Piccolo Pizzeria &
Espresso Bar
53 Lytton Rd
Cnr Latrobe St
East Brisbane
Daily 7am-9 pm
BYO
3733 1777

This gem of a pocket-sized pizza and coffee bar, found tucked away in a tiny dining square just off Lytton Rd, is what every neighbourhood could do with – a casual no frills 'stroll up with a bottle of wine' kind of place. The little brother of Camp Hill institutions Piccolo and Cinco, this one is also owned by chef Peter Stubbs who oversees all three and so don't be fooled by the frills size and appearance as what comes out of its kitchen is anything but.

While the emphasis is on takeaway, you can pop in and enjoy a Vittoria coffee and house-baked muffin or delicious Queen of cakes cake, Italian style at one of the chrome counter stools.

Otherwise drop by for lunch or dinner with a bottle of wine and tuck into some garlic bread and one of their excellent pizzas in the tiny basic mall out back or head across the road and eat in one of Mowbray Parks' picnic pavilions as the sun sets over the river.

The thin crust pizzas ($10-$13 small and mostly $20-$24 large) are delicious and come with toppings from the traditional – margherita, al funghi, pepperoni or Portofino (prawns, peas, garlic, chilli, lemon & rocket), the international – Honolulu, tandoori, Mexico city or Oslo (smoked salmon, red onion, capers, basil & sour cream) to the top of the range gourmet house special – the Paris. This one is in a class and price of its own, with topping of duck foie gras, mushrooms, veal sausage, mozzarella & truffle oil.

For starters there are warmed marinated olives, crisp calamari, breads, soup or Piccolo chicken wings (in hot chilli & garlic or BBQ sauce), salads and for those who don't want pizza a small range of pastas are available, with home-made desserts to follow.

As well as dine-in or takeaway, a home delivery service to East Brisbane, Woolloongabba and Kangaroo Point is available for a small charge.

• Restaurants