If the bologna sandwich and vanilla ice cream cone you ate growing up got a gourmet makeover for the 21st century, they might look a little like the panini and gelato offerings at Piccolo. Exposed-brick walls, vintage molded ceilings and an assortment of grown-up sandwiches, bruschetta and gelato welcome patrons to this Ukrainian Village corner restaurant, the former (and much-changed) home of the Lava Lounge.
House-cured beef with arugula, pickled onion and parmesan. Fig-olive tapenade with arugula and sliced fontina. Sliced roast turkey breast with brie and seasonal preserve. These are just a few of the many panini varieties, priced $6–$8, offered by Piccolo. All sandwiches arrive with either chips or a small salad to round out the meal. Those looking for starters won't be disappointed by the bruschetta selections, which, at $2 per piece, make a perfect pre-dinner snack. Italian meats, delectable cheeses and an assortment of seasonal vegetables come together on perfectly crisp rounds of bread. And while the flavors are sophisticated, the atmosphere isn't, with plastic plates and flatware, and an eclectic music selection that featured both Johnny Cash and Sufjan Stevens during a recent visit.
The panini and bruschetta may form the bulk of a meal at Piccolo, but you would be mistaken to skip the gelato ($3.50 for a single scoop). Better yet, skip dinner altogether and indulge in a larger portion of gelato chef Eddie Navar's masterful creations. He used to work at Hot Chocolate, and it seems he learned a great deal from dessert doyenne Mindy Segal during his time there. Traditional flavors like chocolate, coffee, and pistachio are usually available, but so are a bevy of ever-changing seasonal flavors like lemon-basil, mixed berry, and honey-lavender. A word to the wise; Piccolo doesn't have a liquor license, nor is it BYOB, so plan accordingly.
Centerstage Reviewer: Laura Oppenheimer
