The team behind Melrose on Adelaide has just opened a swanky new Italian café with an entirely new food and drink menu, perfect for summertime.
Piccolo Café e Vino is a bodega and casual coffee shop by day that transforms into a full-service snack bar in the evening, featuring impressive cocktails and a mouthwatering food menu curated by chef Philip Allain.
The venture differs from Melrose, in that Piccolo will be geared more towards an everyday casual feel, with the option to still enjoy an elevated wine and dine experience that truly evolves as the day goes by.
The bodega and bottle shop will be a permanent addition to the space, featuring a funky and organic Italian/Spanish wine menu that is consignment only, meaning you won’t be able to find them at the LCBO.
Coffee and espresso-based beverages -- along with an array of pastries -- will be served throughout the day for a more casual, sidewalk café vibe. Their talented barista team is also well versed in latté art, and will be preparing stunning, Insta-worthy coffees, perfect for on the go, or to sit, with a fresh almond croissant on their vibrant patio.
By night, the dimly lit café -- with marble countertops -- becomes a hip eatery that remains open, well into the late hours of the evening (2 a.m. to be exact). The menu is snack-bar style, with delicate and dainty options but with a munchy twist, so you can try everything on the menu.
Chef Allain has whipped up a couple of must-try small plates, like the fried chicken sandwich (with panko-breaded chicken, spicy cabbage slaw and garlic mayo on a potato bun), or the 18-hour pork belly (sous-vide with a pomegranate reduction and spiced with anise, clove, black pepper, garlic and bay leaf).
The cocktail list is Italian-inspired, and even features a spritz menu, with a number of unique effervescent options to choose from. General Manager Rahael Yohannes recommends either the Hugo Spritz (with lime, mint, St. Germain, Prosecco and soda) or the Vegan Amaretto Sour (with Disaronno, Wild Turkey Bourbon, and Aquafaba).
Piccolo Café e Vino is located on the lower level of Melrose on Adelaide at 111 John Street. They are currently open for service seven days a week, from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. for walk-ins only. Though coffee will be served from open to close, the snack bar menu will be brought out at 2 p.m. and will run for the rest of the night. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled on their Instagram, where they will drop new menu items and wine selections, to be added to their list.
