Piccola Italia Ristorante

Quaint little place. Nice environment with prompt service. Food was good… not great but I would definitely come back to try other dishes. Had a delish Ketel One dirty martini. The tiramisu was really good.

Hands down my favorite restaurant in Manchester. Friendly wait staff, nice atmosphere, and the food is phenomenal.

One of our go to Italian spots in Manchester. The servers are always friendly and have good recommendations. My boyfriend always gets the fettuccine alfredo with chicken and it’s delicious! The sauce is just thick enough and the chicken is what really makes it. It’s thin but cuts like butter and always cooked perfectly. I had the linguine and clams in a white wine sauce one night and wasn’t the best I’ve ever had, but cheese and salt and pepper made it better. Probably wouldn’t order again but there’s so many other great dishes. They always have verbal specials that sound incredible. They have the best cannoli I’ve ever had! Tiramisu is fantastic as well. The best part of the meal might be the hot rolls you start off with. Ask for extra bread, always.

I highly recommend this traditional Italian eatery. Fresh ingredients, great ambience, and the food is fantastic. They have the Italian staples, but also get a bit creative and adventurous with the specials.

Hubby and I entered Piccola after turning away from a crowded restaurant that I wanted to try. We drove passed Piccola and I decided to check the reviews. A lot of good reviews on OpenTable and TripAdvisor so we decided to give a call. The hostess was very pleasant on the phone and said they have a table for two, perfecto! Looking through the glass window is inviting. Upon entering the restaurant I noticed the ambiance. Not bad, said I. It’s hard not to try my favorite frutti di mare (seafood pasta) at an Italian restaurant, so that was my order. Just wanted to see whether they make it the same here as in NY. Hubby ordered from the special menu, a fish fillet stuffed with seafood. My dish was very good. It’s called Seafood Piccola Italia. This one comes with some lobster meat too, not just the usual seafood. The red sauce was slightly different than the regular frutti di mare sauce I usually get. Perhaps it’s their signature dish sauce? The seafood was delicious, it could be marinated prior but this is just a theory. Hubby’s fish on the other hand was… wow! A wow-​factor! I couldn’t believe but you have to believe. The fish was the best meal I had in Manchester. Very mouthwatering! Our server Matt seemed serious at first but he could tackle many tables at the same time, like a robot. He knew exactly what to say when we joked around. Would like to come back and try other dishes. The trip to Manchester was worth it after all.

We had dinner here last night. The atmosphere was nice. We sat at the bar and the bartender was very pleasant and attentive. I ordered a Caesar salad ($ 7) which had very little flavor. Our entrees were a little bland as well. I ordered the signature dish Tuscany chicken and my fiancé ordered the chicken Parmesan. Both were decent portions but really lacked flavor. The penne pasta that they served with each entrée was barely cooked. Each dish was around $ 18. I would say the best part of the meal was the warm soft rolls that they brought us. I don’t think we’ll be back anytime soon.

Was in Manchester with family and friends and used Unilocal along with other reviews to decide on a spot for pre-​concert dinner. Ultimately chose this spot because everyone in my party liked Italian food. I was a bit disappointed that although I had made reservations for 6PM, and had made the reservations a day or so in advance, we were not seated until nearly 6:30. The prices were also a little higher than I had anticipated so most of us split meals. The waiter did not seem to want to be bothered with us since it took a while for us to analyze prices and divide everything up, after all it was a party of 10. However, the mixed drinks were good and the entrees were plenty and delicious. I would consider stopping by next time I am in town.

First time visit stopped in for lunch and had the best Caesar salad ever made at your table. Butternut squash ravioli was awesome.
My son had chicken parm panini he loved it and mozzarella was so good as well.
Give this place a try it is better then the three star rating it got.

Great meal! Calamari and stuffed mushrooms were perfect. Swordfish and veggies were wonderful.

