Hubby and I do not live near this restaurant, but we had to attend a family friend's memorial wake one recent evening and were in the neighborhood and decided to go to Piccolo's. Â
You walk in and are immediately in the bar area, it is a little confusing, we didn't know whether to seat ourselves or wait for a hostess. Â Shortly we were directed to walk through the bar and encountered the hostess stand. Â It is a little strange, usually a hostess stand is the first thing you encounter, but whatever. Â
We were seated not in the main dining room instead seated in an area that would be for lack of better description a patio type area that is off to the side but is totally glassed in. Â In the spring or summertime that would be a cool area, but since it is all glass and in the dead of winter it was very cold in this room. Â I kept my coat on during the meal and so did others seated in this area.
We were promptly brought chips, salsa and hot rolls? Â Strange combo but the chips were very tasty and salsa not bad. Â Did not try the rolls. Â I ordered the Ticorito which is a beef/bean burrito with beans, rice, sour cream smothered in both the green and red chili. Â Hubby ordered a 10 inch pizza with various meats on it.
Drinks were promptly refilled and food arrived fairly quickly. Â My burrrito or Ticorito or whatever the hell they call it was not too bad. Â It was fairly tasty. Â Hubby said the pizza was pretty good too. Â This was a strange concept, Mexican and Italian food but honestly it wasn't too bad and the service was good. Â
The place was pretty busy for a Tuesday night, and the owner seemed to know a lot of the customers whom I am assuming are regulars. Â
This is not some place we would drive across town to eat at, but if in the neighborhood I would not hesitate to stop and have a meal.
Delightful lunch with local friends! Â Met the owner, Vince and felt like part of the family! Â Sharing a few photos of the delicious Sausage and peppers, the daily lunch special around $6.00 and my friend had wonderful fresh salmon salad. Â
There was a table of ladies playing cards and then enjoying lunch. Â It was busy but our server was attentive and our meal was served quickly. Â
Interesting to get a bowl of chips and salsa before ordering our Italian lunch. Â Nice combination of Mexican and Italian entrees. Â We had Italian but my friends indicated they loved all the Mexican entrees as well. Â
Don't let the strip center location keep you from eating at this friendly establishment! Â You will feel like you are in Italy when you go inside... and yes, I have been there and this feels good!
Piccolo is a unique family-owned place that has a very welcoming atmosphere and friendly service. Â I was a little concerned that it was a Mexican/Italian joint but when I found out about their history in Denver being both long established Mexican and Italian restaurants, it makes sense.
Definitely ask them how much of their food/sauces they make, I guarantee it is more than other places. I know the salsa, spaghetti sauce, green chile, and salad dressings are made from scratch.
I would recommend the chile rellenos (sp?) and I have neven gotten tired of their pizza after 15+ years of going there.
Bon Appetit!
Piccolo's is of those great family-based restaurants that are so common on the East Coast, and so hard to find out west. Â It has a little bit of everything, very solid Italian selections to (believe it or not) above-average Mexican. Â If you're in the mood for "American" dishes, they've got you covered. Â For the food I offer four stars. Â
Some of the previous reviews are correct - it's possible to catch these guys on an "off" night, and if that's your only experience then it's a real shame. Â Because what really sets Piccolo's apart is the atmosphere. Â Not the nonsense hung on the walls at chain establishments. Â I mean, as in the owner comes by now and again to chat and swap stories (ask him about how he came by that big mirror on the north wall sometime). Â The wait staff is so eager-to-please there's a few I'd try to steal if I ever opened my own place. Â The overall feel of the place is simply one of family. Â Not a "family style" restaurant but the idea that you come in, you're home. Â At least for a while anyway. Â I go to Piccolo's specifically if I'm having a bad day, knowing that my mood will have lifted by the time I leave. Â
And that's why it gets that extra star.
Picollo's has been our favorite restaurant for many years now! Â Great food, good beer and the best employees you could want for.
Vince the owner, greets people like he is sincerely glad to see them and they keep coming back! Â Lots of Italian restaurants but Vince is the reason we love that place
Maury & Polly O'Keefe
If you're a foodie and you think anything less than a Frank Bananno restaurant is crap, then THIS RESTAURANT IS NOT FOR YOU. If there are nights when you just can't face cooking, then this is a great staple in the community. We've had many inexperienced, younger waitstaff and that's great, I like that this establishment hires people they know they'll have to train and creates opportunities for them!
