Restaurant Details
Name: Pici
Area: Hockley (opposite Broadway Cinema)
Address: 17 Broad Street, Nottingham NG1 3AJ.
Website: picinottingham.co.uk (Menus + info)
Reservations: Via their Toast portal; they note bookings for parties of six (email for larger).
Pici Nottingham Review: First Impressions
Some rooms are built for appetite; Pici is one of them. So, in this Pici Nottingham review, let’s begin with the feel: a low conversational thrum, a friendly clink from the pass, and that buttery light that makes everything look a touch more glamorous. Eventually, I made it in, after keeping it on my list for ages and sat down like someone who’d been thinking about pasta since breakfast.
Thankfully, it did not disappoint.
This Pici Nottingham review leans into substance over show. Yes, it’s mini plates; however, they’re considered, small without stinginess. Additionally, service keeps a lively tempo, so dishes arrive properly hot. And the team stay human and relaxed, not scripted. Ultimately, for a relatively new restaurant it has a quiet confidence that I think is great.
Small Plates, Big Intent
To start, the garlic-butter pizette arrived like a halo: a saucer-sized cloud with a lacy Parmesan fringe and an emerald sheen that smelt indecently good. Immediately, it became a pull-and-tear situation. As a result, it set the tone, unfussy food with just enough theatre and you’re already hankering for the next plate to land…
Next, the negroni-cured trout was silky and cool, slices of coral fish lounging in a herb-green pool. Crucially, the sauce was drinkable, dunkable, spoonable and downright delicious. Meanwhile, pickled cucumber and bright orange segments kept everything sharp, while a neat pop of roe added texture. In the end, it’s a starter that drinks like an aperitif and eats like a promise.
Next up, pumpkin fritti arrived light and golden: bite-size crescents, gently sweet, set on a cool swoop of whipped cheese and finished with that non-negotiable lemon squeeze. Unsurprisingly, the plate vanished quickly. Texturally, it moves from crisp shell to soft pumpkin, then into ricotta and honey, with a whisper of chilli, exactly the kind of balance I chase.
Then the pastas. First, rigatoni ’nduja arrived in a glossy brick-red coat ,slightly feral in the best way. Crucially, the smoky-chilli warmth was fierce; the waitress warned me, and she wasn’t lying. By contrast, the tagliolini with prawns went silk-light and might be my favourite of the lot: sweet prawns, cherry tomatoes collapsing into a buttery shellfish sauce, plus a toasted crumb for exactly the crunch you want.
We closed with tiramisu and a burnt-honey chocolate gelato, insane, and authentically delicious. Naturally, the tiramisu was the huge, soft-set wedge you dream of if you grew up believing dessert should come with two spoons and a gentle argument. Properly soaked sponge, plush mascarpone, the bitter edge of cocoa, nothing cloying. In theory, I intended to share; in reality, good intentions are famously weak against good tiramisu.
Final Thoughts
All in, Pici nails the balance, small plates without stinginess, proper pacing, and staff who keep things human. Moreover, the room holds its rhythm so dishes land hot while you feel looked after rather than managed. Meanwhile, the format encourages curiosity, so sharing “just one more” becomes part of the fun. Consequently, “one more plate?” feels inevitable. Ultimately, I’ll definitely be back, happily, and soon.
What I Want To Order Next Time
- Beef & provolone supplì – they looked outrageously good drifting past to other tables.
- Paccheri with wild mushrooms – clocked it on the menu and immediately filed it under “must try!”
Would I Return?
Absolutely 9/10. Because the room has warmth, the service has rhythm, and the plates land hot and happy, I’m already plotting the return. And yes, I’ll bring a good eater so I can justify “just a few more plates.”
P.S. If you like this Pici Nottingham review, you might enjoy my other Restaurant reviews same hungry honesty, different menus!
