Piccola Cucina Uptown

I went to Piccola Cucina Uptown last weekend while visiting NYC. Piccola Cucina is always a must for me when I come to New York City! This was my first time at the Uptown location. The food and cocktails were great! Everything was flavorful and the portion sizes were perfect. Being a long-time customer of Piccola Cucina, I think this was probably my least favorite visit unfortunately. We went on a Saturday night, which I know is a very busy time. The service we received was very lacking. It took a while for our server, Carlos, to come to our table to greet us. When he did, he immediately wanted us to place our order versus discussing the menu with us. Some in my party had never been to Piccola Cucina before so this felt very rushed and not the customer service I am used to when dining here. After placing our order, we rarely saw Carlos much after that and consistently had to try to get his attention for service. I would give Piccola Cucina Uptown a 4/5 rating due to the customer service which really affected our dining experience.

At this restaurant, we ordered the Squid Ink Pasta and the Pistachio Sauce Salmon Ragu Rigatoni. It was my first time trying pistachio sauce, and it was absolutely delicious! The flavors felt very authentically Italian, and the portion size was generous. In addition to the complimentary bread, there were also some side dishes, making the meal even more satisfying.

This restaurant has great Italian flavors. The food tastes really good, and both the indoor and outdoor seating are nice. The staff are friendly and helpful. The lobster pasta is very tasty, with no fishy smell at all. I highly recommend trying it, especially if you like seafood. It’s a good place for a nice meal!

Went with couple friends to try all pastas in the menu, honestly most are regular taste BUT the Tagliatelle with Ragu is SPECTACULAR, if I were to return definitely would be for that dish. Service was good and the atmosphere although noisy has cozy vibes.

Amaaaazing! We did Valentine's day because my BF loves Italian!! Did not disappoint! We ordered aranccini which are rice and cheese filled, the popplettes? Which was good but maybe the weakest and the taggliare with mushrooms and the lobster pasta! Amazing!! Limoncello and sparkling wine to finish with their famous tiramisu made at table side and creme brulee with espresso!! It was tons of food but we ate it all! Delicious and will definitely come back! The staff was incredibly attentive and the food came fast and fresh! Was very cozy and perfect for Valentine's day! You def must do a reservation because it was packed!

Very nice food, we came following the online review and food was just expected. The tagliatelle with truffle was super, the spinach salad sauce was terrific. I didn’t quite like the meatball flavor but ok to accept, the grilled octopus was really good fresh and bouncy.

Amazing mouthwatering Cicilian food with great service. Our servant helped us to understand the food options and suggested to have authentic cicilian food. We tried grilled calamari for the first time and it was the best. The pasta and mushrooms were creamy and nicely cooked. The dessert was mouthwatering.

The food is really good, but if you are hungry a plate won’t get you satisfied. Having the prices in mind I think the plates are really small, but they will guarantee that the taste won’t miss. About the service, the place can get quite busy and the staff is really nice, but while we were eating some burning smell came up all over the table. Apart from that it’s a really good place.

Delicious and quite the pivotal experience for eating Italian food in Manhattan. The owners are from Italy and clearly dedicate their passion towards the overall experience. Their menu is expensive and you will find incredible options like fettuccine pasta with a mushroom cream sauve, original Suppli with tomato flavored rice, and a Caprese salad that has authentic mozzarella do buffalo drizzled with high-quality olive oil. The dishes, especially the pasta, come served in imperial looking silver bowls. The upstairs seating area feels cozy and I prefer it to the downstairs, busier atmosphere. In the summer months, there is a lot of outdoor seating as well, but overall this restaurant fills up quite quickly.

Lobster pasta, I believe they are famous for they are lobster pasta but it's not on the menu you have to ask for it and when I visit it cost $39. 5 star for Polpo Caprese is extremely soft and good with lots of sauces. They are octopus is my favorite one. Lasagna Della Mamma Rosa is great with meat sauce. The food comes out fast don't need to wait long.

