Italian fare has always een my indulgent food of choice. The salty meats. The creamy cheeses. The freshly baked garlic bread topped with loads of melty butter. And last but certainly not least, the pasta. No words in the English language can adequately proclaim my love for pasta. That’s why when Piccolo opened in Nixa in December 2016, I eagerly awaited the day I could give it a try. 

I visited the restaurant on a recent Friday night, and the place was hoppin’. That’s always a good sign for a new restaurant. Good sign No. 2 was that the restaurant is owned by Steve D’Arpino—the son of Mark and Mary Ann D’Arpino, who own D’Arpino’s Italian Café in Springfield.