Piccolo's Italian Restaurant

Deep dish pizza in Lenoir? I was intrigued. As I looked at their website I saw they have 2 locations in Chicago, originally opened in 1977, and one in Lenoir since 2001. Stepping into this Downtown Lenoir restaurant is like stepping back in time. Not only an old school pizza counter and booths but a collection of old gas pumps, fire trucks, kids drawings, and Chicago memorabilia.Deep dish pizza takes a while to make and it was well worth the wait. The crust was airy with a light crunch. The cheese/sauce/crust ratio was great and favorable. Like most deep dish pizzas this was way too much food to finish in one seating so I was thrilled to have a few slices to enjoy the next day.The thin crust pizza looked great and they offer a variety of combinations of toppings. That pie looks more like a traditional Chicago thin and I look forward to trying it next time I'm in Lenoir.

Best Chicago deep dish ever. Yes you have to wait a bit but it's 100% worth it. Had deep dish in Chicago and it's been a while but this place has the best in recent memory and it's not just "OK" for the area, it's top notch anywhere. Just reheated some for lunch and it's amazing. I drive almost an hour to get it and will continue to.

Solid 3.5 stars. The staff make all the difference. Super friendly and welcoming people. We walked in after a day of hiking, never been there before. Someone noticed the look in our eye, and asked if we had ever been there before. When we said no, they explained everything we need to know about how the restaurant works and what to do. Basically it's counter service to order and then someone brings the meal to your table when it's ready. We shared a salad, bread, and a pizza. It was tasty. I've had better and I've also had much worse. The restaurant is full of knickknacks from Chicago, which make it fun and interesting, but it also makes it a dust trap, so that was a little unnerving, but overall the experience was great. The service made it exceptional and if I'm ever in that area again, I will definitely be a patron of this restaurant.

Excellent pies. Super nice family run business. Piccolo's offers a Chicago Style Deep Dish Pizza. Fresh, tasty, great experience.

Great find in Lenoir. Authentic Chicago pizza served by Italian owners. This location has been open for two decades. The Deep Dish is just want we wanted and did not disappoint! House made crust and sauce are just right! We highly recommend Piccolo's. Be aware that the cost of toppings can add up quickly

Super friendly owner, authentic Italian gentleman who owned this NC location as well as his restaurant in Chicago for 24 years. Lots of Chicago and antique items all over the place. Pizza was terrific. You can special order Chicago Italian Beef also for home preparation.

I lived in Chicago in the late '70s as a college student, ate many a fine slice of deep dish there, and recently moved to Lenoir. The mayor recommended Piccolo's as a great place to eat, so my husband and I gave it a try on a Sunday night. We walked over from our house near downtown. We ordered at the counter and enjoyed drinking in the atmosphere from a comfy booth as we waited for our pizza to arrive. Piccolo's has a wood-fired oven in the dining room, along with lots of memorabilia anyone who has lived in Chicago will recognize (a CTA bus stop sign for the 62 Archer route, an Archer Avenue street sign, Chicago Police leather jacket, etc.). Our lovely deep dish, the star of the evening, arrived at our both and we dug in: high, crispy-yet-chewy crust from their freshly made dough that was just the right amount of thickness, a generous layer of savory mozzarella, a thick, zesty homemade tomato sauce. Wow! This pizza really took me back. The owner was sitting by the door and visited with us on our way out. He had a philosophical approach to the art of the deep dish: "Some people love it, some people hate it." Fools, the lot of them. We'll be back, Piccolo's!

I am from Chicago having moved here in August. I was craving Deep Dish and this 100% took my craving away! So good!

The owner is amazing as is the food. I truly enjoy supporting this small business. I highly recommend their pasta dishes.

Over priced and stingy on amount since Covid. Haven't been there now 2 years and will stay that way. They over charged me/ double charged actually. Argued about it with owner, corrected him menu versus receipt. He knew I was right and just hung up on me. Food is from a pre made freezer bag. Sad how something so good went so downhill in just a few yrs. Hope they get their act together and fix their issues or they'll be next on closing in Lenoir