CT Review: I Visited Navi Mumbai’s 1st Pure-Veg Italian Spot, Piccolino Taproom & Its Burrata Pizza Won Me Over!

Italian food and vegetarian menus don’t always get along very well in India. Somewhere along the way, a lot of places started treating vegetarian Italian food like it only needed extra cheese and cream to work. And honestly, that’s not what a true foodie would like to see and savour. So when I heard about Piccolino Italian Taproom in Navi Mumbai calling itself a pure-vegetarian Italian restaurant, I was curious and slightly doubtful too. But after spending an evening there, I kind of got why it’s the talk of the town.

This Pure-Veg Italian Spot, Piccolino Italian Taproom In Navi Mumbai, Truly Surprised Me

 

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Piccolino Italian Taproom has this relaxed European café feeling without trying too hard to look “aesthetic”. Some people were there for date night, others were catching up over coffee, and one big family nearby looked like they had settled in for the entire evening. It felt comfortable. Not rigid.

Also, the kitchen takes its food seriously. According to Executive Chef Girish Sankpal and Consulting Chef Govind, several ingredients, including cheeses and some vegetables, are brought in specifically to keep the flavours closer to what you’d expect from proper Italian cooking. 

Handmade Pasta, Burrata Pizza & Garlic Knots Shine At Piccolino

Before the actual dishes arrived, we got a basket of freshly baked bread. Breadsticks, focaccia, brioche and lavash, all served with types of flavoured butter and berry compote.

Simple start, but good bread tells you a lot about a restaurant sometimes.

Then came the Parmesan Garlic Knots, and I need to say this clearly: order them, don’t overthink it.

Soft little buns soaked in garlic butter with parmesan shaved all over them. They disappeared from the table surprisingly fast. At one point, I genuinely considered cancelling the rest of the order and just eating these all night.

That said, self-control apparently still exists! 

Next came the Rocket & Sweet-Pear Insalata. Usually, salads end up feeling like filler dishes, but this one actually worked. The sweetness from the poached pear and walnut nougatine balanced out the peppery rocket leaves nicely, while the feta added that salty kick that tied everything together. Not too heavy either.

But the real surprise for me was the Queso Popcorn.

Imagine crispy spicy cottage cheese bites sitting on top of creamy pecorino sauce. It had that proper spice hit Indians usually look for, but still didn’t lose the Italian side of the dish completely. Dangerous snack, honestly, because you keep reaching for one more piece without realising it. The same problem applies to the Truffle fries tossed in Parmesan.

Handmade Pasta That Actually Tastes Authentic

By this point, we were already getting full. But skipping pasta and pizza at an Italian restaurant would’ve been outrageous.

So we ordered the Pesto Burrata Pizza and the Pappardelle Al Tartufo.

Now, I’m heavily biased towards anything pesto. But this pizza was genuinely delivered. The burrata added this creamy richness without making the slice soggy or overloaded.

The pasta, though? Probably my favourite part of dinner.

You could actually see the pasta being rolled fresh in the open kitchen. The pappardelle came coated in a rich mushroom cream sauce with truffle layered through it. Heavy dish? Absolutely. Worth it? Also yes.

For many people, rich pasta sauces become tiring after a few bites. This somehow didn’t.

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Ending With Tiramisu Was The Right Decision!

Even after all that food, dessert somehow still happened, and thankfully so.

The Tiramisu arrived in this elegant crystal glass and disappeared almost as quickly as the garlic knots had earlier. Creamy, soft, perfectly sweet and coffee-heavy in the best way. Honestly felt less like a dessert and more like emotional support. No regrets! 

Beverages And That Sunday Brunch Everyone Talks About

We also tried their Mango Peach craft and the Guava Chilli one. Both worked really well, especially the guava option if you like that sweet-spicy combination.

Also tried the Tiramisu Iced Latte, which tasted like coffee and dessert had decided to collaborate for once instead of competing.

The restaurant also hosts a Sunday brunch that’s apparently becoming popular pretty quickly. There are free-flowing sangrias, indulgent Italian spreads, live music, and immersive elements like a DIY sangria station, grazing table, cheese wheel pasta, and a tiramisu cart.

The food comes along with a series of performances, including a themed dance, fire-show and live saxophone routine with a DJ. 

Also Read: CT Review: I Stepped Into Radio Bar Mumbai, And It Felt Like 90s Bollywood Party Got A Luxe Upgrade!

So, Is It Worth Visiting?

Honestly? Yes. And I would say, don’t walk; run to the restaurant. 

Not because it’s “Instagrammable” or just trendy, but because the food actually tastes amazing for a pure vegetarian Italian restaurant. For me, Piccolino Italian Taproom in Navi Mumbai is where good food and good vibes reside! 

Cover Image Courtesy: Deeplata Garde