I keep wanting to like this place....I really do. It has two great private rooms for a small party of 10 or a large party of 60, it's reasonably priced, easy to get too, the food reviews are wonderful......but it's the food. Meh. I just can't get into it. I've been to Italy, I love the authentic dishes, but I just can't seem to find that one that wins me over here. Why 3 stars? The private spaces are wonderful. I've thrown 3 parties in the private wine bar room! Great prices, friendly staff, everyone seems to enjoy the food. Just not me. But hey, that's OK. That is why they put a star right smack in the middle!
(3)
Holly S.
One of my favorite places to dine with Mr. V! They have the BEST rollatta and meat sauce ive ever eaten! EVER. The meat sauce is loaded with tender pieces of meat, chunks of tomatoes, and super savory with the right amount of acidity. The rollatta is delicate layers of homemade pasta, ricotta cheese, mozzerella and parm with garlic and spinach rolled up. It's divine! If you want to just try it as an app (as seen in my pic) you get one slice. If you get it as a meal you get two pieces! Their "Italian" dressing is homemade and delish too. Pasta carbonara is good but I've had better. The bread basket is amazing. We've bought the bread, dressing and meat sauce many times and made our own meals with it and loved it! Service is great except the one time we went and had a male server. The two girls are great but him not so much I highly recommend trying this place out it's awesome!
(5)
Michelle P.
This place amazing, a hidden neighborhood gem. The outdoor patio is beautiful, especially at night with lights and a tranquil fountain. I love the homemade pasta, and my husband usually orders table side prepared Steak Diane. Prices are extremely fair, especially considering other restaurants in the area. Can't wait for our next trip back!
(5)
Pete D.
Lot of fun and a fair value. An traditional Italian delight with a warn and friendly room (a bit dated) to hang and talk to your guest and or friend with a good meal. The food is a good, but you need to ask the right questions like their Italian pepper and sausage not recommended but there are lots of real good items to choose from all the pasta are very good. I also like their house wine. If you're in Shelby twp try the place out. Piccirilli's is located off Van Dyke on the East side. You have to be on the look out or you will pass it by. The ristorante is set back a bit so if you get to 24 mile road heading north then you have gone too far.
(4)
Anthony D.
Great restaurant! Always good food. Makes one of the best filets around. Have been coming here for over 25 years.
(4)
Ron C.
Old School Italian ...place for sure! No booths , 100% tables & a large earthy fireplace in the middle of one of the dining rooms. Ive wanted to eat here since moving to Shelby Twp. What took me so long? Well honestly it looks pricey, yes it does, so I looked on line for the menu, the web site has been under construction for months. So I stopped in once for a carryout menu. Got it home & the print/fonte were so small I still had no idea how much an entree would set me back. So finally my chiropractors office manger & I discuss multiple things , which lead to hear talking about her "All Time Favorite Restaurant" Piccirilli's So 12-20-13 I called the bride from work & said you've got a date at 6pm. She asked how to dress, I said "Snappy/Casual will work" Picked her up and we arrived at Piccirillis at 5:50 A SUPER Charming hostess sat us in Natalie's section , as Jan told us to request her. Natalie enthusiastically arrived on the scene & introduced herself & inquired was it our first time & who refereed her to us? My bride always orders a chicken dish & tonight ordered a lemon chicken pollo with capers & artichokes/mushrooms & it included a soup/salad & a large side of pasta She remarked , this is my new favorite dish & restaurant! I inquired about the rolatta, which my friend JAN recommended . Well Natalie who come to find out if married to the chef & is the owners daughter in law, knew rolatta like the back of her hand It is sheets of pasta, covered in cheese ,ricotta & mozzarella, spinach & red sauce, then rolled & cut into 1-2 inch strips like a jelly roll & served on a plate with more sauce. It was fabulous! And such a comfort food choice on a cold rainy/snowy night. I upgraded my salad to an anti pasto, which is surprisingly not on the menu, but Natalie made it happen anyways . [ $5 upcharge ] Entree's range from $11 - $18 for a majority of them, plus some pricier steak - fish options.
(5)
Scott M.
This was a very nice night out. The restaurant is tucked back off the road a bit. The decoration was very 70' s /80 's. But the food was spot on! Stephanie, our waitress was very pleasant, knowledgable of the menu. My wife and I asked a lot of the prep and ingredients of the entrees on the menu. We ordered the filet with mushroom sauce and the Rollata. Everything was great. The steak was good , and the mushroom sauce was really flavorful. I would recommend this restaurant.
