Mexican and Italian food in the same restaurant? That doesn’t make any sense, but believe me; the food at Piccolo’s makes perfect sense!
Piccolo’s was created about 30 years ago, when an Italian married into a Mexican family. Both families had experience in the restaurant business and eventually decided to combine their expertise into one restaurant. Today, Piccolo’s serves great food at five different locations in the Denver area. I visited the one located at 1744 E. Evans Ave.
Despite negative rumors I have heard regarding Piccolo’s cuisine, my dining experience was memorable and the meals I enjoyed were to die for!
Atmosphere: The restaurant is family oriented so the atmosphere is clean and friendly. But like the manager says, “people don’t come for the atmosphere, they come for the food.”
Service and Staff: Service quick and meals come out relatively fast also. The staff is great and everyone is super friendly the wait staff smiles often. The restaurant manager is usually circling the restaurant chatting with guests and making sure food and service is top notch.
The Food: Piccolo’s food is excellent. Piccolo’s orders their ingredients from a producer that makes everything homemade. The producer makes the noodles, salsa and tortillas fresh and then delivers these ingredients to each Piccolo’s. Piccolo’s restaurants use the top quality ingredients to make their own fresh chili, tortilla chips and bread daily.
The tortilla chips are unusual. They are seasoned with numerous spices that create a very unique flavor. The bread is baked every morning and it tastes homemade and fresh. Bread plus chips and salsa are served with every meal.
The Piccolo’s menu is divided into two sections: Italian and Mexican.
On the Italian side, the spaghetti is the most popular. Again, the noodles are made fresh. The sauce has a smooth texture and is not bland. The Italian menu has a lot of choices, from pizza to Fettuccini Alfredo.
The Mexican side of the menu also contains many options. The most popular is the chili rellenos. The Ticoritto is the oldest item on the menu. It is a tortilla filled with beans, Spanish rice, and beef, then served almost like an enchilada. All of the individual flavors are distinct and not hidden by other ingredients.
Desserts are more traditional, and the carrot cake is good. The owner’s wife makes the cake . It has a sweet flavor and a distinct texture.
The prices are a little higher than you might expect, but relatively low, especially for the quality of the food. Expect to spend $7 to $10 per meal.
What to Order: The chili rellano is my favorite on the Mexican menu. The outside is crisp and has a great, rich taste, while the inside is filled with gooey melted cheese. The whole thing is topped with tasty pork green chili. The Mexican food is authentically made, but not too spicy. Piccolo’s does not have to hide their food behind a spicy exterior.
On the Italian side, the stromboli is my favorite. It is baked fresh with homemade bread filled with meats and cheeses. This calzone-type meal accentuates the flavors of the meats with the perfect seasonings. You also get to dip the stromboli in Piccolos wonderful marinara. The stromboli was just fabulous!
Try the Mexican cinnamon rolls made from rich buttery dough rolled into mini delights. Each layer is coated with a buttery sauce and cinnamon and sugar. The rolls come out crisp, thin, and warm. This dessert is excellent.
Piccolo’s does not get as much business as it should. We have all heard rumors about this restaurant and that its food is not that great. All you have to do is try it. Believe me you will be pleasantly surprised.
Overall Rating: 4 B= out of 5
Piccolo’s delivers and caters. The restaurant likes to support the DU community. Their phone number is 303-722-4955. Hours are Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Piccolo’s is located at 1744 E. Evans Avenue.
