It's funny to see all these lukewarm reviews. This restaurant is my favorite Italian on Shrewsbury Street. I've had nothing but excellent food and service here. Better yet, we can walk there from my loft. I find the interior to be authentic and "neighborhoody" very convivial with many of the patrons seeing to know one another. On our first time there, a Friday night Massachusetts' Lieutennant Governor was eating there with her husband and they knew everyone as well. We had the Salmon with pasta which my partner liked very much and I had a pasta special with ragu of beef in a Vodka cream sauce. My partner was very pleased that I gave up halfway thru (as the portions are generous) so he could finish mine. This place has become my go to for a casual Italian dinner and I've been back several times. I plan to book for next week as I have friends coming from out of the area. read more

I went on Friday, 01/08, at 18:00. I sat at the bar that had 3 people drinking and 1 couple dining. The bar was staffed by 2 women. I selected a special, Pappardelle Bolognese, which was very bland tasting. It had none of the flavors, or depth of flavors, of a long cooked sauce (ragu). My next disappointment was in the dessert offerings - they had no Italian desserts! No tiramisu, no cannoli, not even cookies! The service started out nicely with a friendly greeting and a prompt food and wine menus but quickly deteriorated, to the point, that, my server had her back to all of us so she could text without us seeing her. The noise level is very high in the front part of the restaurant as the bar and front dining area have no physical separation. It's been almost 10 years since my last disappointing visit and I see no reason to visit soon again. read more

This place was not COVID safe our table was less than a foot away from another table to the point where the chairs were touching. They had a Valentines menu and did not give any warning that it would be limited as well as more expensive. Someone in my party received undercooked chicken as well. Seemed like it was filled with loud regulars who had no respect for other guests and would get up from their table without a mask. read more

I am so excited to find this place. I have been on the lookout for a local go-to Italian restaurant. I believe I have found it! read more

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This is the restaurant in Worcester which receives my highest recommendation. It seems like a diamond in the rough yet it's located right in the middle of Shrewsbury (for all intensive purposes the pinnacle of restaurants in Worcester). I had ravioli, garlic bread, and a caesar salad they were perfect. My companion had the Pesce Piccolomondo and she raved about it! You simply must try it!!! read more

Delicious! Melissa, our waitress, was an absolute gem. Garlic bread is a must! We had a couple of pasta dishes which were incredible. Stuffed peppers were amazing. Just everything was perfection. read more

First time here. Came here for restaurant week. Normally the menu consists of appetizers, entree and dessert. Here they offered soup, salad and entree. The soup of the day was described by the waitress as "tomato base with macaroni." really? How did the waitress not know it was minestrone. It was ok. The strawberry Caesar salad was fabulous. It had some type of strawberry vingarette/Caesar dressing. The croutons were homemade. The size was large. The entree was sautéed chicken with banana peppers, spinach and feta cheese in an oil wine sauce. Kind of bland and way too many peppers. The place was slow especially for a Friday night and the waitress was non existent most of the time. $2.25 for Ice tea and no free refills. The decor was ok. The room was uneven and all the tables leaned to 1 side. Nothing to write home about and not likely to return (except for maybe a take out caesar salad). read more

My new favorite garlic bread, with the Gorgonzola funduta!!! It taste so damn good. The spaghetti alla bechera was very flavorful. I would have loved one dollop of cream with basil would provide a great fresh coolness. Would love the opportunity to try the sauce over a wide noodle. I would love to eat there in person. I ordered via grubhub. Excellent over all!! read more

Wow! We celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary at Piccolo's. The service was absolutely perfect. Piccolo himself is very active with everyone and helps his staff. The hostess was so welcoming and made you feel like we were family. The food was fantastic. I am Italian and cook Italian food all the time and it takes a lot for me to enjoy it out. The chicken parm was cooked and seasoned to perfection. A must have is the garlic bread with Gorgonzola sauce. I have to be honest and say this was a better meal than I have ever had in the North End. The atmosphere of Piccolos' was exactly the feel I was looking for to celebrate our anniversary. We will make this place our new go to restaurant! read more

I liked the food, but was disappointed by the management. I brought a minor quality problem to the attention to the waitress, she turned to the other waitress and said "I better tell xxxxx." After she returned she acted like nothing happened and asked if we wanted coffee or desert. When we said no, she returned with the check. No adjustments or anything! They NEVER addressed the quality problem. The poor waitress are getting no backup from the management to address customer issues. I will think twice before going back. read more

