flavour and rather bland (despite the hefty price). My partners King Prawns were very good though. With top-end prices you'd expect rather more and for every detail on the plates to be spot-on.

I Had a fabulous evening, i went out with my entire family and was served by Remus, his service was exceptional he was kind and also very social it was a relatives birthday and he helped to make then event special

Terrific place, beautiful decor, wonderful food, amazing team! Family friendly atmosphere here, so helpful with the choices, excellent dining choices. I go into Manchester a couple of times a year but this is an essential visit for some top quality Italian cuisine! Five stars, heartily recommended.

Unbelievable Food, Perfect Service & the atmosphere was made to be comfortable. As an establishment very welcoming it was my first time here for food with my partner for our 5th anniversary. Before coming I read great reviews on Jośe and instantly knew he was the man for the Job. The service was exceptional he looks after us and made our anniversary one to remember! Thank you Jośe! 🤜🤛 Would recommend indefinitely 💯

I had a spagna pizza. It was delicious. It seemed quite busy for a Monday lunchtime, which made for a good atmosphere, but service was still good. Discount offer made it especially worthwhile, but without the discount I would say arguably it's a bit expensive for what you get.

A fabulous lunch and fabulous service by Remus. We will return (table of seven) excellent food and drink in a lovely atmosphere.

Amazing restaurant and selection of drinks and dishes! Cristina was the best waitress we’ve had for a long time, she was truly lovely and attentive - thank you! We’re looking forward to coming back☺️

Excellent Italian restaurant. Clean and comfortable, quiet environment. Very good dishes and attentive, fast and friendly staff. A special thank you to Veronica who served us at the table, always smiling, ready and prepared.

Food is amazing, very elegant caffe and friendly staff especially Veronica 🤍🤍

Starter, main and dessert were all excellent. Service from Jose was top class. Will be coming again