We attended Ristorante Picolino’s soft opening last night, an “invite only” event that gave us the chance to tour the inside and try out the menu.
The food is classic Italian, from pizza to pasta to entrees. For example, the white pizza featured tomatoes, mozzarella, provolone, fresh basil, olive oil, roasted garlic and white sauce. We ordered pasta, a penne puttanesca with marinara and meatballs. And Chicken en Cau, chicken stuffed with bacon and baked in a wood-fire oven. Tasty, and the prices are reasonable.
The interior features exquisite wood and ironwork. Restaurant seating spans two big rooms, one with the kitchen and the other with a large bar built out of fir recovered from a forest fire.
At the south end, Gallery Picolinos features special event dining and an art gallery. For this Saturday’s Art Walk, it will feature works by Adam Ross (there will be a reception this Saturday from 5 to 8 p.m.)
The north end of the building has yet to be finished, but it will feature an espresso bar in the morning and a tapas wine bar at night. There’s also an impressive outdoor patio behind the building.
Picolino’s has an upscale yet comfortable atmosphere — not a 20-something late-night hangout — which may go to ease some of the fears by neighbors concerned about noise at night. The restaurant is located at the corner of 32nd and 65th, and it opens to the public this Tuesday evening.
Inside preview of Ristorante Picolino’s
We just ate at Picolinos for the first time tonight–I chose it partly because I've been eagerly waiting for a free evening to go there and partly because it's such a beautiful, sunny evening, I wanted to be somewhere that was filled with natural light. And Picolinos certainly is, what with those great big windows in front.
Our meal was wonderful. I had a pasta dish with scallops and prawns, with a glass of wine; I'm afraid I forgot what my husband had as I was too busy enjoying my own meal. The food was delicious, the service prompt and friendly, and we were never hurried along and enjoyed relaxing at our table (it was early and plenty of tables available, so we weren't being hogs :) And the evening cost under $50.00, including tax!
It was very pleasant, and we'll be back. A belated thank-you to the owner for delivering treats on cold winter days to us and our Girl Scouts who were selling cookies across the street from Pecolinos back in March!