Picone
Italian restaurant · Denton ·
Italian-American comfort food, smashburgers, creative specials
Italian-American comfort food, smashburgers, creative specials
"Picone is an eccentric Italian place with strong Denton vibes. The non-Italian specials, like the Picfish (tempura battered cod, house tartar sauce, and American cheese on a potato bun), the Picuban (its take on a Ruben, obviously), and a grilled chicken Caesar hoagie, are inventive and usually filled with flavor in addition to making great Instagram bait. The regular items, like the chicken parmesan with Sunday sauce, are the stuff of saucy legends. It is revered for its smashburger — yes, seriously. The crew and owners are a bunch who have made their way through some of Denton and Dallas’s best restaurants (those roast carrots are lifted straight from the menu at Queenie’s). The dining room is ad hoc, composed of inexpensive furniture and held together with a wish and a prayer — it did add on a patio-esque room that’s temperature controlled. No worries, though; the food and the staff bring all the atmosphere this spot needs." - Courtney E. Smith
"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
"This little spot in Denton quickly became a community favorite after it opened in early 2023. Run by brothers Tony and Michael Neglia, it serves Italian-American fare, including house-made pastas and inventive specials, like a chicken parm with pesto cream sauce and a baby lamb scottaditto made with New Zealand baby lamb chops, horseradish gremolata, citrus yogurt, and chili oil." - Courtney E. Smith
"Chef Tony at Picone in Denton is doing amazing Italian-American cooking in his own lane, offering fresh, housemade options and inviting flavors so you won’t miss out on unique, palate-pleasing plates." - Courtney E. Smith
Chef-driven, counter-service Italian with weekend chicken parm, burrata, and rotating specials. Covered by Dallas Observer and embraced by locals after the Boca 31 fire, it leans casual but cooks with serious technique and Denton heart.
