Piccolino Ristorante

"2/24/2024 Another wonderful evening at Piccolino Ristorante in Mission Viejo. We had reservations and, upon entry, were greeted by McKenna, who is such a positive, friendly, and professional person. It was so nice to see her smiling customer friendly face upon entry. We were also greeted by Devor, the manager who is so kind and welcoming. We were seated by McKenna and then were introduced to our lovely server, Shelby. Shelby was terrific and took our dink and appetizer order. We started with two Patron Silver, Club soda, three limes muddled and mint. Also, we ordered the eggplant souffle, and I had a bowl of zuppa del giorno. Both appetizers were wonderful, as was the fresh bread. The ambiance was peaceful and quiet. Devor introduced us to the new manager when he is off or serving tables. We welcomed Jeff, who has much restaurant experience and comes from high-end restaurants here in the O.C. We also had a surprise visit from chef Paul Sotello, who wanted to make sure my wife's salmon was cooked to perfection. My wife had the King Salmon entree, and chef Paul wanted to ensure my wife was happy as she liked her fish cooked thoroughly. I had the paccheri Manzo, which is a filet mignon pasta dish, and wow, it was amazing. We finished our dining experience by sharing two scoops of spumoni gelato and a cup of coffee. Everything was fantastic. Highly recommended 2/14/2024 What an amazing Valentine's Day Dinner with my lovely wife at Piccolino Ristorante in Mission Viejo. We had reservations and were greeted by McKenna, Diana, and Paulina. These ladies are so amazing, kind, and gracious as they greet us upon entry. Their impact is greatly appreciated and recognized. We were seated at a lovely booth and greeted by Jorge, our amazing server. Jorge has 3 children, and he and his wife celebrated Valentine's Day yesterday after taking the kids to school. A wonderful man. Jorge took our drink order and came back with delicious Don Julio 70, club soda, three limes muddled and a touch of mint for each of us. We then ordered our appetizers from the pre-fix menus for Valentine's Day. My wife and I both ordered the crema D'Aragosta soup, which was fantastic. We also asked him to give a hug to Sal, the owner who we knew would be busy in the kitchen. What a surprise, Sal came out of the kitchen to wish us Happy Valentine's Day. Sal is a very special person and dear to our heart, besides being an amazing Ristorante proprietor and artist. We enjoyed seeing him. Then Jorge came by and took our order. My wife ordered the Salmone Amore, which she just loved. I ordered the 10 Oz. grilled lobster entree. Both dishes came with mashed potatoes and scrumptious vegetables. We also visited with Devor, the manager, who brightens up each table with his amazing customer service, kind demeanor, and professionalism. The entrees were simply delicious and well prepared and presented by head chef Paul Sotello. We were blessed to have Paul come by our table and introduce himself as we thanked him for his amazing culinary craft. The meals were amazing. The restaurant was full of lovely couples celebrating Valentine's Day, and the love was certainly felt in the ambiance we all shared. Jorge then took our desert order, and all we could say was wow! My wife had the pistachio cheesecake, and I had the chocolate mousse cake. Also, a cup of coffee to compliment the desert was the perfect fit. Piccolino Ristorante is a fantastic restaurant with quality menu choices and a truly romantic and authentic Italian ambiance. Highly recommended"

"If you appreciate Italian cuisine, this is one of the best authentic Italian-Sicilian restaurants in Southern California. Family run. And we rarely eat out Italian. Grew up in Sicilian-American household. We cook Italian at home mostly."

"First, service was great. French onion soup was a big hit with my dining party. Wine selection was very good. The pork chop and lobster tail dishes left to be desired."

"This restaurant never disappoints. The patio outside is beautifully decorated and great ambiance. Food is always on point as well as the coffee and dessert. I ordered fish of the day, it was delish! Perfect portion sizes. Must go!"

"This restaurant was recommended by an Italian gentleman to us because he loves their freshly made pasta. The food and service were wonderful. The menu has some Sicilian influence thanks to the owner. I loved both risottos I had. Oso bucco was tender and flavorful. The last time I had bone marrow was when I was a child so it brought back some good childhood memories. Seafood pasta was devoured by my wife. At the end we were both too stuffed to go for dessert, so we each got an espresso."