La Piccola Cucina

I am surprised at reading some of the reviews as I eat at Andy’s place often. The food is so mouthwatering with flavor and the owner is so personal and friendly. Sometimes I wonder if people on their soap box just bad mouth all mom and pop resturants to look superior to their corporate owned resturants that they are used to.
La Piccola Cucina has amazing food and is a very relaxing place to ENJOY your food and wine, not rushed out so your table can be washed and replaced with new people.
5 outta 5 stars.

… Guess I waited a couple months too long to post, cause it looks like this spot is closed :-/
A place I truly want to love, just missing that special something.
Overall, I really enjoyed my dining experience here, this is a great neighborhood spot which serves delightful Mediterranean meals. The owner uses his knowledge of herbs, sauces, vegetables, grains, and meats to create healthy, filling, and flavorful food. Our meals tasted as if they were cooked just for us by our favorite grandmother, with love and time; lots of time.
Our experience began in a quaint repurposed, home to restaurant conversion that you see up and down 7^th street. Not quite tucked away, but easy to blink and miss on the south east corner of oak and 7^th. We chose La Piccola Cucina because of a groupon certificate ($ 15 for $ 30 or $ 25 for $ 50) we went with the $ 30 after checking out their menu, but if you like ordering appetizers, you’ll want to consider the $ 50.
I ordered meatloaf with couscous and grilled zucchini sides — the wife ordered pork roast with okra and Greek potato sides. I loved the meatloaf — probably the best I’ve ever had, the cous cous, the zucchini, and Greek potatoes were all really good, the pork roast was pretty good — just slightly on the tough side, and I didn’t personally care for the okra, but my wife seemed to enjoy it.
Our main courses took about 45 minutes to an hour to arrive tableside; which was ok because we weren’t gnawing at our fingernails, we used the time to have a pleasent dinner conversation. I would; however, highly suggest ordering appetizers to hold you over while your main courses cook, if you’re hungry.
The owner was working the dining rooms, which was cool, but it seems they don’t have a person just for waiting tables. I think the change that would really step up the dining experience here would be a legit wait staffer, there to refill drinks, bring table bread, suggest appetizers, tell you «that’s a great choice» or «maybe you’d want to try this one», etc.
I will more than likely be back when in the mood for something other than a «would you like that with fries or a side salad» type meal you get at many restaurants.
Happy Unilocaling Phoenix!

We came here with a Groupon and made a reservation during a weekday. When we came in, there were only 3 or 4 tables seated, yet we were told time and time again how busy they were. We were seated in the back room, closest to the kitchen that was warm and stuffy. smelling slightly like a nursing home. That was the first put off. The owner is very brisk and there were a few moments during our meal when we felt uncomfortable. We could hear him yelling in the back and when we asked for our glasses to be refilled we got some stern looks. Sorry?
Anyway. This place is OK. The food doesn’t have great presentation. When I go out, I enjoy it tasting and looking like something I couldn’t make at home. This was not the case.
We had the bruschetta as an appetizer, $ 8. That was fine, if not a bit plain and underwhelming.
I ended up getting the vegetarian dinner comprising of 4 sides: roasted beets, greek potatoes, orzo and sauteed spinach. The beets were not roasted, they were from a can. I know this because one of my slices had a can imprint… as in, it was the bottom piece. The best part of this was the greek potatoes. For $ 14, I would not return.
My boyfriend asked to do the dinner option where you choose a lunch sandwich. He was quickly told that that was NOT an option — that instead the menu means you can have a dinner entrée for lunch. That makes no sense and is not how it’s shown on the menu, under the dinner section that says *or choose a lunch option for $ 2 more. but. uh… okay? He ended up having the chicken with roasted beets (canned) and israeli couscous. Also $ 14.
Overall, it was a very strange experience. He owner isn’t too friendly and since we were here a month ago and were STILL hot, I couldn’t imagine how it feels during the middle of the Summer. Thanks Groupon, I tried something new and it was a bust.

