There’s an Italian proverb that says: Nella botte piccola c’è il vino buono, meaning good things come in small packages.
That’s how Carlo Collova started out seven years ago with Piccolo Trattoria, his family’s pocket-sized restaurant on Nicholson Road – a cheerful little trattoria with red and white tablecloths and a distinctly Amore vibe.
Customers immediately began cramming in and it became clear that the winning, homespun formula the Piccolo team had stumbled upon was a big success.
So, they expanded to the shop next door and the clientele continued growing.
And then last year they moved again to a 100-seater on Rokeby Road and the crowds followed again, keen for a fix of polpette, Calamari alla Griglia and their famous lasagna.
Carlo’s solution? No, he’s not changing the name to Grande. Instead, he opened a corner deli just a short stroll down from Piccolo, where customers are already calling in for a take-home fix of gnocchi, the delectable meat balls, an Italian salad or sweet biscuits and treats like tiramisu.
Traditional Italian sandwiches, ciabattas and panini from the trattoria kitchen are all part of the mix, along with coffee.
With Jean-Claude’s Swiss Patisserie next door, the nearby French Little Paris Creperie and Greek Lady of Ro, plus Cafe Melograno and Juanita’s, this little corner of Subi is turning into a Mediterranean enclave.
LOCATION 361 Rokeby Road