(5)
Rob G.
Great homemade Italian food. Good wine list. Make sure you ask to sit near the fireplace in the winter.
(5)
Adrienne F.
The food and ambience is timeless. Traditional Italian fare at great prices. Love how when you order a dish, soup or salad comes w/ it and if you do a meat dish, a side of pasta. We had a wonderful time here for my Mom's bday. Great tiramisu.
(5)
Tony M.
I don't like writing these overly negative reviews, but I feel the need to warn people away from this place when there are two other decent Italian restaurants within a few miles that are so much better. Money should not be spent here. We got here at 4:45 p.m. and the place was almost empty, but for some reason the greeter (who turned out to be the busboy and who knows what else) asked us if we had a reservation. This is not a place to go if you're in any kind of hurry. It took 10 minutes to get water, 10 minutes to get bread, etc. The whole meal took an eternity. There was only one server and she vanished for long periods of time in between. Maybe she was cooking the food? Now the food is along the same mediocre at best theme. The minestrone soup had no flavor and everyone else looked at me when I put salt in it twice, but they ended up salting things before the end of the meal. The pasta course had almost no sauce on it, and what was there had no taste. Was there Parmesan to be had (in an Italian place)? No. I had chicken that was supposed to have a wine and lemon sauce on it. It ended up having what appeared to be a sheen of grease or butter on top and almost no flavor. Everyone else's food was similarly tasteless. My wife got ravioli and they looked more like Chinese dumplings and were incredibly dry and had little sauce on them. She would have asked for more sauce, but it would have probably taken 20 minutes to get it. Did I mention that this wasn't cheap? $15 per each lousy entree. Another 10 minutes to get the bill, 10 minutes to get our cards picked up. There are very few things that bug me as much as paying good money for bad food, so I was irritated when we left here. We had joked about hoping that we didn't see Gordon Ramsey or Robert Irivine when we walked in here, now I think that would be best for Piccirilli's.
(1)
Rachel D.
I've eaten dinner at Piccirilli's and I also had my wedding reception dinner here, so I can review on both accounts! Both were fabulous experiences. First, the special event, held in the lovely banquet room and sunroom (charming, with lots of exposed brick). Piccirilli's first interested me because of its proximity to the Hope Chapel, where we had our wedding ceremony. You can actually walk from the chapel to the restaurant - it's super convenient. But the food is what sold us! Everything is fresh and prepared with lots of attention and care. The owner, Umberto, is super nice and truly made my wedding reception the most memorable experience. It's obvious he takes pride in their food and he went out of his way to make sure everything was perfect that evening. He was so easy to work with throughout the whole planning process, as well (which is also important when you're planning a big, stressful event!). Guests raved about the calamari and the tenderloin Diane. Their garlic bread is fresh and delightful, not being too heavy on the garlic or salt. And one of my favorites was the pasta and meat sauce (had to be careful eating that while wearing a wedding dress - haha). The restaurant itself has an old-world intimate feel. The waitstaff were attentive and the wine selection certainly paired well with the Italian dishes. I'm a big fan of Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, which I was pleased to see was on the wine list. I love the Chicken Piccata, the potatoes and the green beans, as well. Don't forget to indulge in a cannoli! The only downside is that Piccirilli's is a bit of a drive from where we live. Also, it's not cheap. It's perfect for a special occasion - or just for a nice treat! Can't wait to return.
(5)
vin m.
great food, great experience. I loved sitting on the outside patio the first time, the second time it was night and we sat inside. both times had the peppers & sausage appetizer to start and you can tell it's home made sausage, which most nobody does anymore. the pasta was cooked perfect, not mushy, the chicken was tender. I loved the chicken cacciatore and my wife's shrimp pasta was excellent. the second time we went we sat inside the bar and enjoyed most of the appetizers on the menu, with a little (a lot) of wine. I will definitely go back here. Since there are not many authentic Italian restaurants left in the area, I will keep going here.
The best fettuccine alfredo you'll ever have! Great wait staff & really nice atmosphere!
(5)
Annalisa B.
My family has been going to Piccirilli's since I was a little girl. My bridal shower was here, we celebrated my parent's and grandparent's wedding anniversaries here. It is, simply put, my family's favorite Italian restaurant this side of Windsor... and coming from a first generation Italian American - that is saying something. We are quite picky about our food! Umberto and his staff have really perfected the art of Italian cuisine. His new menu is great. He has no problem accomodating my food allergies and treats us like family each and every time we come in. Ask Umberto for his wine reccomendations and be sure to order Rouladin ( a rolled pasta dish) if it's on the menu - it is incredible! and I'm allergic to it - but still crave it! So order one on my behalf, please!! :)
(5)
Heather D.