The food is good, solid. The Italian-Mexican mix worried me at first because I've been to the "serve two types distinctly different food taste"-type joints and the Mexican food tastes slightly Italian and the Italian has a slightly Mexican kind of taste. NOT HERE - we've never had a problem with that with any dish we've been served. As a matter of act, all of us - husband and two girls - really like the food and I know when we go there it will be solidly tasty. They make the food to your specification and it comes out hot. If it doesn't, they fix it.
And finally: Â value. Portions are large (we can bring home half for lunch the next day) and prices are fair for the atmosphere and the type of home-style cookin' they're going after ...
You won't be disappointed in Piccolo's IF your expectations are out of whack!
Good service, not so good food.
The restaurant opens into a bar. It's not obvious whether you should wait to be seated or seat yourself.
The staff helped us quickly though and let us choose our seat. I like that. The server was helpful and attentive.
The food... They served us rolls with butter, chips and salsa. Good rolls (although not garlic) and salsa that was obviously not fresh. Certainly not like one would expect from a good Mexican restaurant. Especially considering the menu price level. We ordered Italian with a salad. The salad was good except the dressing. I ordered iced tea which I expected to be black tea but they either made a mistake or don't understand what black tea is (I make my own chai so I think I have a good idea) and served me what must have been iced green tea. It was hard to tell because it seemed watered down. My guest and I ordered the same entree which came to our table with noticeably different portions of noodles. The entree was just ok.
Verdict: Although I didn't try the Mexican because of the salsa, I suspect it to be a similar experience. If you want mediocre Italian or Mexican food this is your spot. Otherwise, I recommend finding a spot that specializes in recipes from one continent at a time.
I had been craving either Italian food or Mexican food, so my friend recommended we go to piccolos, and boy was I pleased, since they have both!! I think my favorite part about this restaurant is they bring you a basket of chips with two rolls on top, butter, and salsa. Awesome! The chips had delicious seasoning on them too. After a very difficult decision of what to order, I ended up with the burrito especiale and it was fantastic! I devoured it. The service was on the slow side, but the tasty, reasonably priced food made up for it. Yum!
Review Source:I have been going to Piccalo's every since I was a kid - I love, love, love their Mexican food and cannot get enough of their sonitas (even though I still prefer the big sopapillas they used to serve). Â The staff is friendly and helpful (even giving me some of those sopapillas for a while after they were off the menu). Â Truly my own version of "comfort food."
Review Source:I used to love this place but not anymore. Â Went there today and will never go back again. Â There food has gone down hill big time. Â Ordered the Sausage Cannoli with traditional spaghetti and marinara sauce. Â The spaghetti was under cooked and tough and tasteless and the sauce tasted like they opened a can of tomato paste and heated it up. Â I couldn't even eat that. Â The sausage was nothing to write home about either. The Minestrone soup had been reheated so many times that the veggies were mush.
Review Source:I have to say we are so upset with them! Â We had always had pretty good service there until a month ago my husband and I went for an early dinner at 4:30pm. Â There was one other table that was seated after us, however, they were served drinks before the waiter even looked at us. Â I asked him to take our drink order and he said I will be back in a minute. While we were waiting for him to return, another worker starting vacuuming around us! Â The waiter did not come back as we gave him a 5 minute window and after those 5 minutes were up we left. Â We have not been back. Â VERY SAD! Â I went to Arapahoe High School and several friends and family worked at the Piccolo's near AHS and we are all very sad of the service we were not provided. Â My husband now refuses to go back. Â
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE fix your service!!!!!!!
This review is a bit two part. For the restaurant I would give a 3 star. I use to live right down the street and only went once so clearly it didn't make a huge impression on me. We ordered take out with a friend because we had a serious project going on at home...I think it was Glee. We only ordered Italian dishes to share so I can't comment on the Mexican side of the operation. The proportions were pretty huge and mighty tasty. It was one of those situations where you say "this is good we should come more often!" and then you never actually go again.
The inside is much nicer than I expected and had a nice dark bar like feel to it. I was into it but we didn't stay long.
