Piccolo at 42 North Hill in Colchester

Honestly THE BEST! Bolognese Sauce I have EVER had not to mention the great specials that are always changing!

This was a gem of a find. Such a lovely atmosphere, really good food and very friendly service. Good value too.

Friendly staff and excellent food.

Ravioli for starter was superb but then the calves liver kicked it out of the park, brilliant

We have had dinner here twice now. I can’t believe we have overlooked this place in the past. The food is incredible, homemade and authentic. Will be coming back regularly from now on.

It’s so refreshing to go to a small Italian restaurant quick does everything so well. Food, service, atmosphere, all top marks. And to top it all it’s such good value for money. I’ve only been twice but it is definitely my no 1 choice in Colchester.

My absolute favourite of all times. A piece of Italy in the middle of Colchester. The food and the staffs are lovely, and the price is friendly too.. absolutely recommend it.

Love love this place,one of my favourites

This place was very authentic and the atmosphere and food was great. I'm gf and there was plenty for me to choose from.

Excellent traditional family run Italian restaurant. The staff were very welcoming and friendly. Very good menu plus, daily specials. Husband said his lasagne was best he's ever had. My duck was excellent

Ate at this place around 2-3 weeks ago. The service was good and fast, and the staff were very polite. We were the last customers to come in before closing, but we were still taken care of, and the atmosphere was great. I had something off the specials menu. To me it wasn’t amazing, but was definitely not terrible. Maybe it’s because we were the final customers of the day. I will be going back to give them another chance, as the pricing was reasonable, and overall I had a good experience. The cocktails were very nice as well

Our go to place never had a bad meal, Colchesters best there at least once a month! The menu is good but always supported by a specials board, great value!

Whilst looking for somewhere to eat in Colchester we scrolled upon Piccolo, a top-rated restaurant in the area. Service was friendly and the pizza okay, but we were served raw chicken for a Caesar Salad. When I pointed this out to the waiter I received a very unbothered “sorry”. I’d like to point out that we were the only people dining at the time, so no excuse to serve up something raw. Hugely disappointed and showed a lack of remorse for nearly making their customers seriously ill. Go to Ask Italian over the road instead!

Really loved my pasta dish here. Paired wonderfully with the wine. Had a romantic spot upstairs and would absolutely recommend a date night here. The food tastes authentic and like care was put into choosing the ingredients. A fantastic restaurant.

I can’t speak more highly of this beautiful little family run restaurant. We were looking for a small independent Italian in Colchester (there for a day visit) they are usually much more authentic and warm/welcoming - Piccolo 42 exceeded all of our expectations, you almost feel like part of the family for the evening. We went in with 4 adults and 4 children aged 10 - 2. Our waiter was absolutely wonderful. Welcoming, amazing with the children, funny, and gave great advice on dishes. The food was absolutely delicious, and we would all go there again in a heartbeat, if we were local, we’d make it our go to restaurant! Our 8 year old daughter said that her Americana pizza was the ‘best pizza I’ve ever had’. Just beautiful, people, setting and food - couldn’t recommend this place any more!!

I can’t speak more highly of this beautiful little family run restaurant. We were looking for a small independent italian in Colchester (we were there for a day visit) they are usually much more authentic and warm/welcoming - Picollo 42 exceeded all of our expectations, you almost feel like part of the family for the evening. We went in with 4 adults and 4 children aged 10 - 2. Our waiter was absolutely wonderful. Welcoming, amazing with the children, funny, and gave great advice on dishes. The food was absolutely delicious, and we would all go there again in a heartbeat, if we were local, we’d make it our go to restaurant! Our 8 year old daughter said that her Americana pizza was the ‘best pizza I’ve ever had’. Just beautiful, people, setting and food - couldn’t recommend this place any more!!

Worst restaurant in colchester. Food is frozen and bland. They could of been pizzas from a supermarket. Nothing there is authentic. Restaurant was empty. Dirty tables that were not cleaned, staff was on their phone chatting to each other. Dead silence with no atmosphere. Do not believe the reviews. They are paid for and fake.

