Serge V
Google
We recently made our first visit to Piccolo Papa to enjoy some lunch.
This business is located inside Grand Central Shopping Centre, in the heart of Toowoomba. This allows for ample parking, as well as the opportunity to visit other stores, do groceries, etc., while in the centre.
Piccolo Papa itself has decent ambience, with sufficient seating inside and out. There is a lengthy service counter, behind which you can watch all the food preparation and cooking occur. Always nice to observe what you're about to eat, and how it's done.
Our waitress was relaxed and friendly, and we appreciated her open and honest opinions on the meals. This helped me commit to my final choice, the Truffle Gnocchi. My wife selected her favourite pasta, the Spaghetti Carbonara. We also selected the Lamb Arancini (2 per serve) as entree. Table water was provided, and my wife's home-made ginger lemonade was excellent; non-carbonated, sweet, yet refreshing.
As for the meals, I can see why the Truffle Gnocchi receives consistent mentions in the reviews. It was superb! The cream sauce was rich, thick, and loaded with flavour. The gnocchi were outstanding, virtually melting in my mouth, and nicely balanced by the large chunks of mushroom. The entire meal was delicious and, due to the complex and strong flavours, the serving size was perfect. On this occasion, you wouldn't want too much of a good thing. My wife's Carbonara also rated highly, filled with quality ingredients, not too salty, and large enough that a take-home container was requested.
Last but not least, the Arancini were delicious. Crispy outside, creamy inside, and plenty of flavour thanks to the spiced lamb and mozzarella.
I will add that Piccolo Papa definitely sits at the higher end of the pricing spectrum. That being said, you get what you pay for, and our outlay was more than justifiable considering the superior, high quality meals we enjoyed. For me, an extra $5-$10 per meal, to enjoy premium hand-made pasta loaded with top-shelf ingredients, is a worthy investment.
Overall, Piccolo Papa was genuinely great. A pleasant venue and helpful, consistent service complemented the impressive meals. There was little to fault, and we will undoubtedly return another day.