On the other hand I would give 5 stars to the Piccolo Tex Mex Gouda dip they sell at Costco. I am about 99% sure it is the same company...same logo but neither website seems to mention the other. BUT man is that stuff life changing. Please do yourself a favor and go get it.
Started eating and waiter did a "shift change" while we getting waited on. Ordered pick 3 and chicken Alfredo. With the amount of water and Arnold palmers that were drank, they left two pitchers at our table. The appetizers came out good. Salad next with beans in it!!! Food was really hot. It came in a decent amout of time. This is a very American Mexican and Italian restaurant. Mexican food seems as though some came from box mixing and others from scratch. Italian was bland and average from another diner. I give it 2.5 stars. I would come back.
Review Source:Wow....what a disappointment. I've grown up in the neighborhood and still live in the area, I recently visited because it had been several years.
My entree was almost inedible. I ordered Gnocchi with a red cream sauce and when it came out, the sauce immediately seperated and the presence of the oil was to gross to eat, the sauce looked curdled.
To plainly put it, the pasta options are just plain bad food. The sauces are bad, to the point of looking like oil and paste with no taste. I wonder who is in the kitchen comfortable sending these dishes out?
My date and I looked around and noticed everyone in the restaurant was either elderly or a family with young children. Perhaps Piccolos has moved into a niche of bland food for the young and old. If you are not under 10 or over 60, I'd choose a different spot to dine.
I hear the pizza is still good, and I'll believe it when I taste it.
I have to admit, I don't get the love affair so many have with Piccolo's. But I have only been there one time and maybe it was an off night. Â I am more than willing to try it again and update my review. Â When we first arrived, we were presented with a basket with Tortilla chips and dinner rolls. The chips were fairly good, the rolls bland and a little dry.
For dinner my wife and I both ordered the Italian Chicken. Â It was back in early November that we were there, so I can't recall if this was a regular menu item or a "special." Â There was nothing special about it. Â It was dry, bland, uninspired. Â It was edible, but that is about the nicest thing I can say about it. Â Maybe it was just an off night? Maybe the Italian Chicken is just the one item on the menu that isn't very good? I have no idea.
Service was good, fast and friendly. The only saving grace, and why I even give it two stars. Â As I said, I will try it again, ONLY because so many others seem to like it. Â I figure there must be SOMETHING I am missing. Maybe we will try something from the Mexican side of the menu on my next visit and see if that is much better.
Until then, color me confused and surprised by all the positive reviews.
My favorite place to eat possibly ever. I grew up in Denver and ate there with my family all the time. I live in Florida now but when I travel back I eat there at least two or three times.
The concept is odd, both Mexican and Italian food but both are well done and fresh. I have been coming to this place for over 20 years and it has always been great. Not one bad experience and I have eaten there easily 50+ times. The chile rellenos are my personal favorite and they are amazing every time. They serve fresh rolls and chips and salsa that is pure heaven. The chips have a light dusting of chili powder that I have never seen anywhere else and it elevates the basic to a different level. Wait staff is great, food is awesome and there isn't a bad thing on the menu. I hope they are open for an eternity!
Amazing! Â The food is just killer. Â Order Mexican or Italian and you won't be disappointed. Â On this night I felt like a little of both. Â I got a half order of spaghetti, a chili relleno and a beef, bean and sour cream burrito smothered in hot green chili. Â So good! Â Can't go to Piccolo's without ordering the chili con queso! Â Vince the manager or maybe owner is always very pleasant and a great representative of the establishment. Â Whatever your needs may be, they seem to be able to accommodate them! Â Try this place out!
Review Source:My sister and I have been coming here for the past few years when we stay the Marriott within walking distance. Â We always know we can get a good meal with great service. Â Since we both like Mexican and Italian food it is a great fit. Â Since my sister is a vegetarian her menu is always limited when we go out but she always seems to find something new to try here. Â
Overall a nice casual dining experience with delicious comfort food and always great service.
I too am confused by all of the great reviews this restaurant has gotten. In a few words, Olive Garden and Taco Bell have better food.
In more words, I was completely aghast at the quality: weird-tasting pasta sauce, and eggplant parmigiana that was completely unrecognizable. My boyfriend had the "sausage cannoli" that looked more like a bagel dog than anything that came from Italy.
The floor was dirty, and I noticed my knife was dirty when I sat down.