I had never experienced such wonderful service until I walked into Piccola tonight. I was in town flying solo for a concert (which had just been cancelled as I sat down in the restaurant) and stopped at Piccola for a bite to eat before the show. The hostess was very kind and greeted me promptly. She didn’t make me feel weird for dining alone, which is an important and appropriate service point. She asked me if I preferred to sit by the front windows for a view or out back where it’s a little quieter, and I thought it was so nice of her to ask what I was in the mood for. I opted for the quieter table in a nice little corner. The staff was very attentive, unfolding and placing my linen napkin on my lap and keeping my water glass full at all times. One of the owners was working the tables, talking to guests and being very personable. I gathered they were a small family restaurant, and everyone in the family who I interacted with was very friendly. I felt proud to support this restaurant and I was so happy to have just chosen this place to have my dinner. The music was at a nice volume, the lighting was great, and the Caesar salad I had was one of the best Caesar salads I have ever eaten. I also had the Eggplant Della Nonna which was very tasty. My server did a bit of up selling and I ended up getting a side of penne with marinara to make it more of a meal. Nice job on her end. I finished my meal with a sweet piece of peanut butter pie after my first dessert choice had no longer been available (vanilla pannacotta). My server offered me another option that was similar to the pannacotta but I still went with the pie. Very tasty! The dinner rolls were also hot and fresh when they arrived first thing. I’ll definitely be back if I ever find myself in Manchester again. Thank you to the restaurant for providing me with such an amazing experience that in turn made the cancellation of Shania Twain’s concert little less awful!

We have been coming here for years. This is the best is ever been! Updated inside, the food is fresh and delicious!
Amazing meal tonight!
This is real Italian

Went here with my wife’s family to celebrate there parents 40 anniversary and food was tasteless along with my rubber shrimp and the appetizers were small and calamari for an Italian place was terrible. For the prices should be Italian style portions. WILL NOT BE BACK

Food was excellent. However, after having to make a reservation and getting dressed up, we were sad to see other diners around us in shorts, flip flops and plaid flannel. If you have a restaurant that takes reservations, there should be a minimum dress code requirement. Pants and shoes would be nice. Ugh… nothing nice left anymore without having to go all the way to Boston…

Had a great experience at Piccola’s last month. Brought a group of peers who had traveled to Manchester for a conference. The service was fantastic, top notch. Food is made fresh and you can tell. never an empty glass (really important) and everyone was very pleased with the choice.

Food was great. Service was even better.
In town for work, we found this place on Unilocal And the front desk at hotel helped make the decision. It was the right one.
3 of the 4 entrees were heartily enjoyed. I had the chicken piccata and devoured the whole thing. Zero complaints from the other 2. The 4^th entrée, Butternut squash ravioli, while the taste I tried was delicious it just wasn’t what our friend wanted (she even said she was goin out of her comfort zone).
Our server Amanda even noticed that after they food arrived. And offered to get her something else. She decided on a chicken Parmesan dish which was enjoyed
The icing on the cake was they charged for the lesser of the two entrees and that definatly made an impression with us. it seems the staff will gladly do whatever it takes to make the guests happy with their experience there.
Next time in town we will be back

Piccola Italia Ristorante — Manchester, NH — 2÷26÷2015
Having almost O. D’d on steak over the last few days I figured I would try something different and opted for Italian fare… After looking over their online menu, Piccola Italian Ristorante seemed like the ticket for tonight’s dining excursion…
It’s funny… On the outside of the building the façade does not present the elegant fine dining I have grown so accustomed to and the inside is a blend of bar and restaurant. Unfortunately there is no barrier that separates the bar area for the dining room and seeing a TV from my table is not high on my list… Booths and tables thruout. The walls a blend of brick, mural, photographs and a neon sign in the corner with the name of the restaurant spelled out… Somewhat eclectic for sure… The tables tho are much too small for my taste… I like to spread out… iPad open and enough space to stage my food for the food porn that would soon ensue…
Greeted with a warm welcoming smile I was ushered to my table. My server Alyssa eloquently recited this evenings specials from memory and offered bread… Hot, fresh out of the oven rolls… Instant points as I love warm bread! And yes…, it was that good… The olive oil… The fresh garlic… Salt, pepper, basil and crushed red pepper were a perfect enhancement to such scrumptious rolls… Being offered more rolls after the initial rolls were consumed is another major points earner…
For the main I opted for the breaded chicken stuffed with real chunks of Lobstah, crab, spinach, asparagus and just the right amount of ricotta cheese… All this served over fresh house made fettuccine with a butter garlic sauce ornately decorated with chunks of tomatoes…
The dessert menu was a decadent sampling of various sugary treats… In a rare moment of self control I came within inches of the pineapple upside down cake and opted for my signature cappuccino instead… Another sugary carb crisis averted… Phew!
All in all an enjoyable dinner. Great service, good food, acceptable sound level…
It bears repeating… My server Alyssa was amazing! Ask for her when you come here…