Great experience at this authentic Sicilian spot. Nice casual ambiance with attentive service and exceptional food Started with some shared specials. Artichokes were amazing. Came on a smoker with sage burning. Amazing taste and smokiness Baby grilled calamari was delicious. Delicate and soft. Light seasoning and a bed of avocado Special was the lobster and crab roll. Amazing texture. Very refreshing. Rolled in carrot!! . Entree was the ribeye steak. Cooked perfectly medium rare and carved expertly tableside! Tender and juicy. Accompanied my smashed potatoes and imam baldi style vegetables I highly recommend this place!

Charming Italian spot in Midtown- I went for a work lunch with my team of 8 on a Friday, and it was quite full. There's an upstairs seating area as well, so lots of seating/can accommodate larger groups. Service was prompt and very friendly. There was a birthday when we were there and they played happy birthday and sang happy birthday in Italian, which was pretty cool. For food we shared some appetizers (arancini and meatballs)- very good, just not very share-able. For my main, I ordered the pappardelle with porcini mushroom- what a dreamy dish, it was so rich and decadent. Pasta was perfectly al dente. Great for a casual lunch

This restaurant truly lived up to expectations! The complimentary bread was a nice touch, served with three flavorful sauces/toppings on the side. Must-try dishes: * The octopus caprese with burrata, tomato confit, and basil was fantastic! The octopus was perfectly charred, paired beautifully with the creamy burrata, and drizzled with olive oil. * The trio of raw fish--salmon, tuna, and scallop--was incredibly fresh, seasoned simply with salt, pepper, and capers for a clean bite. * The green tagliatelle in wild boar ragù with truffles was good, though I would have loved a bit more truffle flavor. * The paccheri with scampi, langoustine, lobster, and shrimp was a highlight. The pasta was cooked al dente, and there was a generous amount of seafood. The pastas are shareable and come in large portions. I'd highly recommend this spot and look forward to returning to try more of the pasta dishes!

One of my go to Italian restaurants, located conveniently near 59th Street Station and office buildings in midtown. I've been here multiple times and it always satisfies. I've tried the alla norma eggplant pasta and the langoustine pasta the best, but have also enjoyed the tagliatelle ragu and the mushroom papardelle as well. They have a great lunch special too! The staff here is always extremely kind and attentive, and the space is beautiful. Love the upstairs dining section.

So delicious! Al dente pasta, made to order. Tried four different kinds and loved them all. Tried tiramisu dessert, which they make at the table. Most at my table loved that too. Must say I'm a bit of a tiramisu aficionado so I can't say it was my favorite. Overall, would definitely visit again!

I came here to celebrate my birthday. The staff was super nice and gave me a little celebratory cannoli. Ambiance was beautiful-- the terrace area looked perfect for date night! Be aware though-- they don't seat you until most of your party has arrived!! The food was fantastic. Honestly, they had some of the best pastas and tiramisus I've had in a while. I loved everything we ordered-- the octopus was mouth-wateringly delicious, the caccio e peppe was creamy and great, the tiramisu was perfectly sweet. The lasagna and fish dishes were pretty good too.

Amazing, Amazing, Amazing! The cacio e Pepe was the best ever! The lasagna was over the top ! Saw this restaurant on instagram and had to try it! Make a reservation it's a small place. Full bar , great wine selections. Also offer Gluten Free pasta in many sauces. Jessica was our server and was lovely, knowledgeable and friendly.

Came here after a long drive. Decide to stop by and pick some food up. As soon as I entered I could tell this Italian restaurant was legit. Everyone was including the customers were speaking Italian. The hostess immediately greeted me and was very friendly. She answered my two questions and put my order in. I waited at the bar because the atmosphere was so cool. While I waited I noticed how happily everyone was speaking to each other. It was a really happy atmosphere. My food came out quickly. I took it back. When we took out the food, it looked delicious. We opened it up and ate it all. It was amazing. After this short experience, I want to come back here again and actually eat in the restaurant and try as many items on the menu as I can!!

