Sherman's Food Adventures: Pico Bello Trattoria

Pico Bello Trattoria

*This restaurant is now closed*

I can't believe that I've never seen Pico Bello before. I drive by it every day and I have specifically looked at this strip mall, in the hopes of finding more good eats. Yes, Pico Bello is located in the strangest of locations. It's tucked in a corner of the strip mall on Scott Road in between 82nd and 84th. Moreover, Pico Bello seems to have nothing in common with any of the other stores nearby. However, I guess quite a few people know about this gem because there is a banner proudly displayed outside indicating that it was voted #1 by Surrey and North Delta Now readers.

We arrived just as it opened and of course the restaurant was empty. I like this, since I can take a picture of the restaurant with nobody in it. We looked over the menu and it's pretty simple. There are some appies, salads and pasta. The pizzas were crossed off and our server explained they are in the process of hiring another pizza chef. The server was very friendly and she took her time to explain the daily specials. I struggled deciding what to eat and eventually settled on a standard: Spaghetti and Meatballs. Tash had the Fettuccine Alfredo (another classic).

We were started off with some bread and it was really good! I wanted to save some for my pasta, so I stopped eating it and then it got cold. I guess it was a no-win situation. Our pastas arrived pretty quickly and I knew I was going to like it. One look and there were big chunks of fresh tomatoes and ground beef mixed in with fresh slivers of basil. The pasta was done a perfect al dente. Unlike Anton's, there was just enough sauce to coat the pasta. The meatballs were excellent. They were moist on the inside; yet browned on the outside. The flavours were delicate and did not overpower the sauce. The sauce itself was a good balance of tang, sweet and salty.

The same could be said about the Fettuccine Alfredo except it had a bit more sauce. However, the sauce was rich and it successfully adhered to the pasta. So, in the end, it was the right amount . The sauce was a perfect balance of creaminess and delicate flavour. The pasta was also al dente. It appears they really know what they are doing. This is quite perplexing to me. How can a small Italian restaurant in a very strange location make such good pasta? I mean, I thought it was superior to Marcello. Well, I ain't complaining! The more authentic places for me to eat, the better!

The Good:
- Pasta was cooked correctly
- Food looks the part and tastes the part
- Good service

The Bad:
- It ain't cheap here
- Very odd location

Pico Bello Trattoria
#101 - 8556 120th Street
Surrey, B.C.
604-591-5559

Business Hours:
11:30am - 10:00pm (Tue - Fri)
5:00pm - 10:00pm (Sat & Sun)

Pico Bello Trattoria on Urbanspoon

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1 comments:

Anonymous said...

The food here is SO good!!!! Flavourful with a nice presentation. Thanks for the recommendation. The room is a bit too cosy as you can overheard conversations and they really need a better location , but the food makes up for all the shortcomings. Their chef cooks like an angel, the meals here are sublime. I agree it can be a bit pricey but I tend to avoid the pasta dishes as I find that they seem overpriced, their salads and appetizers are fairly priced and are generous servings. If you come here do more of a tapa's sharing type meal and maybe share a pasta dish if you are watching your budget. Who'd have thought that this unassuming place would turn out some of the most authentic Italian food in all of the GVRD?

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