No atmosphere, no nothing , yes we were there at 4pm, but they open at 12? , we left at 5, they then decided to put some Italian music on?? When we walked in, there was a table that had obviously just been vacated by 4 people... the mess was all still.there when we left !!!!!, the pizza?? Not Italian, not freshly made , it looked and tasted like the ones you get in tesco . This was for my sons birthday, we were SO Disappointed 😞

Perfect family run Italian Bistro, starters and mains were both top notch, excellent service too. Only in Colchester for a short break otherwise would be a regular.

Great little restaurant, took my daughter here for her birthday, staff were brilliant and couldn’t be more helpful. Food was freshly cooked and tasted beautiful. Would fully recommend.

A great little restaurant, service was good and so was the food

Enjoyable Sunday lunch with friends. Good food and excellent service looking forward to going back again.

Lovely lunch, the chef came out and spoke to my daughter and managed to change the dish to meet her dietary requirements. Great service and food. We will be going again

This deserved its top rating. The food was exception. Also I had a glass of house wine and guessed where it came from. That never happens. We only went in for a pizza, but were seduced by the menu.

The food was incredible. Drinks were the best I’ve ever had. The staff were very friendly. Would come again.

Food was amazing. Staff were friendly and attentive. Nice venue and very affordable.

Went on a Sunday evening with my girl for a date, hadn't booked but when we turned up they had seats available upstairs. The atmosphere downstairs was incredible, but we were the only ones seated upstairs and it felt like we were in someone's house. The service was fast, however not good enough to compensate for the atmosphere. The garlic bread was stale and plain, the pasta was good however my girl got food poisoning from her seafood dish. When paying, we split the bill and I was overcharged £10 and we were made to discuss the difference between us. Will not be visiting again as there are better places for less money nearby.

They were open and honest about their liqueur licence and that they didn't have one at the present time

Highly recommend. One of the best pizzas I've ever had. Great vibe; cosy, nice music and very nice staff. Very happy to have found this place.

A great little restaurant with a cosy setting, the food was fantastic (all courses) and Tito was a brilliant host. We had a great evening; fully recommend this little gem of an Italian

Starters: Spinach and ricotta ravioli, whitebait. Mains: Salmon tagliatelle, calf liver, lemon chicken. Deserts: Banoffee cheesecake and tiramisu. Staff and service was lovely. Food tasted good but on the expensive side.

Absolutely fabulous food. Duck breast the best i had in many years.

Friendly staff and excellent service. Had three courses - the garlic mushrooms, followed by penne carbonara and tiramisu. All food is clearly freshly cooked and absolutely delicious. Yet very reasonably priced. A proper gem for Italian food in Colchester!

We wanted pasta and so we found this authentic Italian restaurant. Lovely and welcoming. We had minestrone for starters. Probably the best minestrone I've ever had. My daughter loved it. She had the soup and then Spaghetti Bolognese. Excellent. Couldn't have hoped for better. Tables are not too close to each so you don't feel like you're eating with strangers.

Lovely place, great homemade food.

Very happy that we chose here for my daughters hen do. We had the private room upstairs and Tito made us feel very welcome. Thank you

Amazing food, excellent price, great atmosphere & staff. Will be coming back

Friendly staff, lovely restaurant and great Italian food. Definitely recommend.

Lovely restaurant, service amazing, food even better. Calamari was delicious. Memorable experience!

Fantastic Italian dining experience in Colchester! The Chicken with mushroom dish was rich and flavorful, the ravioli from the specials board was divine, and the whitebait was a delightful starter. Service was top-notch, and the restaurant ambiance was charming. A must-visit for special date night occasions!

Food tepid served on cold plates

Lovely litte family run business. Food was good and cooked fresh. Nice little place for a lunch.