I had a Groupon which stated to call to make a reservation. I planned on using it yesterday but the person on the phone stated that they were booked for the night. So I made a reservation for 6 the next day, the day that the Groupon expired. I was rudely hung up on by the host in the middle of asking if he needed my phone number to go along with the reservation. But I decided to show up anyway, hoping this was not a precursor to what the restaurant was actually like.
Needless to say, I showed up at 6. The owner’s wife (I assume) greeted me and stated that they would be right with me. There was only one other party in the dining room as I stood at the hostess stand for about a minute before the waitress came from the back. Off course they did not have me down for a reservation, but seated me and then the owner and waitress continued to argue at the host stand regarding the missing reservation.
The waitress was very nice. She stated that she had been there for about a year and knew the owners personally. She did the best she could with what she had. The owner apparently had some friends that showed up during service and invited them to the back of the restaurant where I could here him cracking jokes and talking loudly throughout most of the service. I even witnessed people being turned away with a half empty house because they did not have a reservation.
As far as the food, the Hummus and Baba Ganoush looked like oily baby food that was not fresh. The salmon was cooked well but had too much pesto on top for my taste. I had to send the dish back because of a hair in the pasta. The new plate came back within 2 minutes. I didn’t really touch the pasta upon return as it appeared that they just cleared the «hairy» part of the pasta and put the rest back on the plate.
I gave the waitress a good tip only because I felt sorry for her as I feel these are ownership issues, not service.
My advice. Go north next door to MacAlpines. Don’t bother with LPC.

My wife and I have had dinner here several times and each time our meal was perfect. This is truly one of our favorite places to go in the valley to eat. This is a small Mom & Pop restaurant and the owners are very friendly. The restaurant is a converted small house with a nice patio to sit out on in front. There are a lot of great things on the menu, from the Sausage & Peppers to the Bolonese Meatloaf. The Roast Pork Arista and the Ratatouille are two of the best I’ve ever had anywhere. Yum!
My only complaint is that parking is limited and the place can be a little difficult to find (even though it is right on 7^th street). However, do not let this stop you from eating here. It is well worth the trip :)

I really wish I could give the LPC a better rating, but it would not be justified.
This tiny and super cute restaurant is only about a mile away from me and because of such I have been here about 5 times. Although I could give the restaurant a 3 star, maybe even a 4 star rating on a good day, it is everything else that falls short. I have tried the sandwiches and vegetable variety plate and actually found them both to be flavorful and fresh tasting.
However, the service is just… awful. And the most recent time, I would say the service fell short due to the owner and not the waitress. While the waitress seemed new, she was super friendly and attentive. Well, as attentive as she could be with the owner calling her to the back to??? Not sure… I am sure she was helping plate/​cook/​something, but that would leave the 6 tables or so of diners unattended. The time before we were waited on and served by the owner. He seemed nice enough but also had to keep tabs on the back of the restaurant and would be MIA for long periods of time. There is no way that anyone with an hour lunch break could eat here and realistically make it back to work on time.
Finally, I have a hard time using the Groupon vouchers I have purchased here. The same day Groupon was not accepted because they already reached their limit for the day? Hmmm…
Sadly, I will not be giving the LPC another try but I hope they listen to reviews on Unilocal and get back on their game:)

I am a big fan of Groupon when it comes to trying new places. When I first got the groupon, I checked out the reviews and will say it made me a little leery of this owner. I have to say — don’t let those few bad reviews doubt the greatness of this little eatery.
I was greeted immediately by the owner and given a quiet place in the corner — the prices are moderate and the food is good.
There were 8 tables — mostly 2 tops so it a great place for a first date.
The first thing ordered was a cup of coffee — I will come back for the coffee alone. I asked what it was and he told me it’s from Sicily. It was yummy! at 2.50 a cup it’s less expensive than an americano at national chains.
The groupon was a 15 for 30. This will pay for 98% of the meal for one person if they have coffee (2.50), and appetizer (7.95), an entrée (13.95) and a desert (5.95) or two entrees so it’s a good deal.
I ordered 2 dishes, one for me to have there and one to bring home to my husband. I ordered the Beef with 2 sides — asparagus and a Greek salad. When you first get your plate, it will seem like a small portion– mostly salad (yum) (lots of feta (, 4 skinny stalks of asparagus, My beef was very tender, the salad was great, and the grilled asparagus grilled to perfection. The meal left me satisfied without feeling overstuffed. No room for dessert, but I saw some tarmisu being delivered and it looked good.
When my husband got his food, it was a little to pesto-​y for him, but my daughter liked it. I was sad that there were Greek potatoes, but no grilled beets — that’s my fault for not checking.
I have been to the Coronado just one block south and I would say it’s comparable but a different feel. I felt less claustrophobic in this place. even though the other place seems bigger.
My server was attentive and made sure I was happy the entire time.
So seriously — if you are dating, go to this place, have coffee and a desert — then if she’s worth it — bring her back for dinner.
I would suggest making a reservation as there is limited space. I was fortunate it was a quiet night with only 4 other people there.
The owner is an Italian guy with a New York accent and a lot of personality — He knows his business, his food, and made me feel welcome. if he isn’t your cup of Joe.. . get your coffee to go. I would pick this place over several places I have been to even if it is a 30 minute drive for me. Next time I am dragging my husband here :-)

