Piccolo Buco by Cooper’s Hawk in Oakbrook, IL

One of my new year’s resolutions was when I go to a restaurant, not to automatically pick something I know I will like. Try something I might not normally pick. So I took that resolution by the horns at the latest restaurant I went to and picked items I definitely would not have normally. Plus, I think if I have to ask the waiter how I eat certain foods, definitely checked off that goal. Anyways, Oak Brook Mall has been doing a ton of remodeling the last few months and has added a bunch of new restaurants. Piccolo Buco is just the latest Italian restaurant that has opened up. It has a fun ambiance inside and a perfect place to grab a bite to eat in between all the shopping. Plus it’s right next to Barnes and Noble so obviously I had to stop there afterward.

So to start off this year of trying new food, I decided to order their stuffed squash blossoms as an appetizer. Keep in mind, I am not the biggest fan of squash so this was a very new thing for me. Had no idea what a squash blossom was so when the waiter dropped it off, all I saw were flowers and didn’t know what to do with it. This was the one I had to ask for some guidance when it came to eating it. Would I get it again? Probably not but didn’t find myself hating it. Then my friend and I each got one of their in-house pastas which were incredibly delicious. And to finish the night (not pictured), we split their trio of gelato. The flavors were not like other gelatos I’ve had before; Cookies & Cream (more like vanilla with some cookie bites in it), Chocolate with Baked Hazlenut pieces, and Olive Oil. The Olive Oil one was weirdly salty yet sweet and I kept finding myself going back to it even though it confused me. Overall, would go back to Piccolo Buco just may not get the same things. My overall rating: 8.5/10.

Until Next Time, The Library Abroad