Had our dinner booked for 4 as a late Valentine’s day on the 16/02/24. Booking went very smooth and the staff in there is normally very pleasant. The starters were very good and nothing to complain about, had garlic and cheese bread, garlic mushrooms and some other bits. Wine is average in my opinion for what you pay, but it’s like anywhere else. The biggest problem we had was with the main dish. I have ordered their steak which has been good in the past and they were kind enough to make me blue cheese sauce to go with the steak. The dish itself was not bad, the sauté potatoes were a bit too greasy for my own liking and the steak did not taste exactly fresh, but overall it was made with a decent standard. Unfortunately the salad with the steak had some unwanted extra protein in a shape of a wasp. Unfortunately I only noticed the bug nearing the end of my dish. When the waiter came in to collect our plates I showed him the beautiful dreaming creature that was wrapped between the leafs lying upside down moving its tiny legs. The waiter looked at it, looked at me, smirked and took the plates back without saying anything else. At this point in time me being a reasonable human just waited for a response from them. Two minutes later the same waiter came back with the smile on his face and the attitude like nothing ever happened and asked us if we want any desserts. At this point in time we politely declined, paid the full bill including the service charge and left the restaurant with not a single comment about what happened. It’s quite a disappointing experience for a family owned restaurant that has a decent reputation in our small town centre. Been to this place a few times now to change my opinion about it, but unfortunately never had a perfect experience to justify going back there ever again.

Went for a late valentines meal last night Friday. Rang and reserved a table as its usually busy .was greeted by a wonderful gentleman and taken to our table by the bar so we had a good view of the restaurant. Started with a glass of prosecco then italian bresoula rocket parmesan and then our main was calves liver with saute potatoes and veg with a bottle of red then desert chocolate mousse .we now have our favourite restaurant in Colchester. Grazie mille to all

This is not a real Italian restaurant, the chef doesn't even speak Italian…. 1) carbonara made with cream (?!) 2) desserts with low quality ingredients 3) Parmesan put on fish dishes (?!)

My friend and I visited Piccolo on Friday, 2nd February and had an amazing evening. We were greeted very warmly and all throughout the evening, the staff were very attentive and friendly. The food was exceptional and, even though the restaurant was full and the tables fairly close together, the aesthetics were really good and we could still hear each other talking. Piccolo is now our favourite go-to restaurant and I would highly recommend this place if you want a good night out with amazing food.

Table of 5, all meals were amazing. Proper homemade desserts. Service was great, very welcoming! Very reasonable prices

Superb food but was disappointed to find a 12% service charge added to the bill. This seems to be a growing trend. I am always happy to leave a decent tip for the waiting staff if I have had good service but I don’t expect it to be automatically charged. It goes straight into the business account and there is no telling whether waiting staff ever see it.

Relaxed, family friendly atmosphere, enjoyed our lunch.

First time I've been here for a couple of years and enjoyable without being spectacular. menu was good and food tasty and well cooked. Portions a bit small. Will go again, though, before passing further judgement.

Very pleasant customer service and great food. Will definetly come back again thank u for a great meal and a great time

Excellent Italian food. Had mixed grilled vegetables as a starter, and they were delicious.

Fantastic cosy genuine Italian restaurant, one of the best you’ll find!

Piccolo.42 is a gem for anyone seeking an authentic taste of Italy. The combination of delectable dishes, inviting ambiance, and impeccable service makes it a standout dining destination. I can't wait to return and savor more of their culinary delights. Feel free to customize it based on your personal experience and the specific highlights you want to emphasize!

Extremely nice food and nice stuff very friendly

Lovely inside if you're seated middle to front. There's also an upstairs I didn't see. Our dishes weren't very authentic. My friends seeafood linguine was absolutely swimming in cream sauce. Far too much. The bolognese was good but I don't think authentic. The character of the main waiter / front of house is abrupt, so off-putting for those who want the polite / welcoming approach. We don't care but others might. The other waiter was great but seemed overruled by the other one a lot which led to delayed delivery of desserts. All in all absolutely fine. Nice atmosphere inside.