The bread/chip basket they give you has frozen rolls and bagged chips that have taco seasoning sprinkled on top. The salsa that accompanies the chips is truly from a can or jar.
I'm just floored that so many other people really like this place. I think the owners need to choose between Italian and Mexican, and then focus on that part of the menu. Because what they have going on now is an atrocity.
The one nice thing I will say is the waitress was very kind, and they offered Orange Crush.
Piccolo's is a peculiar place. If you know anything at all about this place, it's that they serve both Mexican and Italian fare. It's... well, it's weird.
Right after you are seated, they bring you a little basket filled with tortilla chips and dinner rolls.
That basket is a microcosm.
That basket represents everything I find uncomfortable about Piccolo's.
I like Mexican food. I like Italian food. I think I would like Mexican and Italian food back to back, like maybe Italian for lunch and Mexican for dinner.
But Mexican and Italian are not peanut butter and chocolate. I don't want them squished together in a basket. It seriously grosses me out.
And that's the problem. It's like when you get some french fries that were clearly fried in the same fry basket as a fillet-o-fish. Everything has been mushed all together and it can not be unmushed. Nothing there is strictly Mexican or Italian. Maybe it's only that while I'm eating spaghetti, I can smell enchiladas, but I just can't take it.
On a positive note, the side salads rock, the kid's cheese pizza is ridiculously good, the service is always great, and the atmosphere is comfortable and homey. And if the idea of a basket of chips with a few dinner rolls piled on top sounds appetizing to you then I think this place will rock your socks off.
For the past few years my family has met for my Grandfather's birthday at Piccolo's in Denver. It's my Grandfather's favorite place to go and we look forward to each birthday that we have with him going there. Now my family is large and growing. In total when everyone is home, there are 30 of us pulse a couple of close friends.  Piccolo's has a side room for large parties that can be closed off from the rest of the restaurant  if needed.  The normal sitting area is dark woods and cloth cover tables with low lighting, very relaxing.
Piccolo's is a Italian/Mexican that has wide range of options that will meet everyone's tastes. They have seasoned chips with salsa and bread  for each table.  Simon and I ordered something different each time that we go and  have never been disappointed.  The servicing size is large for the dishes so don't be surprised if you have to take some home. They have a wonderful children's menu and my nephews and nieces always find something that they like.
I know this isn't a very long review but you just can't go wrong with Piccolo's. 30 of us keep looking forward to my Grandfather's birthday each year so, this isn't a review of just one person, it's a review of 30 with a fair share of picky eaters.
A favorite of mine for 30+ years. Â We grew up eating at Piccolo's and now my kids love it also!
I crave the pizza but the Mexican food is delicious also. My son LOVES the kids mac 'n cheese - he says it is the best in Denver.
Friendly, neighborhood restaurant with a loyal & long-lasting customer base.
As a child, this was where we ordered our Friday night pizza for pick up - long before Dominoes changed the method and frequency of consumption.
As a teenager, this is where we gathered every Thursday night for team meals before our Friday meets.
In my 20's, this was where we came to feel nostalgic, run into old peeps from the day, and hit up the bartender for free drinks.
Now, it's where I go for damn good pizza. Which, as I reflect upon my previous Piccolo's patroning practices, seems to be the reason I ALWAYS went.
This is really good pizza in the middle of a neighborhood that normally boasts crappy chain options. Even today if I introduce a newbie they are impressed by the quality. I have never had a bad pie from here. The dining room is dimly lit, comfortable, and simple. The staff is always a pleasure. And I love seeing faces here that I know I have seen consistently for the last 30 years! That tells you that this place is awesome.
Now, I have never had anything other than pizza here, they also boast pasta and Mexican fare. To be completely honest, I'm wary to branch out into the latter. Still, why would I want to when they make such tasty pizza. Chips and salsa are brought to your table, not fantastic salsa (hence my reticence), but not a bad touch either.
A word to the wise - in all my years of eating here, they have never been able to master delivery. It always takes way too long and arrives less than hot. It's a service that they provide, but not the one that they were meant for. The bar/lobby area is tiny, there's only a few seats at the bar and it's very crowded. Still, once you get a table it's swing swing swing!!!!