Went again last night for Valentines. Poor man didn’t know I had reviewed this place & didn’t like it. It’s still as gross as ever. We had eggplant as an app… cold & calamari… overcooked and fishy (hence why I got sick later). Bread… we were told 5 times it was coming out of the kitchen only to see everyone around us getting bread. Waitress was friendly enough but never came back to check on us. 2 meals… mine was cold .his was eh (after they brought us the wrong meal and we waited another 20 min to get the right one). We had a 3 pm reservation and it wasn’t that busy. Best part of the meal was the company and the prosecco. Never EVER going back. Oh and please change the 80s music!!! Play Italian music you’re supposed to be an Italian restaurant!!!

Loved it! The eggplant de la nonna appetizer was amazing. The Stracciatella soup was delicious and for an entrée I had the chicken cutlet parmigiana which was huge and perfectly cooked. This is a restaurant in which the owner is the head chef. Again, we loved it and we will be back.

You know, I had really high hopes for this restaurant when I walked in. It was a cold day and the warm environment of the restaurant really reflected the homely Italian style cuisine I was looking for that night. However, what I found in no way reflected what I was looking for.
Now, I’m not an authority on Italian cooking. I am not Mario Batali or Scott Conant. However, as I sat at the restaurant bar waiting for my food to be delivered, I overheard two other patrons reflecting on how one should judge new Italian restaurants by their veal. I don’t know about judging a restaurant by its veal. I feel like veal, even veal piccata, can be quite varied. What I do know is ragu alla bolognese.
Now, there are two reasons why ragu alla bolognese is how I judge an Italian restaurant. First, it is an dish that is easily phoned in. By this I mean, there is good ragu that has meat that has been slowly cooked down, perfuming the sauce with umami goodness. But just as commonly, there is ragu that is nothing more than ground beef mixed into watery marinara. The second reason is that I am a 25 year old that eats like a child sometimes. And I can do that because I am an adult now — sort of.
Well, back to Piccola. Unfortunately, the bolognese here is not quite as good as the one made by Chef Boyardee. Actually, Chef Boyardee is pretty tasty compared to this if you ignore the obscene amount of salt. Furthermore, the pasta I received were cooked to mush. I mean, seriously, how does one still manage to do that these days. I’m sure even the most culinary oblivious person even recognizes the term «al dente».
But yeah. In short. Food here is only passable as Italian. The staff is super nice and the ambiance is good. That’s their only saving grace. So, it’s a good restaurant, as long as you don’t eat anything.

Went here for a company dinner. Great, friendly service. Rolls were warm, soft and delicious, came with yummy garlic herb butter. We ordered the famous Caesar salad, which was really good. Creamy and delicious. They make it right beside your table.
For dinner, we ordered the gnocci, pesto pasta, and pasta puttanesca, respectively. Everything was good. Gnocci was soft, pillowy and delicious. Cooked just right. Drinks and food came in a timely manner. There’s nice seating by the window.
My criticisms– The food is expensive for what it is. The interior leaves something to be desired. There’s plaster on the decorative painted walls. Needs to be repainted. It’s gloomy with the light from the windows and then low lighting deeper inside; I think it would benefit from some better, brighter lighting farther from the window.
I was also a bit offended by our server’s chipping black nail polish. If you are in the service industry, you need to keep your hands looking clean. If you are going to wear nail polish, keep it fresh looking and get a good top coat (Seche Vite is my favorite).