My first impression of Piccola Cucina was that I loved the vibes of the place because the atmosphere is so cute, cozy, and warm. Unfortunately, I wasn't as impressed by the pasta. I ordered the paccheri ai tre crostacei aka the seafood pasta. I thought the sauce was bland, the seafood was overcooked, and the pasta was a little too al dente for me (I know that's a personal preference though). I will say the bread service was very good and probably my favorite part of the meal. Also, I appreciated how nice the waitress was and liked the complimentary biscotti with my tea. I think this is a good place to catch up with someone and to take home leftovers from, as the portions were huge. I'd probably go elsewhere when I'm prioritizing pasta though.

Wanted to try this place because of the advertised "fresh pasta". I wanted a seafood pasta and my waitress recommended Pachero ai tre crostacei (huge rigatoni looking noodles with lobster and shrimp in a red sauce) because it's their most popular dish. This dish exceeded my expectations! The pachero was cooked al dente, which is the perfect texture. To my surprise, there was abundant shrimp and some lobster in the dish. The sauce was perfectly seasoned and left me scraping the pan for more. I loved how the dish was presented in a metal pan. Perhaps this helps retain the heat better. Our appetizer was the arancini catanesi (rice balls) which was so crispy on the outside and tasty on the inside. This dish came out very quickly. Overall I really enjoyed my meal. The servers were fast and attentive. The vibe was very homey and felt authentic. We were so full from our meal otherwise we would have ordered dessert! Will have to come back and try more dishes next time. Yum!

Well the food is good and service is too . The dining shed is an eyesore on the street and city does not enforce rules for sheds . Restaurant has 1 shed for diners and 2 small green sheds on street that are not allowed . Also sideway is left black and not cleaned well . Please clean up your sidewalk and remove sheds that are not allowed . Thanks

Highly recommended! I think it was one of the best Italian meals we've had. A nice location near the park. We sat in the outside area, the restaurant inside is very quaint with two floors. The service was exceptional as was the food. I tried these gnocchi with Branzino ragú and I want to go back and have some more!! We also had flatbread, and the búfala salad, both amazing. We ordered the table side tiramisu, such a nice way to prepare a delicious dessert. If you're in NYC this is a must!

Had made reservations for dinner night with my family, and was greeted by a very friendly hostess who got us seated on our table. The ambiance and setup is very romantic and perfect for a date night of a family meal. We got straight to ordering and got a bottle of Valpolicella ($129) which was absolutely delicious. Other things in our order included a tasty Caprese Salad ($21.95), and absolutely deliciously prepared Bucatini cacio e pepe ($26.95), Pappardelle ai funghi porcini ($25.95), and Cavatelli con ragù di agnello, carciofi ed erbette ($26.95). I am no Italian to certify amazing Italian food, but of all the Pasta's I've tasted in my life, this was the best pasta I've ever had. Flavor packed, perfectly cooked, and delicious food! Service was excellent, and food arrives within 7 minutes of ordering. Friendly staff too. Noise levels were slightly on the above average end. Will definitely recommend to friends and family and will definitely visit again!

Every dish was done so well - truly enjoyed my entire dining experience here. The rice balls were a great starter and service was overall fantastic. Felt like a lovely family run shop with people constantly checking in to make sure our food was good & the tiramisu made table side is a must order

Walked in around lunch time on Monday and got seated right away. Super cute little cozy place. The staff were amazingly friendly & welcoming. The food of our choice was so delicious, I wish I lived closer to frequent here more.

Fast efficient service, good ambiance, great location, and the food and wines were good. Tried different kinds of pasta there and everything was good quality. The service was really exceptionally friendly, looking forward to going back. Nothing on the menu really stood out to me though, just good solid Italian.

Had high expectation based on Google and Yelp reviews. We also heard this place was good from many friends. Came in on a Sunday before 1, it was pretty packed and we had to sit at the bar, since we didn't have reservation. Cute and cozy place! Service was good. We wanted particular pasta, but they didn't have them on the menu. I wanted the carbonara, they said they could make it for us, this is why i am still giving them 3 stars for the service. My friend ordered just plain pasta and requested to add garlic, garlic didn't get added. Both pasta came out below average, neither of us was able to finish 1/3 of pasta. If they are an Italian restaurant, we would not expect to have below average when we just ordered the very basic pasta. We ordered a salad so, cute presentation, taste was ok, but salad is salad. Yummy house breads with 3 different dips. Sorry to say, overall, we are disappointed. Or we should have ordered whatever on the menu.