Had an absolutely wonderful meal with excellent service. The food was excellent. Beautifully cooked tuna special. Delicious Italian wine. Such a lovely atmosphere.

Lovely traditional Italian restaurant. Food was excellent ,service top notch .

Terrible experience all round. Save your money! Food and service not worth it at all. Very often it is randomly closed, I have found it closed during times when google says it is open twice. Taking this into account I tried to book a table and phone call wasn’t picked up many times. Giving the benefit of the doubt when I was called back much later, I booked a table. The restaurant seemed nice from the outside, but the staff lacked any kindness or professionalism whatsoever and simply talked to a table of what I assume were staff’s friends, ignoring our table and not even looking over to see us waiting to be served, and acting rudely when they did come over. Food was not enjoyable, below average in fact, the pasta dishes all tasted like frozen ready meals from Lidl. I usually love independent Italian restaurants and find them better than chains, but I can say whole heartedly I would rather go to Ask Italian across the street than return here again.

Incredible flavourful food in a homely Italian atmosphere, and for a good price. I'd recommend the Bruschetta Tricolore, best one I've ever had. Can't understand how this place is half empty on a Saturday midday while garbage chains like Prezzo and Zizzi in the area are full

Nice evening....nice food ....clean...pleasant staff....average priced will go again

A cosy restaurant with lovely homemade food.fine wines too.will be back again.

The menu is the same for lunch and dinner. Am sure you could ask for smaller portions. Staff great

Best restaurant in Colchester! Excellent food always and great service.

Absolutely amazing food, went for my birthday meal with my partner and will definitely be returning. Customer service was outstanding!

Excellent food and the service could not have been better. My heavily pregnant partner was having a bad day of pregnancy and all the staff went above and beyond to make her comfortable and welcome. Can’t praise them highly enough.

The food here is some of the best I’ve had anywhere. Always good food, good service, and very good prices. Excellent location so close to the town centre and cinema/theatres.

Great place to eat but now people have discovered it, you should book rattan walk in. They are also open at lunch times too now.

Great little restaurant we stumbled across all 4 of us really enjoyed all are meals ans the sweets were truly amazing the service was 1st class and all took time to have a chat and made you feel really welcomed and great value other restaurants could learn a lot from this restaurant.

Best Italian we've had for a long time. It was superb. great service too. reasonably priced. Highly recommended. Peter

Have not finished desert yet. Have seen enough to jump on here and sing their praises. Great experience !

A Wonderful Restaurant. Attentive service and food cooked to perfection. Interesting specials as well. Why go to a chain Restaurant when the Piccolo is available.

Went for lunch had the set menu and it was tasty and reasonabley priced will definitely go again

Very charming interior, excellent waiter, tasty food. My favourite restaurant in Colchester

What a little gem for Colchester city centre, reasonable priced for freshly cooked food to order, plenty of seafood choice and Italian specials.

Fantastic home cooked Italian Fayre - Very friendly staff, always a pleasure to visit...

Lovely family who run this. The staff are superb. Food excellent and service very professional. Suggest booking as gets busy.

A meal before a show at this lovely friendly Italian restaurant. Food good and hot, nice banter between the staff- even with the chef. Coming back again in September.

This is the first time I have been here, and it definitely won't be the last. It is just a delightful, authentic Italian restaurant, selling typical Italian food. It isn't fine dining - it is more of a trattoria, but the food is excellent - as is the service. This a small, intimate restaurant, and so perfectly suited to couples. It only has seating for about 30 people and so you do really need to book. We had olives, 2 x starter (octopus and grilled vegetables) 2 x pizza, bottle of sparkling water and 2 (large) bottles of Poretti for £65, which is excellent value for money in my book. What a great find - and thoroughly recommended.