I just had a terrible experience at La Piccola Cucina!
I’ve been to this restaurant several times in the past and enjoyed the home-​style cooking. Needless to say, I was very excited when a voice daily deal came out that allowed me to purchase a $ 30 food voucher for $ 15!
This place is on my way home from work, so I saved the coupon for a night that I was working late — excited to grab some delicious takeout on the way home.
One of the servers was in the middle of taking my order when the owner of the restaurant saw that I had the coupon. He snatched it angrily out of my hand shouting «this is only good for 2 people dining in — not take out!» I informed him that this restriction was not stated anywhere on the coupon that I had purchased and he shouted back, «I don’t care! That’s the way it’s always been!» In a restaurant full of other diners, the shouting continued until I was embarrassed enough to leave…
I just can’t believe how completely rude and belligerent he was to me — In my opinion, this is no way to ever treat your valued customers.
I will be demanding a refund on my coupon and won’t be returning to this restaurant again.

A friend of mine brought me here and I can’t thank him enough for doing so. The restaurant itself is very charming. I ordered the fish special. Now, in my opinion it’s hard to prepare a fish entrée. Not many can do it effectively. But this was the best fish that I can recollect. It was superb. It was cooked in a white wine sauce with artichokes and capers and it was bursting with flavor. Not only that but the portion size was perfect. Not too much not too little. Just right.
The ambience is great. The staff were very friendly and knowledgeable. I can’t wait to go back for a date. And I just learned that they’ll be having live jazz every friday. Even better!

This quaint Coronado cottage restaurant, situated in a home built in the 1930s, offers Italian and Greek fare. There are roughly a half dozen small and intimate tables, and PAN AM memorabilia covers the walls. Outside you will find a courtyard with a bubbling fountain, inside old hardwood floors that have stood the test of time.
It is cozy and intimate, but unfortunately this restaurant, voted «Best Mom and Pop Restaurant» by Phoenix New Times falls short.
The dishes are a combination of Greek and Italian, predominated by the staid dishes such as Hummus, Gyro, Caprese, Bruschetta, and a smattering of sandwiches such as the «Prosciutto» with fresh mozzarella and sundried tomatoes. The prices are very reasonable, and the average cost of an appetizer or sandwich is between $ 6-​$ 8. But there is nothing remarkable about the dishes. Having tried the hummus (garlic was overpowering and stung the tastebuds), the Caprese Salad (too heavy on the balsamic), The Gyro Pita (meat was tender and juicy), and the Sausage and Peppers sandwich (very generous portion and handmade fennel sausage very flavorful and juicy) I can’t say that I would go out of my way to come here to eat.
Although I came here for lunch, the server recommended I try their Shrimp Santorini sometime for dinner, and he also recommended the Leg of Lamb.
There must be a reason why this restaurant has been here for 15 years, I just happened to find that the most interesting thing about the place was the building itself.
And although there was a sizable display case of empty gelato containers, there was no gelato to be had.

I had purchased a groupon and then read the reviews on Unilocal and was not expecting a good experience, but had already spent the money so decided to go. I was pleasantly surprised. I had the spinach and feta frittata with a mimosa which were both delicious. The bread it came with was a bit difficult to chew, but good. My fiancé had a sandwich which he enjoyed. I also got a cappucino which was also good.
We were the only custumers the entire time, but the service was good and she was very friendly. If I am ever in that area of town, I would not hesitate to stop for a coffee or lunch.

I will not be visiting La Piccola again. I hate writing this review and I really felt like not writing one at all. I feel like I really need to let this business know where they are falling short. I do want to give a very positive review of our waitress. She was in training, but she was attentive and was our only enjoyment of the night.
The two glaring problems with La Piccola:
The food: did not taste fresh at all. It was something we all picked up on. My cous cous was overcooked and very bland. My chicken was seasoned well, but not cooked all the way and my asparagus was damn near raw. Let’s just say I didn’t finish my meal. I am only going to review my meal, but the others in our party were all disappointed.
The owner Andy: is definitely not a good front of house. He really should manage in the back. We were treated poorly by the owner, who has a rude and had an arrogant way about him. I didn’t touch my cous cous and Andy thought it was because my palate wasn’t sophisticated enough. He didn’t even think that maybe there was something wrong with it. I think Andy believes his restaurant is earth shattering here in the valley, but in reality it is just another unmemorable place under the sun.