My friend adores this place and it was one of those days where my boxing instructor decided to have PMS and was impossible more than he usually is. I was beyond angry and just needed a drink. My gf met me here because it was close to the gym and her home. When I got there, it was a bit awkward to be seated. I had to explain to them that I had someone coming but I'd like to eat and drink first. So they reluctantly gave me a seat. It took them like 20 min to take my order. I got the fritto misto and it was greasey and fishy. I was a bit grossed out by the dish so I had a few bites and asked them to clear it. They did make me a custom drink which was a limoncello martini that used casa amigos instead of vodka. They seemed to have thought it was odd, but my gf and I loved it. We each had two. I either didn't get the right dish or this place isn't for me. I don't think I will be going back here any time soon.

New spot just opened and I would say the ambiance and food did not disappoint. It was a great move. We liked the dishes we ordered

Hands down one of the best Italian restaurants I've been to in the UES. We sat at the bar as walk-ins and we usually like sitting at the bar anyway. The service was great and food was amazing! Ordered: Ceviche Pappard funghi Tagetelle green

Piccola Cucina is among my favorite places for italian food!! It's somewhat upscale, but I've been here on various occasions for work and when showing my family around the city. I think the food is truly the highlight, but I also enjoy the ambiance of the restaurant, as well as the service. I've been meaning to try more things on their menu, but I always find myself gravitating to the same items because of how good it is. Among my favorites include: Wild Boar Tagliatelle with truffle 5/5: this is such a rich and delicious pasta. It tastes decadent because of the truffle and the wild boar has a ground beef kind of texture and taste, though a bit richer. This has never disappointed me. Italian ceviche with quinoa avocado 5/5: so delightful to share. The fish is fresh, and the light oil and lemon flavors go so well with the avocado and quinoa. Each meal comes with bread and some delicious dipping sauces and oils. Their desserts are also some of the best, including a tiramisu that they make at your table, and a special house made pistachio gelato (pictured). This place is definitely a splurge but I always enjoy coming here. Surprisingly, I've also been able to walk in occasionally without a reservation, though I do advise you make one in case!

I'm in an Italian food kick these days and I stumbled upon Piccola Cucina as I was looking for a restaurant near the Plaza Hotel. First off, the restaurant location is accessible and the ambiance is very inviting. While it is on the small side, they have enough seating and an option to sit on the second floor. The restaurant design is also vibey but feels classy. There is also a separate bar on the second floor. Foodwise, the lobster pasta I ordered was definitely 10/10! The serving looks small on the plate but it is actually the proper size to keep you full with proper space for the Tiramisu! I ordered the Tiramisu as they nake it fresh next to you. I am still dreaming of going back just for the Tiramisu alone. IT IS THAT DELICIOUS!!!!! The service was also great. Waiters were attentive and friendly and know the menu very well. I highly recommend this place if you are uptown!

$$$$$Satisfied and delicious, nutritious and plan ole good..... any more post and they're going to know I'm lying......

AMAZING pasta, good portions and flavor. We walked in on a week night over the summer and the place was already pretty busy. We were seated in the outdoor area which was fine as they kept the area cool. Ordered: 1. Green taligatelle- pasta with wild boar ragu tapped with black truffle. 2. Pacchero ait tre crostacei which was a scampi langoustine with lobster and shrimp. Both dishes were BOMB, maybe a little heavy but sooo flavorful. We will definitely be back!