Amazing food and service! Stephanie paid attention to every detail. We had a wonderful Red Zinfandel to compliment our dinner choices. Chicken Piccatta for myself, Veal Marsala for my husband. Each entree included a choice of soup or salad, a pasta course and accompaniments. Tonight the entree was served with Santa Anna potatoes and sauteed zucchini. The flavors of everything blew me away! Everything about this meal was perfect!
(5)
Michele S.
The food was just alright....The place is kinda dingy and old.. We ordered calamari for our appetizers..not impressive...for dinner entrees, we ordered long neck clam linguine, ravioli, and fried shrimps again, nothing is memorable....I can only say resturant's white sauce pasta is better than its tomato base sauce pasta..the ravioli was under-cooked. We also tried its dessert tiramisu..which is also alright...Price is not too high for an italian cuisine..but I think it's over-priced for the quality of food that we got.. I would not recommend this place ..I would choose Adiamo or Brio over this Italian cuisine..
(2)
Daniel E.
I had dinner with my wife and a good chunk of my extended family at Piccirilli Ristorante in Shelby Twp. following a baptism. My wife comes from a large Sicilian family, so their taste in Italian food and restaurants is usually pretty much spot on. For the most part, Sunday was no exception. This is a large, but family owned restaurant. Yes, it's one of those places you could probably imagine mobsters eating in. Family style service. For those unfamiliar, you basically pass around large plates of pasta, just as you would in your own home. The only thing that wasn't family style was the Antipasto and the Secondo. This review really should be dated August 2008. I have yet to be back, but would like to go again the next time I find myself on the east side. Antipasto (Starter): Antipasto Piccirilli The antipasto was very, very good and featured fresh Mozzarella in a very light olive oil surrounded by Capicolla ham, Genoa salami, fresh Prosciutto, smoked Provolone and pickled pearl onions and vegetables. It was portioned perfectly and was light and pleasant. Added bonus was that they didn't over oil the plate, which made it great way to prep the palet. Primo (Pasta): Penne in Red Sauce, Bowtie Primavera Began with the Bowtie Primavera. It came out nice and hot and was served family style (wouldn't ask for anything less in a Sicilian joint). It wasn't terribly heavy, and the family style kept you at a nice and appropriate portion. Great use of peas, cauliflower was still tender and the white sauce was excellent. I prefer my pasta done slightly Al Dente, so I'll deduct a small point there. The Penne was fantastic. It featured a really well done rustic tomato sauce that had just the slightest kick to it. I found myself longing for more of it after the dish had made the rounds, but settled for the chance to dunk a garlic roll in my sauce instead. Contorno (accompaniment): Multi-leaf featuring a house Italian The salad was my only complaint of my Piccirilli meal. It came featuring red cabbage and a variety of green leaf lettuce and a pool of house Italian dressing. I realize that this was a large get together (chef had to prepare for at least 70) but there was no need for that much dressing on any salad. Most of mine was swimming in the dressing and I couldn't appreciate the subtle flavors of the greens. Secondo (main course): Veal Siciliano Could have been a little warmer at serving time, but again, I appreciate the toughness given the large party. The Veal was very tender, cooked appropriately and very lightly breaded. The breading didn't mask the flavor of the meat. It was served alongside a few summer veggies (string beans) and a sliced and peeled baked potato. The tomato, basil and balsamic topper was to die for. Vino: Burlwood Cellars Merlot - 2005 The wine, which I believe to be a restaurant variety from Gallo, was fairly unremarkable. It was drinkable, but added nothing special to the meal. Dolce (dessert) Unfortunately, my wife had a headache, so we had to skip out before Dolce. All in all, a nice experience. The waitstaff had good control over a large room of nearly 100 fussy Sicilians and the food was warm, on time and prepared with skill. I'll be back.
(4)
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Address :52830 Van Dyke Ave
Shelby Township, MI, 48316
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Intimate Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
Kim E.