What a cute little place to have dinner. That said I think I wanna come back for lunch. The prices are average Worcester Shrewsbury street Italian restaurant prices, and this place comes without the pretentiousness. The service was so attentive it was borderline annoying but all of the food was very good , no fancy presentation. Its super dark in this place, even at the bar. Given the size of the place, I can't say its good for groups, unless that group is of 4 or less. Some may call that cramped, but I call that intimate. Its not a business lunch/dinner spot, but rather a date night place, when you really are too lazy to do anything spectacular, but still want a romantic setting and good eats. The bar is actually kinda neat here; small, but fully stocked with a lot more liquor than you'd expect. The drink menu is pretty creative for such a tiny operation. I had a mushroom ravioli that did indeed have pasta that was made that very day. After making it fresh in my own kitchen plenty of times, I can say that I can recognize the taste. The sauce was a buttery light mix of garlic and lemon. It really was perfect and not a filling ravioli dish that makes you feel like rolling home. My date has a braised pork dish, that may have just been a special but was out of this world with the perfect sauce. Speaking of sauce, if you are on the hunt for the NEAR perfect red sauce... this is the place. It is essentially Italian food but the menu hints at a lot of Mediterranean influences. Again, pretty typical of Worcester but not unwelcome to my belly. Take your boyfriend (in sweatpants or dress pants) and love it up. read more

Biggest chicken parm I've ever seen, absolutely delicious! We have driven by 100 times, I can't believe it took so long for us to try it!

Great Meal, Great Time My boyfriend and I ate at Piccolo's Saturday Night for the first time. We initially sat at the bar for a drink until our table was ready. The crowd was lively and friendly. We were having such a great time, I didn't want to leave. We were seated at our table which was in the back room by a window where the atmosphere was pleasant and the lighting was perfect for a cozy, romantic dinner. I had one of the best salad's I've ever eaten. It had apples, walnuts and cranberries in it. The dressing was light, and not over done. We both split the Veal Parmesan which was also delicious. The waitress was attentive and pleasant. We topped the evening off with a dessert the waitress recommended, and a cup of espresso. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone wanting a great, authentic, Italian meal. We will definitely be back. read more

Anytime I am in the Worcester area craving Italian Cuisine I swing into here. My got to dish is the "Butchers Special" love the spiciness. Atmosphere is small and intimate bringing and very cozy feeling. read more

Worst service with flies all over .amy needs a better attitude put some effort into your attitude. Food good.

no water was served to us and the soda was 5 dollars each. the food tasted like shit and was expensive. the waitress was rude and disrespectful after we accidentally spilled a drink and she didn't even get us a new one. read more

bad. bad. bad. horrible food and even worse service. do NOT recommend. over priced for no reason.

We were here for their Valentine's Day special. The menu Items were not usual and unfortunately the usual items we wanted to try were not available. The place was packed, the service was great and food was delicious. We even ended up getting a bottle of their house Chianti to go it was that amazing. read more

Giving up on Yelp. Been to five start places that are no where near it and three start places that are superior. This is one of them. Don't understand why this isn't 4.5 or above. Excellent food. Nice people. One of the best Italian in WORCESTER. read more

Fabulous food and great service in an old style Italian atmosphere. Probably hasn't been updated in 50 years, so if that's not important to you go here. Delicious! read more

The food here is amazing full of flavor. You must to try them out. Right on shrewsbury st. Great atmosphere. read more

Living in Boston's Little Italy this place can hang. We had a group event there and the service and food quality did not disappoint. The veal chop was tender and the potatoes had flare. Thoroughly impressed with this joint. read more

Wicked awesome food and the service was beyond amazing!! Shanelle was our server and she truly was above and beyond, her personality was so great!! The food, the service, the atmosphere, and the wine was to die for!! We didn't wait long at all for our food or drinks and we were very promptly greated and taken care of completely!! Thank you too all the staff!! Location of the restaurant gives you many options for other dining but I highly recommend this particular location! I am Italian so I am very picky when it comes to Italian food and I was more then happy with our experience all the way a crossed the board!!! Definitely 5 stars!!!!! read more

The food is made from scratch. The service is sincere and our server was on point. It was the last night of restaurant week, which we were unaware of when we made our reservation. Half of the party came from Massachusetts..the other from Connecticut and the plans were relatively last minute but we were seated promptly. From the outside it looks like something you might find tucked away in a back alley of the north end. I think the value for the money on the restaurant week menu was right on. Our party had a range of dishes..from pasta to veal parm..everything is made from scratch..the sauces, the pastas..all of it. My suspicion is that the veal was made in advance, or at least the cutlets were, it was a tiny bit dry but the flavors more than made up for it. Being a longtime industry person I get the importance of being able to bust out dishes during a restaurant week rush. Good, homemade food. Give it a shot, you'll be glad you did! Sent from my iPhone read more