Visited on a Friday night for a birthday celebration meal. Place is small and quaint so was pretty busy. Asked if there was any chance of a table for 2 without a booking and was able to be seated straight away. Staff were very welcoming, friendly and very helpful. One of the waiters explained the specials to us and clearly knew a lot about how the food was prepared. I even asked if I was able to have a starter from the specials as a main and they were happy to do so. Food was delicious, hot and good portions. Price was not bad at all considering we both had a starter, 2 special mains, a drink each and a shot of limoncello each (the only thing that was a bit excessively priced). Every waiter / member of staff smiled even if they weren't our assigned server. The overall atmosphere of the restaurant was very warm and cosy. Had a really lovely evening and every bite was a delight!

Booked at short notice, but could not have been more accommodating. Chose from the daily specials, which were delicious. Great value for money

Fantastic authentic Italian food from a family-run independent restaurant.

Great choice of fish dishes, ravioli was excellent. Will return to try a pizza.

Recently had a meal out with friends and tried Piccolo for the first time. Everyone commented on the great atmosphere with a real buzz on a Saturday night. The menu provided choices for everyone and the food was tasty and good quality. The wine list isn't huge but there were no complaints with the white or red wine. Staff are really friendly and attentive, without feeling as if they are hovering. Four of us had starters and a main course each, with two desserts, four cocktails, and two bottles of wine for just under £200.

Excellent food and really fresh! Real Italian cooking and all ingredients are good quality. First class chef who can cook perfect fish 🐟. Very impressed so will return. Service was a little haphazard as the young lad had only just started that day. Needs a bit of training to be more attentive to customers requirements. However no reflection on the food! Booking necessary for the evenings. I think it's the best Italian restaurant in Colchester. Daily specials are superb. I ate from that menu. Husband had prawn starter and pasta. Both rated highly.

Excellent food and service. Been many times now and never disappointed. Only disappointing part is it’s often fully booked which says it all.

Great food, The best Italian food we had in Colchester. Reasonable priced. Their tiramisu was amazing! We will definitely go back.

Good service, delicious food & cosy environment.

Genuinely nice place to eat. Underselling itself on the exterior as a pizzeria as it has so much more to offer. A menu you have to work through with a number of exciting possibilities. Service from Tito was top notch, attentive but not intrusive. The sort of restaurant you would love to have on your doorstep.

Excellent service, attended to us as soon as we entered, even though very busy and seems very popular as repeat customers coming to dine. Lovely bistro style place with great atmosphere, wonderful food and plentiful, didn't rush you

Excellent well presented food. Lovely atmosphere and welcoming waiters.

Small Italian restaurant with Italian cuisine as well as the possibilties for meat & seafood. Nice Ambience, including Italian music in the background. Staff friendly & attentative. Food was good. Prices affordable. Would most definitely recommend.

Delicious mussels. Great service.

Really lovely little restaurant. Came in for lunch with my daughter and wife. The gent who served us was welcoming and attentive. The food was delicious. I had a bruscheta tricole and a pizza and my wife and daughter both had pasta dishes. All of it was absolutely perfect. Fresh and full of flavour. Will definitely eat here again, soon!

Very friendly staff, nice atmosphere and good food. Thanks

Best kept secret in Colchester. Great food, great service. Absolutely love it in here and could not recommend it highly enough. I have been here a fair few times and the food and service are always first class

Very average disappointing food, poor service, no sides- you cannot order sides of salads or veg or fries. Sat upstairs with a noisy group adjacent to us. This restaurant is not suitable for anyone with even mild disabilities. Stairs are challenging for able bodied people. Sat upstairs with no offer to sit downstairs. Only loos are upstairs as well. Promised baked alaska when booking over a month ago and again when they checked the booking the same day- no baked alaska available for a 7pm booking. Very disappointing and the whole group disliked the waiter's attitude. Will not be returning.

A lovely evening. Great service, great food. Thank you.

Great Italian food. Intimate atmosphere

My 2nd time coming here and may I say the service was fantastic, ALWAYS BOOK because it gets very busy for an excellent culinary experience, the staff are brilliant, the food is outstanding and the general service is great! Excellent for a date or just a general lunch or dinner. Very passionate people that I personally have a lot of time for! Many thanks to them!