My favorite Sicilian restaurant in New York. It never disappoint. The service is excellent. Everyone greets you when you arrive and the manager walks around to check on every table make sure everyone got well taken care of. If our waiter was not around someone else would just jump in to help, makes everything seamless. I tried the Sicilian rice ball as appetizer, the beef ragu inside is so flavorful. Wrapped in a thin layer of rice coat and deep fried. It comes with two, big ping pong size good for two people to share. The main I had Pacchero tre crostacei, it's a thick type of round tube pasta I'm not sure I'm a fan. But it's the same sauce as the other scampi pasta. It also comes with a piece of small langoustine and a piece of lobster. Size is perfect. Make sure to order the tiramisu, they come to your table to make it right in front of you, very fresh and very strong coffee.

As a lover of Italian cuisine, I really enjoyed this restaurant. We sat at the bar, as it was a last minute decision to go there, and the place was fully booked. The staff, mostly speaking in Italian to eachother, added a genuine touch to the authentic Italian ambiance. The service was exceptional, with our generously portioned meals arriving within a mere 15 minutes of ordering. But it wasn't just the speed that impressed me, there was a perfect harmony between the truffles an and the red sauce in the Tagliatelle Verdi Con Ragu Di Cinghiale Alle Erbe E Tartufo Nero. The Fusilloni Di Gragnano Scampi was also delicious.

Piccola Cucina uptown was a random find that we found because we needed a place that would seat 2 fast, and this place ended up being a great surprise! They accommodated us so quickly, and the service in general was so friendly and personable and nice. The restaurant's vibes and ambiance felt like we were transported to a small mom and pop restaurant in Italy, with all the fun decor and so many employees being Italian. It was also great to see the manager/owner walking to each table to serve and also ask how our food and experience was. The food itself was very well made. I cannot recommend the zucchini flower starter enough it was delicious. The tiramisu was made table side, which was a cool experience. My favorite bite of the night though was the chocolate mouse dessert. It was spectacular!

One of my friends brought me here as it's one of her favorite restaurants in NYC, though she usually goes to the downtown location. After dining here, she said that she preferred that one, but I did enjoy this meal. I made reservations about a few days in advance for Saturday and they only had 4:45 PM and 9 PM left, so we dined early. I was surprised by how full it was even so early. + Complimentary bread and dips ($0) - 10/10 - I love free stuff, and this was fantastic. The sundried tomato oil was my favorite, and I mostly used that with the delicious fresh bread. The carrots and hummus were fine. + Octopus caprese ($28.95) - 7/10 - I didn't know how the octopus would come out; I thought it would be grilled, but if so, it is very mildly so. The burrata was nice but there was very little of it, and overall I ate this dish wishing there was more. The octopus was well-cooked but not as tender as I would have liked, and the green sauce (basil?) was quite good. Very much a deconstructed caprese with very little tomato confit. For this price, I think I'd much rather make my own. + Fusilli with langoustine and burrata ($24.95) - 8/10 - My friend was disappointed as she says the downtown location is more tomato-forward. Overall, this was pretty good; I was not disappointed by it, and it did inspire me to make a lobster sauce since I have some homemade lobster stock at home and wasn't sure what to do with it. I felt that the bits of langoustine were more overcooked than to my liking, and again, the burrata was barely there. That said, I liked it enough that I want to make something like this (just with more burrata, more sauce, and more pasta). Overall, the meal was good, and I would recommend this if you don't know how to make food like this. I do think I can do better, but it provided inspiration for me, so for me that's a good meal.

Wow, delicious. Great food, good atmosphere and friendly service. We had a reservation for two around 8 pm on a Saturday. We were seated right away. I started with an aperol spritz. Very yummy. We both ordered pasta as our main. We could have shared, the portions were a good size. I had the Pacchero with langoustine, lobster and shrimp. It came in a red sauce that was rich and tasty with good portions of all the seafood. My friend ordered a similar seafood pasta but with more cream in the sauce, the Fusilloni also served with langoustine. Both were delicious. We ended with the tiramisu served table side. I'm not a huge tiramisu fan but there are some places where I enjoy the usually dry espresso cake and this is one of them. They prepare and assemble a single portion of tiramisu at your table that fits in a coffee cup. Perfect for two people to share. The healthy heaping of marscapone was to die for. I would come back just for dessert. Adding Piccola to my list of yummy Italian eats in New York.