I have been going to Piccolo's since it's opening. It is by far my favorite restaurant in Worcester. Not only is the food delicious but the place has the kind of charm you want from a local restaurant. The servers are all super friendly and knowledgable about the menu. The owner, John, is always around to say hello or offer a recommendation. My absolute favorite item on the menu is the Pollo Maria Theresa. It is a pasta dish with lobster spinach and chicken in a slightly creamy sauce that has a hint of lemon. It is perfection. Other items that are must trys: Fried oysters- do you need a reason? Spaghetti alla bechra- perfectly spicy against the red wine pasta. Literal comfort in a bowl Veal Parm (and I don't like to eat veal but it's too good not to here) It's the perfect place for a date, family/friends dinner or solo night at the bar. Do not skip this place if you are in Worcester for dinner. read more

Our family went for a celebration. Boy was I disappointed. Service was sub par and there were barely any people in the restaurant. Our drinks arrived in these tiny little glasses. Had to keep reordering refills which got to be annoying since the waitress never came around. The bread finally showed up on the table. it was STALE. I was so embarrassed because I suggested this place. Food was just OK especially for the prices they charged. I won't be going there ever again. read more

What a splendid evening of beautiful cocktails, salads, appetizers, wine snd pasta! Our server, Kristen, could not have been more delightful and accommodating. She knew the menu and specials thoroughly. Fried oysters were perfectly cooked and delectable, the house salad delicately dressed with lemon and mint Enhanced dressing is addictive, veal cutlet thin, crispy and tasty On a bed of homemade Gemilli. Haddock and lobster on fresh angel hair with asparagus with a lemon sauce. Desserts were so delish! read more

Love Piccolos! You haven't experienced the restaurant until you have the Ravioli 157 appetizer, made by the owner in a delicious pink sauce. Great Italian food, cool atmosphere..definitely would recommend. read more

Went late on a Saturday night. The ambiance was really nice and the food good. Our server seemed to view questions as challenges though. Would like to go back during a more "normal" hour as maybe she was just tired. Def recommend though! note: love, love, love the old school Italian music read more

We just happened upon this place by chance. We were hungry & took the exit off the highway. We saw others walking in so we followed them. What a great place!! They treated us like family!! The wait staff was very friendly and the food was excellent!! It was a cute Italian place with the best baseball-sized meatballs we've ever had!!! We would highly recommend this gem!! read more

I travel for business all the time. There are few times I am wow by a place. Piccolos is simple amazing, the food and the service is top notch. The master chef john is so personable. Truly a good a gem. read more

Food was very good but the service was not which is why I gave only 3 stars. Waitress (I think Kristen) was very poor. She took over 15 minutes to get a glass of water, didn't offer bread, and then when we asked for a dessert menu (at this point we were one of three remaining tables left) that took about 20 minutes. All portions were good size and everyone liked them but I'm not rushing back there any time soon. read more

Reminded me of old Shrewsbury street Italian restaurants. Atmosphere was intimate, service was excellent. We had the calamari and garlic bread for apps. I had the lobster Mac and cheese for an entree. Everyone in my party thoroughly enjoyed our meals. I would highly recommend Piccolos to anyone who enjoys good classic Italian food with a slight twist. read more

Nice looking place. Had the ravioli. Got home and started getting stomach cramps. Threw it all up. Was sick all night. STAY AWAY.

After attending a concert at the Hanover Theater a few nights ago, my wife and I enjoyed a late dinner at Piccolo's along with our good friends. The homemade lasagna (with the homemade sausage) was tremendous. Both my wife and I loved it and our friends enjoyed their meals as well. Great, attentive service is also worth noting. read more

True authentic Italian food and a great atmosphere. The food was absolutely awesome, you can tell it's fresh and homemade. Service was impeccable, simply a great experience. read more

Everything about Piccalo's was first rate. We sat at the bar for dinner by choice. Cocktails were perfectly made by a very personable bartender. We were greeted by the owner Johnny who was ever vigilant. He took our order, two of his favorite dishes he said. The preparation and portion size were perfect. We enjoyed some friendly conversation with a local, it's always nice to do that .We left our car there and walked to dcu for a show. Returning we found Johnny and some of the crew out front enjoying some after closing camaraderie. We were greeted nicely and briefly joined the conversation. We will return to Piccol's when we visit Worcester again. It's well worth the drive from the Cape. read more

Great place- very nice ambience with great historic feel. The food was delicious and they have a full bar so you can get great wine and cocktails. It's a very city type of place and I think it's pretty popular. read more

Ate dinner at piccolos last night. We haven't been there in 4 years and l know why. Soup was not hot. The ceaser salad was dry and had to ask for more dressing. And my pasta had water in it. Appatently nothing was tasted before it left the kitchen . Whoever the head chef is, he should be fired. It used to be good. Not anymore. DONE!!!!!! read more

Very talented chef who deserves higher marks but won't get them until they expand or reduce the number of tables.....last time my wife and I ate here the food flirted with spectacular but the sound of the guy next to me chewing was f&*(^%$ unbearable. I actually had someone spill salad all over me when their salad tipped off of the table. It is a big issue here folks...but if you like to eat elbow to elbow with strangers this is your place...still the food is so good he gets "3" stars. read more