Piccolo Mondo, one of the best and most popular Italian restaurants in all of North Texas, is right in the heart of Arlington. Whether it’s a ‘date night’ or get together with friends or business colleagues, Piccolo Mondo serves the finest northern Italian cuisine.
Piccolo Mondo Italian Restaurant
829 Lamar Blvd East (in the Whole Food Shopping Center)
Lunch Hours: Mon-Fri 11:30am-2:15pm
Dinner Hours: Mon-Thurs 5:30pm-10:15pm; Fri & Sat 5:30pm-11pm; Sunday 5pm-10pm
(817) 265-9174
http://piccolomondo.com
You can’t call it a “best kept secret” because locals have known for more than 25 years that Piccolo Mondo is one of the best Italian restaurants in the metroplex. Zagat Restaurant Guide recognizes it with ratings of ‘high excellent’, ‘one of the Top 10 for Food’ in the Ft Worth area, and ‘one of the area’s finest restaurants’. D Magazine recognizes Piccolo Mondo among ‘best restaurants’, ‘best atmosphere’, and ‘where the locals eat’.
Okay, sounds good. But how authentic can it be? Well, an Order of Sons of Italy in America cited Piccolo Mondo with a ‘citation of Epicurean excellence’ and said it ‘exemplifies the fine art and traditions of Italian cuisine’.
So obviously the food has won awards. But the atmosphere is great, too. Upscale with a full service bar and a grand piano in the middle of the room because there’s live music during dinner on Tuesday’s through Sundays (Tues-Thurs, 7:30pm-10:30pm; Fri-Sat, 7:30pm-11pm).
If you are looking to impress business clients (or maybe your in-laws), consider Piccolo Mondo. And if your group needs an upscale place for its meeting or a special occasion like an awards ceremony, a special occasion banquet room is available (maximum capacity 50 persons). For info on renting the room and/or menus for groups, call (817) 265-9174.
To be honest, Piccolo Mondo doesn’t look fancy from the outside. It’s in the middle of a strip shopping center, between Whole Foods and Boston Market. But step inside and it’s all table linens and fresh flowers on each table. And the service? These are long-time, professional servers, not a bunch of high school kids with part-time summer jobs. A full bar and wine list is available.
Lunch menu entrees start at $7.75 (Spaghetti Bolognese) and go up to $23.75 (New York strip). Most of the lunch “Pasta” entrees are $9.75 with the chicken or veal or shrimp lunch entrees at $14.75.
Samplings of the lunch menu: fresh tomatoes & mozaarella salad $7.75; chicken salad or shrimp salad $9.75, soup of the day $3.75, carpaccio $7.75, linguini & clam sauce $10.75, lasagna Bolognese $9.75, capelli d’angelo pomodoro e basilico $9.75, tortellini della Nonna $9.75, shrimp marinara $14.75, eggplant parmagiana $11.75, veal scalloppine marsala $14.75, shrimp provinciale $14.75, chicken forestiera $12.75.
That’s a sampling, there’s more (of course!). And there are daily specials which will always include a couple of seafood items (maybe tilapia or cod) and some chicken specials.
All lunch entrees are served with your choice of soup or salad. On my most recent lunch visit, I enjoyed the veal scalloppine marsala (the white wine sauce) and a cup of lentil soup.
The Dinner Menu, with the larger portions, has expanded options and nightly specials. Pasta and/or House specialties start at $12.75 (spaghetti aglio e olio, spagehetti Bolognese) and range up to $42.75 for Mare e Terra (surf & turf). The most expensive item is the two Lobster Tail Isabella (2 lobster tails) for $64.75.
A sampling of the Dinner Menu: Caesar salad $3.75, prosciutto e melone $10.75, calamari I umido appetizer $10.75, lasagna alla Bolognese $13.75, fettucine Alfredo $13.75, baked maniccoti $13.75, veal scallopine alla parnigiana $23.75, beef tenderloin $31.75, New York strip $30.75, shrimp marinara $21.75, chicken rolatine $18.75, broiled chicken and sautéed mushrooms $17.75.
Don’t forget to leave room for dessert! If you can’t pronounce it, it must be good! Profitterol al Cioccolato is $6.75. Same price for crème caramel, cappuccino pie, cannoli, cheesecake, tiramisu, spumoni and sorbet.
Dinner Hours are Monday thru Thursday from 5:30pm to 10:15pm; Friday & Saturday evenings from 5:30pm to 11pm; and Sunday from 5pm to 10pm. Lunch hours (weekdays only) are Monday through Friday, 11:30am to 2:15pm.
You don’t have to make a reservation, but I would recommend them for weekend evenings. For reservations, call (817) 265-9174.
Piccolo Mondo is located at 829 Lamar Blvd East at the northwest corner of Collins St at Lamar (one block north of I-30). The restaurant is in the middle of strip shopping center of the Whole Foods shopping center. From I-30, exit Collins St. (Hwy 157) and go north for one block.
Click here for a Mapquest map: http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=Arlington&state=TX&address=829+E+Lamar+Blvd&zipcode=76011-3504&country=US&latitude=32.765714&longitude=-97.098435&geocode=ADDRESS
Piccolo Mondo is closed major holidays including: Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, 4th of July, and Labor Day.