I was in Denver recently for work. Piccolo's was right next to my hotel, so I decided to give it a try. I ordered a Mexican cannoli. It was quite interesting. It consisted of a brat with jalapenos and cheese baked inside a bread roll. It was served with chips and salsa. The chips were seasoned with Italian spices. Definitely a unique restaurant.
Review Source:Food was good and portions ample. Service was very slow and without apology. Thought they might have been a server short although the place was not that busy. As we were walking out after our meal, we saw our waitress chatting up the bartender and basically ignoring the dining room. Too bad her actions hurt the whole restaurant. This neighborhood restaurant could be a lot better.
Review Source:We did order by phone and pick up.
I didn't order nor did I pick it up, so I don't know how that service was, but
the food portions were perfect, and the salad was great-lots of veggies!
However the Clams Linguine was a bit bland and needed more flavor.
Will go back and eat in next time.
lots of choices on their menu-mexican and pasta-my two favs! :-)
The pizza was ok from what I remember. I know we're not in Buffalo, NY anymore so we'll have accept the fact that pizza and wings won't compare to what we're used to. So for this area I think the pizza was real good.
So today we tried a bit from their Mexican menu. I got the enchilada torte and my girly got the fajita burrito. All was real good and a lot bigger than I expected. We'll definitely go back.
The year is 1982.
-- The location, the school cafeteria at Samuels Elementary in Denver, CO.
-- I got on my corduroy OP's, my white Vans with no socks, T&C t-shirt, and my black Members Only jacket.
-- The previous night was spent watching the newest episode of Miami Vice on our Sony Trinitron which we backed up on Betamax.
-- In hand is my funky smelling Star Wars/Black Hole lunch pale. Yes I'm that rad!, I had two to choose from.
-- One slightly brown banana
-- No Capri Suns cuz my mom says they're too expensive, so I get milk instead. Soda is also off limits.
-- Ahhh, what's this packed into my lunch? Oh it's onigiri: rice ball with a piece of nori and umeboshi (salty plum) in the center. Yum, time to eat!!
(classmates take notice of my lunch)
== *Eeeeeewwwwww, WTF is that you're eating!?!?
== What's that black stuff!?!
-- It's seaweed
== Is it raw fish!?!
-- No it's seaweed, d*ck head
-- (the crowd of onlookers and gawkers dissipate after a round of pointing and laughing)
-- I look around the cafeteria to see what everybody else is eating.
-- Hmmm, whats that kid eating that everybody wants a piece of!??
-- It's PICCOLO'S PIZZA
-- Note to self, don't bring Japanese food to school cuz everybody makes fun of it. Pizza is cool and I have learned my lesson that Japanese food/sushi is definitely not cool.
So after approx. 30 years Piccolo's has consistently produced the same product year in, year out. That in itself is a major achievement, and I suspect it'll be the same in 2036. The only difference is that they'll be adding sushi to their menu and China will unfortunately own the eff'n country which sucks cuz they'll rename Colorado to "Chinorado" (Wolverines!!), but luckily Piccolo's will still be Piccolo's: "Italian, Mexican, and......Japanese restaurant"
3.5
Happy Twenty11
Eggplant parmesan is worst I've ever had. Â It is hard and bitter. Â I sent it back twice, manager told me that's how eggplant parmesan should be (hmmm... NEVER had it *hard not firm* before). Â I've been here a number of times and the other food is so-so. Â They did give some corn tortilla chips before dinner but they were bright red number.. something... and all that artificial food coloring is NOT good for you!!
Review Source:This place is quite good, and a great spot to go before a movie over at the continental theater. Especially good are the home pasta noodles and fluffy pizza crust. The ambiance is relaxed and very homey. Also they give out baskets of chips at the beginning of the meal that always includes enigmaticly red corn chips that are oh so good. Overall a fine neighborhood restaurant.
Review Source:Want pizza? Want mex? Want pasta? Want fajitas?
Piccolo's of south monaco delivers that in a cozy, darkly lit atmosphere. The place is better to visit in the afternoons than the evenings, as it can get hopping at night. The food-- Mexican is my fav but my partner prefers the home made Italian pasta and meatballs, and the price (about 7-14$ a entree) is reasonable given the free refills on soda, the rolls and chips. Its a great little family restaurant with interesting dishes. Â The best part according to my partner, is the canoli's.... I think its that the restaurant manager greets every customer at their tables during the night and chats a moment or two.
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