I keep wanting to like this place....I really do. It has two great private rooms for a small party of 10 or a large party of 60, it's reasonably priced, easy to get too, the food reviews are wonderful......but it's the food. Meh. I just can't get into it. I've been to Italy, I love the authentic dishes, but I just can't seem to find that one that wins me over here. Why 3 stars? The private spaces are wonderful. I've thrown 3 parties in the private wine bar room! Great prices, friendly staff, everyone seems to enjoy the food. Just not me. But hey, that's OK. That is why they put a star right smack in the middle!
(3)Holly S.
One of my favorite places to dine with Mr. V! They have the BEST rollatta and meat sauce ive ever eaten! EVER. The meat sauce is loaded with tender pieces of meat, chunks of tomatoes, and super savory with the right amount of acidity. The rollatta is delicate layers of homemade pasta, ricotta cheese, mozzerella and parm with garlic and spinach rolled up. It's divine! If you want to just try it as an app (as seen in my pic) you get one slice. If you get it as a meal you get two pieces! Their "Italian" dressing is homemade and delish too. Pasta carbonara is good but I've had better. The bread basket is amazing. We've bought the bread, dressing and meat sauce many times and made our own meals with it and loved it! Service is great except the one time we went and had a male server. The two girls are great but him not so much I highly recommend trying this place out it's awesome!
(5)Michelle P.
This place amazing, a hidden neighborhood gem. The outdoor patio is beautiful, especially at night with lights and a tranquil fountain. I love the homemade pasta, and my husband usually orders table side prepared Steak Diane. Prices are extremely fair, especially considering other restaurants in the area. Can't wait for our next trip back!
(5)Pete D.
Lot of fun and a fair value. An traditional Italian delight with a warn and friendly room (a bit dated) to hang and talk to your guest and or friend with a good meal. The food is a good, but you need to ask the right questions like their Italian pepper and sausage not recommended but there are lots of real good items to choose from all the pasta are very good. I also like their house wine. If you're in Shelby twp try the place out. Piccirilli's is located off Van Dyke on the East side. You have to be on the look out or you will pass it by. The ristorante is set back a bit so if you get to 24 mile road heading north then you have gone too far.
(4)Anthony D.
Great restaurant! Always good food. Makes one of the best filets around. Have been coming here for over 25 years.
(4)Ron C.
Old School Italian ...place for sure! No booths , 100% tables & a large earthy fireplace in the middle of one of the dining rooms. Ive wanted to eat here since moving to Shelby Twp. What took me so long? Well honestly it looks pricey, yes it does, so I looked on line for the menu, the web site has been under construction for months. So I stopped in once for a carryout menu. Got it home & the print/fonte were so small I still had no idea how much an entree would set me back. So finally my chiropractors office manger & I discuss multiple things , which lead to hear talking about her "All Time Favorite Restaurant" Piccirilli's So 12-20-13 I called the bride from work & said you've got a date at 6pm. She asked how to dress, I said "Snappy/Casual will work" Picked her up and we arrived at Piccirillis at 5:50 A SUPER Charming hostess sat us in Natalie's section , as Jan told us to request her. Natalie enthusiastically arrived on the scene & introduced herself & inquired was it our first time & who refereed her to us? My bride always orders a chicken dish & tonight ordered a lemon chicken pollo with capers & artichokes/mushrooms & it included a soup/salad & a large side of pasta She remarked , this is my new favorite dish & restaurant! I inquired about the rolatta, which my friend JAN recommended . Well Natalie who come to find out if married to the chef & is the owners daughter in law, knew rolatta like the back of her hand It is sheets of pasta, covered in cheese ,ricotta & mozzarella, spinach & red sauce, then rolled & cut into 1-2 inch strips like a jelly roll & served on a plate with more sauce. It was fabulous! And such a comfort food choice on a cold rainy/snowy night. I upgraded my salad to an anti pasto, which is surprisingly not on the menu, but Natalie made it happen anyways . [ $5 upcharge ] Entree's range from $11 - $18 for a majority of them, plus some pricier steak - fish options.
(5)Scott M.
This was a very nice night out. The restaurant is tucked back off the road a bit. The decoration was very 70' s /80 's. But the food was spot on! Stephanie, our waitress was very pleasant, knowledgable of the menu. My wife and I asked a lot of the prep and ingredients of the entrees on the menu. We ordered the filet with mushroom sauce and the Rollata. Everything was great. The steak was good , and the mushroom sauce was really flavorful. I would recommend this restaurant.
(5)Rob G.
Great homemade Italian food. Good wine list. Make sure you ask to sit near the fireplace in the winter.
(5)Adrienne F.
