www.qns.com I LIC COURIER I JULY 2017 25
The restaurateur repeated this for-mula
in Gramercy, Hell’s Kitchen and the
Upper West Side. He has fond memories
of those days when actors like John
Leguizamo and Rubén Blades, also a
singer, would visit his haunts. His cuban
sandwich was also named the best in
New York by the New York Times and
New York Magazine.
Rent started to get expensive and
Vicari decided to retire. He sold his
restaurants and stepped away, but not
for long.
“I sold a lot of my restaurants,” he said.
“I thought let me retire. I don’t need
this headache. But then I got bored.”
He passed by an empty space at
30-86 51st St. at the border of Astoria
and Woodside and discovered that the
rent was extremely cheap. So on June
29, Italian restaurant Piccolino was of-ficially
opened.
Piccolino offers classic Italian dishes
by Chef Alfonso, who has worked for
Vicari since he was 18 years old. Lin-guine
Di Mare, a pasta dish that includes
shrimp, scallops, calamari, clams and
mussels in a light marinara sauce; Veal
Tre Amici, a meat dish that includes
eggplant, tomatoes and mozzarella in
a sherry wine sauce and Chicken Pic-colino,
which features pieces of bone-less
chicken with sausage, a generous
portion of mushrooms, olives garlic in
a white wine sauce are just some of
the offerings.
Vicari said he decided to keep the
menu simple but is also adding a prix-fixe
brunch menu in the coming weeks
that Queens residents are sure to en-joy.
With options like grilled Norwegian
salmon, farmer’s omelet and vanilla
french toast, there will be something
for everyone.
Vicari also has extensive wine and
liquor options at the restaurant’s bar.
He also takes the design of his
restaurants very seriously. Piccolino is
decked out in photos and paintings Vi-cari
has collected over the years and two
paintings depicting ingredients found
in Italian kitchens — wine, cheese and
bread, were hand-painted by a friend
who has provided him with art for many
of his restaurants. He even has artwork
made by Astoria native and musician
Tony Bennett.
“I collect a lot of stuff,” he said. “I
could decorate at least four Cuban
restaurants.”
The reception from customers has
been good so far and Vicari hopes to
entice more diners to frequent the res-taurant
since food options in the area
are scarce. Situated near the Boule-vard
Gardens apartment complex, which
includes 960 units, the only eateries
nearby consist of mostly delis and a
bagel shop.
“Just like Chelsea, just like Hell’s
Kitchen, this is gonna be the spot,” he
said. “I’m gonna put this place on the
map.”
Piccolino is open from Tuesdays
through Sundays from 5 p.m. to 11
p.m. Dishes are available to order from
Uber Eats, Grub Hub and Seamless.
Visit piccolino.nyc for more information.
Food
Just like Chelsea, just like Hell’s
Kitchen, this is gonna be the spot. I’m
gonna put this place on the map.
TOM VICARI
Owner