Service 5/5 Ambiance 5/5 Food 3.5/5 I came here on a Wednesday evening with a friend. We didn't have a reservation but they had a table for 2 in their outdoor hut, which was VERY warm! (Except when people came in or out and didn't shut the door). We were seated immediately. We got complimentary bread with 3 accompaniments: capers, sun dried tomatoes, and hummus. It was delicious. I got the green tagliatelle and my friend ordered the lasagna. I thought my dish was pretty decent, but my friend thought the lasagna was too cheesy -- to the point where she couldn't even find the lasagna pieces because it was all cheese. We got cannoli on the house for dessert. Our waiter was very attentive and helpful, all the staff we interacted with were very professional. Overall, would recommend for the service and ambiance but the food was just okay.

Sicilian Italian cuisine at its finest with an extensive menu and a fantastic service provided during our dining experience. She was top notched and ever so kind. Because we just wanted to try this place even though we weren't hungry, so we shared the squid ink spaghetti with calamari. Great sauce and not heavy at all.

Very delicious Italian spot! We came here Saturday night and I would recommend a reservation. The interior is rustic and cozy. We got the burrata to start, which was delicious. We also got the truffle focaccia but we would probably try something else next time. We also tried the taglietelle verde and the lobster fusilli. Both were amazing and I would recommend. Overall, I'd go again just for the burrata and two entrees!

Friends brought us to this place for a Christmas Eve dinner. Now...it's frequently not really fair to judge any place on a big holiday, eating with a large group. The kitchen is usually stressed...and sometimes the menu can be changed to a simpler one. Well...this place absolutely nailed the entire experience. From the second you come in the door, you are greeted like you are part of a Sicilian family. The service is impeccable, friendly and fast. The atmosphere is warm and cozy and has that FAMILY feel to it. Being a large group, our hosts opted to have plates brought to share...this way we were able to sample at least 13 different items from their impressive menu. EVERYTHING was beautifully presented and delicious. Protein, pastas and vegetables were all perfectly cooked, and thats really saying something. Bravo to the kitchen staff. Some standout dishes for me were the Arancini Catanese...the rice balls had actual ragu inside..not just meat or cheese...the sauce inside made it unnecessary to have a sauce to put on them. Fantastic. The Frito Misto was so perfectly fried...tender calamari that was super crisp and delicate...one of the pastas was an ossobuco filled ravioli with a veal sauce and pecorino fondue...I could have eaten the entire plate, possibly two...maybe the best ravioli I've ever tasted. The branzino was absolutely wonderful. There was also a potato dish that reminded me of fondant potatoes, but it wasn't. But they were so good, I'm still talking about them. I really must mention that this place has an excellent wine list. Our hosts are wine experts and chose astounding wines for us from their cellar. So if you are into wine this is definitely a place you must try. It's rare that any place can hit all homers, but this place did it effortlessly. If this is how they operate on a night that is likely high stress, I can't wait to see what they can do on a regular night. This is a definite revisit and I can't wait to try more items on their menu! What a great way to spend Christmas Eve with friends!

I was in the area and decided to stop by for lunch. It was so very busy, but was able to secure a spot at the bar. All in all, I enjoyed the food. I got the Gragnano Fusilli with Scampi Langoustine - the pasta was well cooked (a little bit al dente), the langoustine was succulent and well prepared, and the sauce was delicious. That being said, the highlight has to the best the sauces that accompanied the complementary bread, which made for a wonderful, unique experience. The only downside is that it is a bit expensive for the quantity of food. But all in all, it was a nice lunch experience. And certainly a good spot for a nice date or to treat family.

Friends and I when we were on 5th ave felling hungry and wanna try Italian food then open up yelp search for this restaurant, we order 2 pastas and one appetizer, only the appetizer grilled calamari and the squid ink pasta is good no the other one, service was good,she explains the food for us , decoration like in the 1980 .