The food and ambience is timeless. Traditional Italian fare at great prices. Love how when you order a dish, soup or salad comes w/ it and if you do a meat dish, a side of pasta. We had a wonderful time here for my Mom's bday. Great tiramisu.
(5)Tony M.
I don't like writing these overly negative reviews, but I feel the need to warn people away from this place when there are two other decent Italian restaurants within a few miles that are so much better. Money should not be spent here. We got here at 4:45 p.m. and the place was almost empty, but for some reason the greeter (who turned out to be the busboy and who knows what else) asked us if we had a reservation. This is not a place to go if you're in any kind of hurry. It took 10 minutes to get water, 10 minutes to get bread, etc. The whole meal took an eternity. There was only one server and she vanished for long periods of time in between. Maybe she was cooking the food? Now the food is along the same mediocre at best theme. The minestrone soup had no flavor and everyone else looked at me when I put salt in it twice, but they ended up salting things before the end of the meal. The pasta course had almost no sauce on it, and what was there had no taste. Was there Parmesan to be had (in an Italian place)? No. I had chicken that was supposed to have a wine and lemon sauce on it. It ended up having what appeared to be a sheen of grease or butter on top and almost no flavor. Everyone else's food was similarly tasteless. My wife got ravioli and they looked more like Chinese dumplings and were incredibly dry and had little sauce on them. She would have asked for more sauce, but it would have probably taken 20 minutes to get it. Did I mention that this wasn't cheap? $15 per each lousy entree. Another 10 minutes to get the bill, 10 minutes to get our cards picked up. There are very few things that bug me as much as paying good money for bad food, so I was irritated when we left here. We had joked about hoping that we didn't see Gordon Ramsey or Robert Irivine when we walked in here, now I think that would be best for Piccirilli's.
(1)Rachel D.
I've eaten dinner at Piccirilli's and I also had my wedding reception dinner here, so I can review on both accounts! Both were fabulous experiences. First, the special event, held in the lovely banquet room and sunroom (charming, with lots of exposed brick). Piccirilli's first interested me because of its proximity to the Hope Chapel, where we had our wedding ceremony. You can actually walk from the chapel to the restaurant - it's super convenient. But the food is what sold us! Everything is fresh and prepared with lots of attention and care. The owner, Umberto, is super nice and truly made my wedding reception the most memorable experience. It's obvious he takes pride in their food and he went out of his way to make sure everything was perfect that evening. He was so easy to work with throughout the whole planning process, as well (which is also important when you're planning a big, stressful event!). Guests raved about the calamari and the tenderloin Diane. Their garlic bread is fresh and delightful, not being too heavy on the garlic or salt. And one of my favorites was the pasta and meat sauce (had to be careful eating that while wearing a wedding dress - haha). The restaurant itself has an old-world intimate feel. The waitstaff were attentive and the wine selection certainly paired well with the Italian dishes. I'm a big fan of Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, which I was pleased to see was on the wine list. I love the Chicken Piccata, the potatoes and the green beans, as well. Don't forget to indulge in a cannoli! The only downside is that Piccirilli's is a bit of a drive from where we live. Also, it's not cheap. It's perfect for a special occasion - or just for a nice treat! Can't wait to return.
(5)vin m.
great food, great experience. I loved sitting on the outside patio the first time, the second time it was night and we sat inside. both times had the peppers & sausage appetizer to start and you can tell it's home made sausage, which most nobody does anymore. the pasta was cooked perfect, not mushy, the chicken was tender. I loved the chicken cacciatore and my wife's shrimp pasta was excellent. the second time we went we sat inside the bar and enjoyed most of the appetizers on the menu, with a little (a lot) of wine. I will definitely go back here. Since there are not many authentic Italian restaurants left in the area, I will keep going here.
(5)Laura P.
Went there for in-law's anniversary. Booked a reservation for party of six. Food was good, not great. Portions were fairly small with cheese and sautéed beef apps only having seven pieces each. Service was poor. My husband asked if they had any dark beers and was only told, "No." He then had to quiz the waiter on if they had this beer or that one. The waiter only provided food delivery, was not nice, welcoming. They certainly weren't busy on a Saturday night at 6, so I don't think he was overwhelmed. We got service from busboy and hostess and another waitress. While I didn't expect the Piccirilli of old (with Soprano waiters and strolling musicians), thought we'd be treated better than in any chain Italian restaurant--not the case.
(2)Sara R.
The best fettuccine alfredo you'll ever have! Great wait staff & really nice atmosphere!
(5)Annalisa B.