A number of coworkers have raved about this place so we decided to give it a try. Since the weather was beautiful, we considered sitting outside on the patio, but the noise from 7^th street is just too loud. Not the restaurant’s fault, but sitting so close to a major traffic artery with the noise and vehicle fumes just isn’t appealing when dining.
The interior is very small, but quaint and appropriately decorated. We enjoyed a nice glass of Malbec before ordering our entrees: Roast Leg of Lamb w/​sides of Greek potatoes and Greek salad, and Shrimp Santarini w/​sides of roasted beets and Greek salad. The food was good — nothing spectacular. I found it strange that the salad and beets were served on the same plate, and that the beets were cold — I was expecting the roasted beets to be war rm. It was like have beets in a salad, which is OK, just not was was expected. Our waiter described the shrimp dish as being on a bed of sauteed spinach — I’m not sure what his definition of «bed of spinach» was, because I really had to look to find it — maybe one bite worth. But there were a fair number of shrimp, and the dish was flavorful and just the right amount so I didn’t leave feeling stuffed. The lamb was OK; again, nothing spectacular.
The service was mediocre. The waiter was friendly, but he never checked back with us after our food was delivered, except to bring our check. There is a fine balance between a waiter constantly bugging the patron and backing off enough to let the patrons enjoy their meals, but the place wasn’t busy so I’m not sure why he was MIA.
The most unappealing aspect of the evening, though, were the little flying bugs! The owner did happen by our table to see how we were doing and I asked him about them. He said they were fruit flies and they happen about 1 day a year in the neighborhood and then they are gone. He kind of discounted them like it wasn’t a big deal. I’m not an entomologist (or fly expert) but I though fruit flies bigger than these little pests — these were really teeny. They reminded me of the flying gnats that potted plants in office’s often get. None the less, it is very unappetizing to have these flies/​gnats around when you are trying to eat! I would have at least like the owner to apologize when asked about the flies instead of poo-​pooing them like they were inconsequential. Sorry, I just don’t want to be swatting flies away from my food when eating!
All in all, a cute quaint place with good, not great or memorable food. Maybe it’s better for lunch. With all the other options available in the area and beyond, I’m not sure it’s worth a repeat visit.

I came here for lunch on a Saturday. The weather was awesome so we sat outside. The patio is really cozy & rustic, but the street noise was constant & pretty annoying.
We started with the caprese salad, which was awesome. Then sandwiches. The sandwiches were good in principle, but very difficult to eat. As much as I love Italian (ciabatta-​style) bread, it was way too hard. I’m talking tooth-​crackingly hard, and my jaw was tired after just a few bites.
Service was notably sub-​par, especially since there were only 3 tables at the time. We ordered iced tea and didn’t get a single refill (and had to go inside & get sweetener ourselves since the waiter didn’t bring any with the tea).
I thought the prices were reasonable (about $ 7 – 8 each for appetizer & sandwiches). All in all, not bad other than street noise & the bread. And maybe the service.

Sweet. M and I tried this place for lunch again. They were OPEN! We sat on the patio. It was gorgeous weather. M ordered the capresse salad, it looked awesome. The colors of the cheese, tomato, and basil, wow! She inhaled it. We skipped the lunch menu and went straight to the dinner menu. M ordered roast pork arista (stuffed pork tenderloin with fresh herb, garlic, and pancetta with a balsamic reduction), HOLLY SMOKES, it was so GOOD. I ordered the chicken provencal (½ a chicken with skin/​bones rubbed with herb de provencal). It was a little dry but tasty. The greek potatoes was good but the farfalle pasta was bland. I had the NY cheesecake (store brought), ok. M had the cannoila, it was ok too.
I would give it 3.5 to 4 stars but the service was lacking. I got a cup of water with black floats. My ice tea was only refilled once, so the service was ok.

***************SKIP THIS LOONY BIN****************
+++++ Owner or Management yelling at staff member
++++++More yelling … different staff member
We put our menus down
My Wife, and I walked out
Why would anyone, desire to dine in an asylum ???
My Ethics … My Standards:
Every business starts with one star … GETTING MORE … HAS TO BE EARNED.