At first we were going to try some TikTok restaurant but decided to try a place closer that we hadn't seen so much online. THIS place doesn't need the exposure because it's already AMAZING without it. WOW! Quite possibly the best Italian food I've ever had in NYC. It tastes just like the food I've had in Italy. It's so elevated and everything is so beautifully made, like out of a movie. It's such a great restaurant, the ambiance was perfect, and the staff are so nice. Everything I had was amazing. The Tiramisu experience was very nice! Don't leave without it! I got the bruschetta and squash blossoms as an appetizer and it was delicious. For mains we got the lobster shrimp pasta and I got the wild boar pasta. It was tasty, complex, with depth. For dessert we got the tiramisu and the lemon cheesecake. A fantastic meal worth the trip. You won't regret it. Give it a try! I would definitely go again!

Was here last week. It was everything I expected. Wonderful pasta. Intimate and romantic setting. Had the Caponata to start. Beautifully made with love. Loved it here

Great spot, great food, great ambiance/ vibe Busy enough with a cozy vibe Food was excellent, Make reservations!! Well worth it

We were disappointed by our dining experience here. Unfortunately the poor service made it hard to enjoy the meal. We wanted to start with focaccia with prosciutto but wound up with the plain one. Our pasta dishes did not come out together. Mine was brought out and I think the server assumed we were just sharing it. It seemed like we waited for quite some time before my friend's food was brought out. It didn't help that our waiter never really checked on us either. I ordered green tagliatelle with boar ragu and my friend ordered the gnocchi. My dish was good but I liked the gnocchi better. It seemed very fresh and the zucchini flowers were a nice addition.

10/10 for Piccola Cucina! This was exactly what I was looking for when I was seeking a small authentic Italian restaurant on my trip. After browsing many locations and many pictures I knew I had to give this spot a try. Piccola Cucina means "Small Kitchen". One of the first things that stands out is the design out front, it's warm and inviting. Entering the restaurant is a dream, it's dimly lit, close quarters for everyone involved and filled with loud jovial conversation and the sound of forks touching dishes. You can tell everyone in the room is...happy. The hostess sat us quickly. I'm pretty sure all staff members actively speak Italian so it certainly adds to the allure of the whole experience. The upstairs dining is a bit more modern inclusive of decor and music. I was honestly hoping to sit downstairs amongst the bustling atmosphere but they were packed. Upstairs was a bit quieter and more intimate. The most inviting part about our seating was the table next to us, no lie, the older gentleman was raving to his table about how impressed he was with the food. He could not stop talking about the experience and thanking them for choosing Piccola Cucina. I couldn't help but be excited. Service was immaculate, from getting our beverages and food to the table quickly, but also asking us each time if we were ready for the next meal. I ordered the rice balls, and they were fresh, hot, well constructed and had a depth of flavor. I also ordered the lasagna and it tasted like someones grandma made it. It couldn't be a more picture perfect experience. Also, honorable mention for the table bread, the sundried tomato and oil spread is the star of the show. If you haven't tried Piccola Cucina, stop in. You won't be disappointed.

This place came highly recommended and it does not disappoint. From their fresh homemade pastas to their desserts, this is a fantastic place to visit for all pasta lovers. They have the best tiramisu in NYC in my opinion, where the servers make it table side, with the perfect ratio of mascarpone and ladyfingers. I would definitely visit this place again!

Something that stuck out to me most here was the service. Everyone was so friendly, attentive, and hospitable! The decor is so nice and fun - loved the tiles that have pasta inside them that are installed on the wall, and the shelves of different Italian ingredients and cookware! There is also some seating upstairs area that has a cool second bar sea There is complimentary bread with different spreads (hummus, carrot, tomato). The salads are pretty solid to start off with. We were a party of 4 and shared 2 salads to start. My favorite were the entrees. I read on some reviews beforehand so we knew we wanted to try the Tagliatelle verdi con ragù di cinghiale alle erbe e tartufo nero (aka Green Tagliatelle), which was so so worth it. It was delicious! We also ordered the Spaghetti al nero di seppia (Spaghetti with black squid ink sauce), which was also quite good. I ordered the Pappardelle ai funghi porcini which was good, but even for me a mushroom lover I found the mushroom flavor a bit overwhelming to eat by itself. The bread was a good palate cleanser, and I'm glad I got to try the other pasta dishes that my party ordered. I enjoyed the tiramisu dessert, which is a fun experience as the server prepares it by the table! I really enjoyed my dinner here, and am excited to come back sometime to try more of their dishes!

