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Read the press release here.

Sicilian Seafood Restaurant Opening in SoHo

 The lemon branzino at Piccola Cucina Estiatorio, opening Wednesday on Thompson Street.
The lemon branzino at Piccola Cucina Estiatorio, opening Wednesday on Thompson Street.
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Piccola Cucina Estiatorio

SOHO — A Sicilian-born chef and restaurateur is opening a new seafood joint on Thompson Street.

Piccola Cucina Estiatorio will be Chef Philip Guardione's fourth venture, in addition to two other Piccola Cucinas in SoHo — one on Prince Street and the other on Spring Street — and a third in Ibiza, Spain.

This iteration, at 75 Thompson St., will focus on Mediterranean seafood dishes from Sicily and Greece, with fresh fish imported daily from Sicily and displayed on a bed of ice in a bright blue, vintage Piaggo "Ape" car.

Guests are able to hand-select their fish, how it's prepared (broiled, grilled or fried) and a side of their choosing, as well as order from an array of shareable hot and cold appetizers, raw fish dishes and handmade pasta including spaghetti with sea urchin ($20), maccheroni with meat ragu and wild fennel ($17), gnocchi with shrimp and mushrooms ($18.50) or ravioli ($16).

The Greek salad at Piccola Cucina Estiatorio is $12. Credit: Piccola Cucina Estiatorio

The fish is priced by weight and served whole, and side dishes include lemon-dressed potatoes, sauteed spinach or grilled vegetables.

The arancini catanese, or rice balls, appetizer at Piccola Cucina Estiatorio is priced at $11. Credit: Piccola Cucina Estiatorio

Appetizers include tuna tartare ($17), prawns ($16), wild boar meatballs with mushrooms and black truffles ($14) and fennel and orange salad ($10).

The fritto misto appetizer at Piccola Cucina Estiatorio includes a variety of fried fish and vegetables for $16. Credit: Piccola Cucina Estiatorio

Meat entrees are also available, including lamb chops ($29.50) and grilled skirt steak ($28.50), as well as a selection of Italian desserts.

The wine list is dominated by small-batch Italian wines from Sicily available by the glass or bottle. Beer options are limited to Peroni. 

The 55-seat restaurant's rustic decor is inspired by Mediterranean "tavernas," with warm brick accents, distressed wood and nautical rope entwined around bottles of wine throughout the 900-square-foot space, plus a wall of built-in shelves stocked with dried pasta, olive oils and other imported Italian products. 

Floor-to-ceiling windows along the storefront bring in natural light during the day, while at night the place is lit by varied pendant lamps under a Grecian-inspired white-washed ceiling over mixed-wood tabletops.

Piccola Cucina Estiatorio, 75 Thompson St. between Prince and Spring Streets, 646-781-9183. Open Sunday through Thursday, 5 p.m. to 11 p.m., Friday and Saturday, 5 p.m. to 12 a.m.