This is one of those reviews that I wish I could give a half star to and make it 3.5. I’ve been teetering on 3 and 4, but I’m going to round up and give it four because I liked everything about this place, I just didn’t love everything about it.
I like that this is a homey little shop situated in a converted house. I like how they offer counter ordering as well as sit-​down dining. I also like how they have an extensive ice cream selection staring at me when I walk inside. The food is decent. The bread is soft, the salad was ok. I got half and half… half Greek salad and a half of the prosciutto mozzarella sandwich based on the raving Unilocal reviews. The Greek salad was pretty tasty but they went really heavy on the dressing. Next time I will ask for it on the side. I liked the bread, vinegar, mozzarella and peppers in the Prosciutto sandwich. I wasn’t a huge fan of the Prosciutto though. I found chunks in my Prosciutto and I just wasn’t prepared for chunky meat, more the thinly sliced Prosciutto. The sandwich was ok though and I finished it, but I’ll probably order something different next time.
I know that a lot of the reviews talk about the service, but I thought the service was pretty good! The gentleman working the restaurant is an older man, with a tough East Coast attitude, but he softened up and tried to make light and friendly conversation in his own way. I enjoyed the service and it made me feel like I was in my old Italian relative’s home for dinner.
This place definitely has character and I’m glad I paid it a visit. It’s hard to remember to visit since it’s on busy 7^th Street and you can easily pass it before you realize you did. But if anything, I suggest you stop in for a homemade iced tea and gelato. The atmosphere is quaint and charming.

I had the prosciutto sandwich, and it was delicious. That’s all I’m going to say about the food.
Dude, the service… it sucked. I am low maintenance, and am equipped with low expecations to match, and it still sucked. All I need is a smile and maybe, I don’t know, a polite greeting of some kind, and I am satisfied in the service department. Totally didn’t happen here.
The restaurant, per its website and posted hours, opens at 10:00 AM. I can’t imagine anyone actually goes there that early, but, okay. It’s when they open.
Now, as anyone who has worked downtown for more than a week knows, if you want to go somewhere and get in and out and back to your desk in a manageable amount of time, you need to adjust your lunch time aim — shoot for 11:30, or shoot for 1:30. Anything in between will only bring you lines, misery, and a bitch of a time parking… especially on 7^th Street.
So, I mosied on over to La Piccola Cucina at exactly 11:20…an hour and twenty minutes after they opened, mind. I walked in, and was greeted by a scowling, irritated-​looking girl at front counter in a hot pink sweatshirt and super tight black pants, (the owner’s daughter, I was able to ascertain from newspaper clippings posted on the restaurant walls). She looked at me and said, in a very put-​upon tone… are you ready for this…“Yeah? What do you need?”
«Yeah? What do you need?» You’re working at a restaurant… it’s 11:30 at this point… I’ve approached the counter to order… and you’re copping an attitude like you can’t possibly imagine what I would be doing there? Right. Keep on keepin’ on, girl. DIVA FOR LIFE!
I said, «Um…I’d like to order something to go…» No menus are to be seen… I later discovered that the sandwich menu is posted on the wall somewhere, but this wasn’t pointed out to me. Good thing I read some Unilocal reviews before I went, so I had some idea of what was available… oh, PS — the gelato cases and the food cases were empty. Totally empty.
Avoiding eye contact with me, she fumbled with a bunch of papers by the register, still looking completely annoyed by my existence,.“Uh, we’re not even really OPEN yet.” I look behind me at the clock on the wall, and the front door that is propped open all the way. I had no idea how to respond to that, so I didn’t. Just awkwardly stood there till she took my order.
I ordered the prosciutto sandwich, no wilted greens. Of course, it came with wilted greens, which would be forgivable if I hadn’t been treated like a leper. While I was waiting, another couple came in and was helped by the owner’s wife… food/​gelato cases were still empty, and she wasn’t super friendly, but she at least acknowledged them as human beings and pointed out where the menus were.
The owner, so often immortalized in Unilocal reviews as a loud, friendly, brusque gentleman, just kind of lumbered around the restaurant, frowning, without a smile or word for anyone.
My sandwich was awesome, but there are too many other mom-n’-pops downtown to even bother giving business to a place where the staff cops an attitude. Really and truly. Sucks for them, because I’m the kind of person who goes back to a place over and over again, and tries everything. I tell my friends and family, I write nice reviews on Unilocal.
In this case, several co-​workers wanted to know where I got my sandwich from, and I lied.
Sorry, guys. Attitude matters.

What’s not to like about this place?
–Good service and a very affable owner? Check
–Great food, particularly sandwiches? Check
— Good price? Absolutely
–Charming location? Almost (7^th St can be a little hectic at 5pm)
A great and unique spot that has earned a place in the nice diverse quilt work that is the CENPHO dining scene.

GREAT place … great food.
That atmosphere is sooooo nice … coffee’s great and free wi-​fi!
Seems like the owner and his wife are always there and they want you to enjoy your experience.
The outdoor patio is facing 7^th Street so regretfully it’s like sit along side a freeway. Also they only have 7 parking spots in their very small lot. But still a really nice addition to downtown.