My family has been going to Piccirilli's since I was a little girl. My bridal shower was here, we celebrated my parent's and grandparent's wedding anniversaries here. It is, simply put, my family's favorite Italian restaurant this side of Windsor... and coming from a first generation Italian American - that is saying something. We are quite picky about our food! Umberto and his staff have really perfected the art of Italian cuisine. His new menu is great. He has no problem accomodating my food allergies and treats us like family each and every time we come in. Ask Umberto for his wine reccomendations and be sure to order Rouladin ( a rolled pasta dish) if it's on the menu - it is incredible! and I'm allergic to it - but still crave it! So order one on my behalf, please!! :)
(5)Heather D.
Amazing food and service! Stephanie paid attention to every detail. We had a wonderful Red Zinfandel to compliment our dinner choices. Chicken Piccatta for myself, Veal Marsala for my husband. Each entree included a choice of soup or salad, a pasta course and accompaniments. Tonight the entree was served with Santa Anna potatoes and sauteed zucchini. The flavors of everything blew me away! Everything about this meal was perfect!
(5)Michele S.
The food was just alright....The place is kinda dingy and old.. We ordered calamari for our appetizers..not impressive...for dinner entrees, we ordered long neck clam linguine, ravioli, and fried shrimps again, nothing is memorable....I can only say resturant's white sauce pasta is better than its tomato base sauce pasta..the ravioli was under-cooked. We also tried its dessert tiramisu..which is also alright...Price is not too high for an italian cuisine..but I think it's over-priced for the quality of food that we got.. I would not recommend this place ..I would choose Adiamo or Brio over this Italian cuisine..
(2)Daniel E.
I had dinner with my wife and a good chunk of my extended family at Piccirilli Ristorante in Shelby Twp. following a baptism. My wife comes from a large Sicilian family, so their taste in Italian food and restaurants is usually pretty much spot on. For the most part, Sunday was no exception. This is a large, but family owned restaurant. Yes, it's one of those places you could probably imagine mobsters eating in. Family style service. For those unfamiliar, you basically pass around large plates of pasta, just as you would in your own home. The only thing that wasn't family style was the Antipasto and the Secondo. This review really should be dated August 2008. I have yet to be back, but would like to go again the next time I find myself on the east side. Antipasto (Starter): Antipasto Piccirilli The antipasto was very, very good and featured fresh Mozzarella in a very light olive oil surrounded by Capicolla ham, Genoa salami, fresh Prosciutto, smoked Provolone and pickled pearl onions and vegetables. It was portioned perfectly and was light and pleasant. Added bonus was that they didn't over oil the plate, which made it great way to prep the palet. Primo (Pasta): Penne in Red Sauce, Bowtie Primavera Began with the Bowtie Primavera. It came out nice and hot and was served family style (wouldn't ask for anything less in a Sicilian joint). It wasn't terribly heavy, and the family style kept you at a nice and appropriate portion. Great use of peas, cauliflower was still tender and the white sauce was excellent. I prefer my pasta done slightly Al Dente, so I'll deduct a small point there. The Penne was fantastic. It featured a really well done rustic tomato sauce that had just the slightest kick to it. I found myself longing for more of it after the dish had made the rounds, but settled for the chance to dunk a garlic roll in my sauce instead. Contorno (accompaniment): Multi-leaf featuring a house Italian The salad was my only complaint of my Piccirilli meal. It came featuring red cabbage and a variety of green leaf lettuce and a pool of house Italian dressing. I realize that this was a large get together (chef had to prepare for at least 70) but there was no need for that much dressing on any salad. Most of mine was swimming in the dressing and I couldn't appreciate the subtle flavors of the greens. Secondo (main course): Veal Siciliano Could have been a little warmer at serving time, but again, I appreciate the toughness given the large party. The Veal was very tender, cooked appropriately and very lightly breaded. The breading didn't mask the flavor of the meat. It was served alongside a few summer veggies (string beans) and a sliced and peeled baked potato. The tomato, basil and balsamic topper was to die for. Vino: Burlwood Cellars Merlot - 2005 The wine, which I believe to be a restaurant variety from Gallo, was fairly unremarkable. It was drinkable, but added nothing special to the meal. Dolce (dessert) Unfortunately, my wife had a headache, so we had to skip out before Dolce. All in all, a nice experience. The waitstaff had good control over a large room of nearly 100 fussy Sicilians and the food was warm, on time and prepared with skill. I'll be back.
(4)