Piccolino, Clitheroe

Phone number: 01200 423111

Lancashire Telegraph review by Ben Briggs from December 15, 2008.

IN ORDER to make people part with their hard-earned cash in the current climate you’ve got to provide something pretty special and that’s exactly what this new restaurant has done.

Piccolino is an Italian eaterie set in the shadow of Clitheroe Castle, but the newly-refurbished building does a lot to bring a touch of grandeur to the street.

And if outside appearances seem impressive then the interior does more than enough to match it.

The owners of the restaurant, who have sites across the UK, have obviously spent a lot of time and money creating a plush environment to dine in, with sleek wooden floors, a stylish bar and two-level dining. With a large menu to choose from, the service was friendly and the quick arrival of drinks allowed time to make a considered decision over what to order.

When the ribollita — a bean, cabbage, tomato and herb soup — arrived it was a delicious way to start the meal which mixed a host of flavours and gave a good indicator of what was to come. In the meantime my girlfriend was impressed with her risotto alla zucca starter, which included roast pumpkin and smoked bacon.

An Italian version of sausage and mash — salsiccia Toscana con fagioli — was my choice for main course and it did not disappoint, with fantastic Italian-style sausages in a tomato and bean sauce providing a memorable twist to a Lancashire favourite. The other main course was linguine ai gamberetti with king prawns and garlic, which seemed to prove a hit with the other half, although she did wonder whether the prawns could have had a bit more flavour.

For dessert I chose a warm chocolate pudding with ice cream and I must admit that it was one of the best I've ever tasted.

With three courses each, two glasses of wine and a bottle of water coming to just over £50, it was not budget dining, but with such great food it is definitely a fine addition to the area’s restaurant scene.

The verdict

The owners have obviously spent a lot of time and money.

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