A cozy and inviting spot, we got a nice seat in the corner by the kitchen. We ordered drinks within 5 minutes of being seated and then, unfortunately we were forgotten about. After 30 minutes we finally tried to grab someone's attention and he told us "a few minutes." There was ample staff throughout the restaurant. At least come tell us things are backed up, we should not have to gain your attention after patiently waiting for 30 minutes for 3 martinis. Nonetheless we got our drinks and had to ask if we could order because the server didn't think to do so. We started with the pistacchio focaccia, it was good. We got the arancini and the eggplant parmigiana next. The arancini was not good, I don't know what I was tasting. I've had many a rice ball and this one was lacking. We all agreed it was a let down. I never let food go to waste and half a rice ball was left for the garbage. The eggplant was great. We shared two pasta dishes, the rigatoni ragu and the pacchero with seafood. The pasta was cooked perfectly al dente. The ragu was lackluster, and the seafood pacchero was very good. The portions were generous. Overall, we were all underwhelmed and would have rather spent $100 each elsewhere. I left full but unsatisfied. Wont be coming back to or recommending this location. That being said, I still want to try the location ion Thompson.

My parents are both from Italy and they're both amazing cooks. I grew up in Italian restaurants my entire life. I have never had food as good as this! I usually shy away from going to Italian restaurants because they are most often a disappointment. This restaurant is something I think about every day since I dined here about a month ago. The service, the ambience, the food, and the bar cocktails were just PERFECTION! Most of Manhattan's restaurants that claim to be Italian are actually not. I rarely hear Italian spoken in any of them. If you're looking for authentic Italian food and the New York City experience, make a reservation now. The next time I'm in the city, this will be my first stop.

I feel I'm in a simulation. I've been so exposed to ideologies and I can't remember if I want to go back to Rome, relearn Italian, re-delve myself into the farce of academic righteousness. Nothing in life matters. Not a fritto misto. Neither a branzino, nor a boar ragu. I am pale in the cold New York lack of sun. It gets dark at 4pm and that's when I saunter into Piccola Cucina with a couple on the brink of divorce. We smile and go with the motions. I order a negroni. I am enjoying this meal despite how sad and vacuous life is. No family. No pension. No retirement plan. I'm searching for meaning everywhere and seldom finding it. It's because art doesn't matter anymore and the young kids think I'm cynical. I appreciate Piccola Cucina for this reason. It's leaning on reality. It gives caring and meaning and low light and romance. Despite the couple I'm with! They are as cold to each other as the early sunset. I think to paint a sunset while eating fritto misto. I think it's the perfect winter dish. Vodka and fried food. The staff speaks Italian. I should ask them in Italian, who their favorite painter is. Which band they like the most. It is more likely that I will not have heard of them. That there is a lack of community. I don't know what art means anymore besides being relics of the 1990s. Everything is AI saturated and in the form of memes. Writing on Yelp, detailing a green squigly aldente pasta with boar meat being the new literature. Look, mom! I'm a contributor. I hope I imbue as much meaning here as Piccola Cucina brings a quiet but lovely night out in upper east NYC. A lovely dark early evening, I should say.

Came here for Sunday lunch with a reservation. The restaurant was pretty empty at noon so don't think the res was needed. We had the burrata and prosciutto to start, which was really delicious. The prosciutto was thinly sliced and great quality. I had an iced Americano which was very good. I had a Caesar salad for my main entree, which unfortunately was not my favorite. The dressing was overly salty and it was plated as if it was a wedge salad, so you had to cut it up and mix it yourself, which was difficult since the leaves were a bit soggy.

Pasta was good but was clearly microwaved. The pasta at the bottom was ice cold while the top was warm.