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Piccolino Virginia Water brings polished Italian dining to one of Surrey’s most affluent corners. Set on London Road, the restaurant is close to Ascot Racecourse, making it particularly well placed for lunch before the races, drinks afterwards or dinner during a weekend in the area.
The setting has enough versatility to extend its appeal beyond race days. An open kitchen, wine boutique, cocktail bar and generous all-weather terrace create distinct spaces for different occasions, while the menu covers Italian classics alongside seafood, steaks and contemporary dishes.
Italian Style in Virginia Water
Piccolino takes a smart, contemporary approach to Italian restaurant design. The open kitchen brings some energy into the dining room, while the bar and wine displays give the space a more sociable feel as the evening progresses.
The all-weather terrace is one of its strongest features. Designed for year-round use, it makes alfresco dining possible without relying too heavily on the Surrey weather and is particularly appealing during the warmer racing season.
There is a polished feel throughout, although the restaurant remains relaxed enough for an unhurried lunch. That balance suits Virginia Water well, especially with Ascot, Wentworth and the surrounding Surrey countryside nearby.
At the Heart of the Table
The menu is broad, but recognisably Italian, moving through sharing plates and raw seafood to pasta, pizza, steaks and fish.
Meals can begin simply with Gordal olives and freshly baked focaccia, or move towards dishes such as Arancini filled with truffle and mushroom risotto and mozzarella. Burrata Con Pesto pairs Apulian mozzarella with basil pesto and semi-dried tomatoes, while Carpaccio comes with Venetian dressing, rocket and Parmesan Reggiano.
Seafood gives the opening courses more range. Calamari is served with chilli and lemon mayonnaise, while Fritto Misto combines lightly fried squid, prawns, red mullet and whitebait. The raw selection includes Tartare Di Tonno, alongside Colchester oysters with Amalfi lemon mignonette and Tabasco.
Pasta, Risotto and Lasagne
Pasta covers both established favourites and richer house dishes. Spaghetti Carbonara combines free-range eggs, guanciale and Pecorino Romano, while Tagliatelle Bolognese uses slow-cooked beef ragù with tomato and basil.
Orecchiette Con Salsiccia is a more robust choice, pairing Puglian pasta with Neapolitan sausage ragù, ‘nduja, semi-dried tomatoes and matured Italian cheese. Seafood options include pasta with prawns and shellfish, while the lasagne selection brings another comforting strand to the menu.
For something with a little more theatre, Carbonara Grande is prepared tableside in a Pecorino cheese wheel and designed for sharing.
Steak, Meat and Seafood
The Bistecca selection includes British dry-aged cuts alongside Australian Black Angus, with larger cuts available for the table. Chateaubriand and T-Bone Fiorentina suit a longer lunch or celebratory dinner, accompanied by rosemary and garlic potatoes, grilled vegetables and a choice of sauces.
Elsewhere, Pollo Al Tartufo combines roast chicken breast with truffle gnocchi and mushroom and truffle cream, while Fegato Alla Veneziana pairs calves’ liver with pancetta, onions, butter and sage.
Seafood keeps things lighter. Whole-roasted Branzino is served with samphire, sea purslane, olive oil and lemon, while Merluzzo Peperonata combines roasted cod with peppers and crispy samphire. Whole Dover sole, when available, is pan-fried with butter, capers and lemon.
Pizza and Something Sweet
Hand-stretched Neapolitan pizzas range from a straightforward Margherita to the richer Diavola with Calabrese salami, ‘nduja, stracciatella, mozzarella and chilli. Prosciutto Crudo E Tartufo uses a white base with truffle cream, mozzarella, Parma ham, rocket and Pecorino Romano.
Desserts continue the Italian theme, providing the expected sweet finish to a meal that can be kept relatively simple or extended across several courses.
Aperitivo and Italian Wine
The cocktail bar gives Piccolino Virginia Water another reason to arrive early, particularly before an evening reservation or around the Ascot racing calendar. Italian aperitivi sit alongside house cocktails, spirits and alcohol-free choices.
Wine receives plenty of attention, with Prosecco, Italian sparkling wines and Champagne followed by Italian and international whites, rosés and reds. A selection by the glass makes the list manageable for lunch, while the wider bottle selection is better suited to longer dinners.
The dedicated wine boutique reinforces this part of the restaurant’s identity and helps give the drinks offering more presence than a conventional restaurant wine list.
A Table Before the Races
Proximity to Ascot Racecourse is one of the clearest reasons to choose this particular Piccolino. The restaurant actively caters to racegoers and has offered dedicated Race Day Brunches around major fixtures, including Royal Ascot.
The combination makes sense. Virginia Water is close enough to the racecourse to form part of the day without dining at the course itself, while the cocktail bar and terrace suit the celebratory atmosphere surrounding the bigger meetings.
For those staying in the area, Piccolino also works well after racing. Dinner can be more leisurely once the crowds begin to disperse, particularly for guests based around Virginia Water, Ascot or nearby Wentworth.
Celebrations and Private Dining
The restaurant is equipped for private hire, adding another option for celebrations, group lunches and corporate occasions in the area.
Its layout already lends itself to gatherings, with the terrace, cocktail bar and main restaurant providing different settings depending on the occasion. Group dining menus and tasting formats can make larger tables easier to manage without losing the convivial style that suits Italian food particularly well.
This becomes especially useful during the Ascot calendar, when private lunches and dinners form an important part of the social programme surrounding the racing.
The Piccolino Experience
Piccolino Virginia Water works best when its setting is allowed to play a role in the meal. Lunch on the terrace, drinks at the bar and dinner after a day at Ascot each make use of the restaurant slightly differently.
The menu has enough breadth for that flexibility. Pasta and pizza suit a more relaxed visit, while crudo, seafood, larger steaks and a substantial wine list can carry a longer occasion. Familiar Italian dishes keep it accessible, with truffle, premium cuts and tableside preparations adding interest where wanted.
Italian Dining With Ascot Appeal
Virginia Water is one of Piccolino’s more compelling locations because the restaurant fits naturally into its surroundings. The terrace, cocktail bar and wine boutique give it a stronger sense of occasion, while the proximity to Ascot adds a clear reason to visit during one of Surrey’s busiest social periods.
For a pre-race lunch, celebratory dinner or an evening in Virginia Water, it offers a polished Italian experience that feels comfortably at home in this part of Surrey.
Location: Unit 1 London Rd, Virginia Water, Egham GU25 4QE
