Picone In Denton Serves Italian American Dishes — And Whatever Else It Wants | Eater Dallas

"When it opened in Denton in 2023, it was clear this wasn’t your average neighborhood restaurant: led by chef–co-owner Tony Neglia, I found an innovative menu that blends Italian American classics with unexpected global influences and a buck-wild Instagram presence that often highlights the food (like the multi-layered lasagna called the Garfield caramelized on the griddle, an impossible-to-eat burger with an incredible cheese pull, or a gooey birria pizza loaded with beef and cilantro). The chef’s personality is evident throughout the intimate dining experience, where a collaborative, familial atmosphere lets the close-knit team contribute ideas and specialties. That spirit produced standout items such as a unique chicken sandwich brined in a pickled onion brine and an unfermented cold pickle brine featuring a Dr. Pepper and hibiscus base, finished with a Belgian-buttermilk hot sauce, double-fried in rice flour, cornstarch, and all-purpose flour, and basted with hot sauce mayo on the buns. Neglia’s ties to Italian flavors run deep—his grandfather owned a pasta company in New Jersey and his mother regularly cooked sauce and pasta—and while he doesn’t chase trends, his boundary-pushing approach has earned a loyal following even as social media attention amplifies his reach." - DeQuilla Henderson