Piccolo's Corner - WEST LEEDERVILLE

I think this is one of my favourite places in town - piccolos corner in Leederville has a delicious menu, and serve a good cup of coffee! One of my regulars is the smashed avocado with a poached egg. Inside and outside seating is available. Be prepared to wait for a table - it's worth it!

Went to Piccolo's corner for late lunch - the kitchen was closed but they still had some very nice things to choose from - a risotto cake, spinach and cheese filo pastry and lots of cakes. Everything we had was delicious!

Great vibe and initial impression for lunch rapidly dissolved with the brunch menu being more breakfast than lunch, the pasta of the day being spag bog ( ok it was fettuccine) and then waited quite a long time to be served. While waiting, two women walked in, let's call them Pru and Sue,with two small dogs.They had the audacity to walk in with the hounds released and not securely bound in their hand bags. I was surprised when the waitress rather than advise dogs not being allowed inside welcomed what appeared to be frequent customers. Ok, I thought, this is different, dogs inside a restaurant. Don't get me wrong, I love dogs and went to the dog beach with our Dalmatian puppy after this meal. I am perfectly happy for well controlled pooches to sit with their owners at tables outside. But, when I looked over to the indoor canine table, the small dog on the adoring woman's lap eating from her plate and licking the table really reached a new restaurant low for me.I wondered how the table would be cleaned after they left.Anyway, half an hour later, the fet bog arrived. I ordered it because if something so boring is being offered as the pasta of the day on a Friday lunch then it must have something special about it. Wrong. Although the fact it was $20 for an entree size of ordinary fare it was I guess special in a way.While we were waiting for the bog, I asked if I could get some bottled water. I was pointed to a collection of partially used/ empty bottles of tepid tap water and a couple of stacks of hard plastic tumblers which though washed, clearly hadn't been rinsed. I went dry.The bog was finally delivered. No cutlery. Then I remembered that was self service too. The waitress kindly went and got it for us. Sadly, knife and fork were delivered for a long pasta dish. I went to get a soup or desert spoon from the cutlery self service area to eat the pasta correctly and more easily. None there.As we were eating the dog table left. The waitress cleared the plates and then wiped the table down with an old chux dish cloth. I then wondered whether that cloth had previously wiped up dog saliva and mucous off a table and whether it had wiped my plate, plastic cup, cutlery or table. I lost my appetite.My daughter had a vegetarian dish which was essentially boiled pumpkin on two thick pieces of toast and a poached egg and a pot of green tea.I really felt a little ripped off that I paid $46 for this cheap food, tepid water in plastic glasses with poor service in a clearly unhygienic operation.One star for the decor.

Group of 12 for morning tea. V pleasant spot. Few issues with wrong coffee orders but nothing over the top. Parking is tricky so watch/read parking signs. Will return for brkfast as apparently that is outstanding.

From a converted corner deli in West Leederville, Piccolo's has been attracting both locals and travellers from elsewhere in Perth for several years. Excellent coffees, with a diverse menu, the café is child friendly. The staff are professional, and the ambience funky.