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Don Boyd | all galleries >> Memories of Old Hialeah, Old Miami and Old South Florida Photo Galleries - largest non-Facebook collection on the internet >> Miami Area RESTAURANTS, Drive-Ins, Bars, Lounges, Liquor Stores, Clubs, Strip Joints, etc. Gallery - All Years - click to view >> Picciolo Italian Restaurant - click on image to view the gallery > 1960's and 70's - Picciolo Italian Restaurant on Collins Avenue, Miami Beach
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1930's thru 1970's Courtesy of Robert Bowman

1960's and 70's - Picciolo Italian Restaurant on Collins Avenue, Miami Beach

136 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, Florida view map


Thank you to Robert Bowman for contributing this great old image. Robert says "the local kids knew that there were always free garlic rolls and bread sticks (just out of the oven) to be had by the back door. The family had a long history on South Beach."


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Vern 29-Mar-2023 01:08
Vern 29-Mar-2023 01:06
I used to play at the playground next to the restaurant. All us kids would get free garlic rolls and breadsticks at the back door. The owners were nice people. Jackie Gleason used to frequent that place. He would always arrive in his stretch limo via the alley on the rear entrance. I met him several times there. He was very kind to us kids. Great memories!
Albert Mott 30-Jul-2020 02:31
Every year in the 60s we would travel to Miami from NJ. We would always stay at the Sun Ranch which later became the Hiawian Isles. One of the biggest treats was when a very large group of us would go to piccolos for dinner. We always sat on the patio. As a young boy I loved the fresh out of the oven breadsticks. The food was fabulous.its such a shame that this restaurant is no longer in operation. I'm 66 now, and I still have such wonderful memories of this restaurant and their food and atmosphere. I often revisit this place in my mind. If you were lucky enough to have dined there, you know exactly what I mean.
Guest 25-Apr-2020 03:32
Wonderful pictures. My father was a busboy there and wouldn’t stop hitting on a patron who ended up being my mother. I’ve heard so many stories about that time. My grandmother’s great friend Rochelle use to sing there as well. Thank you for posting.
AnnMarie 28-Nov-2016 05:47
..."In the late 1960's and early 1970's my husband Mike Martin and I ran the valet parking service for Picciolo's and I was the first "Door Girl" on Miami Beach.. There were many "Door Men" at all the other restaurant's and hotel's on the Beach but no other " Door Girl's".. It was pretty exciting seeing all the movie stars and famous people..and I made pretty good tips.. (no, I did not wear a bikini or anything provocative..lol..).. I dressed like the guys..with black pants and a white dress shirt"...
Guest 26-Apr-2015 19:00
As a young boy family would eat here a number of times when we were on vacation. I remember walking here, we stayed ay the Lord Balfour Hotel in which now is a South Beach boutique Hotel LOL, that my friends was some 58 years ago. Memories are wonderful.
Frank Fucci 26-Jul-2014 14:04
As good as any NYC Italian Restaurant. Great Veal Parm as I remember years ago.
Huel W 20-Oct-2010 14:19
In the early '70 we were attending a convention at the old Playboy Hotel on the Beach and went to Picciolo's for a marvelous supper - just my wife & I. A highlight was the Caesar Salad made tableside. It was so good I asked for and got the recipe - my wife made a Picciolo Caesar salad last week.
Don 17-Sep-2009 05:15
When I was in my teens my friend and I would go to the back door and ask for a dozen each and pay a buck for there best fresh made garlic rolls and bread sticks. It was the best deal we ever had. We had so much of those delicious fresh made goods that we nicknamed them barf rolls and peuk sticks. To bad they are gone.
Dave D 19-Aug-2009 03:52
thanks Don , forgot about the earlier post, your photos really bring back some great memories of south Florida during a simpler time. lived there from 1953 to 2007.
Don Boyd05-Apr-2009 23:52
Dave D, thank you for your comment on the years it was open. I changed the years under the photo to 1930's through 1970's. Don
Dave D 05-Apr-2009 20:14
this place was on the beach in the 30's and 40's, my mother worked there and lived down the street where my dad ran a bowling alley right on the bay
Randy 26-Oct-2008 07:07
About once a year my family would eat there for dinner. We really couldn't afford to on a more frequent basis. This was one great Italian restraunt. I remember that there was a robbery of their safe sometime in mid 60s. Why I remember is that it was unusual in that an off-duty cop was involved.