Fami Elabed, co-owner of Newtown’s Piccolo Trattoria, is celebrating 25 years as a local restaurateur this fall.
“When we opened Piccolo 25 years ago, our vision was to build more than a successful restaurant,” Fami says. “We wanted to create a destination that'd become part of the fabric of the community, bringing people together through food, hospitality and unforgettable experiences for generations to come.”
The team at Piccolo achieved that goal, creating long-lasting relationships and faithful customers that keep returning.
“The best compliment isn’t when someone tells us they had a great meal,” Fami says. “It’s when they tell us they come to Piccolo for every important event. We love seeing a busy dining room, hearing people laughing, watching families celebrate and knowing our team's creating those experiences. There's something special about being able to bring people together through food.”
Fami continues: “There are so many milestones, but what stands out most is how many people have allowed us to be part of their lives. We've celebrated birthdays, weddings, communions, graduations, anniversaries and so many other important moments with our guests. We've watched families grow up. We've had customers who came to us as young couples and now bring their children and grandchildren. That's something you can't put a price on.”
Fami began working in restaurants when he was just 12 years old and quickly discovered a passion for food service and hospitality. He felt a connection to the energy of the space, a room full of people coming together over plates of food.
Those early experiences eventually became the foundation of his vision for Piccolo, which he owns with his wife, Amali. Since opening, they've grown to include an extensive catering operation and a full bar at their Newtown location, and have found a sense of community with those who dine at their tables.
“Newtown's been incredibly good to us,” Amali says. “We've been fortunate to grow alongside the people who live and work here. We get to know our guests and their families, and we have the opportunity to support local organizations and be involved in the community. That connection is a big part of what has kept us here. Newtown has given us 25 incredible years, and we don't take that for granted. We’ve grown with this community, and the community has grown with us.”
Through their Raising the Dough initiative, Piccolo partners with K-12 schools and youth groups, donating a portion of their proceeds from a particular day to their causes.
Even after 25 years, the Elabeds and team love the thrill of coming up with something new to serve.
“We love the creative aspect of the job,” Fami says. “We're constantly thinking about new dishes, new experiences and new ways to make our guests excited to come back.”
Looking toward the future, Fami and Amali hope to continue to grow while continuing to focus on what has made Piccolo successful.
“The industry has changed dramatically over 25 years, but our commitment to our guests has never changed,” Fami says. “We want to stay true to our food, our hospitality and our connection to the community, while continuing to introduce new ideas and experiences. Social media, technology, new dining trends and the way people celebrate have all changed. You have to be willing to evolve without losing your identity.”
He says they want the next generation to experience Piccolo the way that longtime guests have, while also giving them new reasons to be excited about the restaurant experiences. “The future is about continuing to innovate, creating memorable experiences and staying connected to the community that helped us get here. If we can look back 25 years from now and say we continued to bring people together, created meaningful memories and gave our community a place they were proud to call their own, then we’ll know we did our job.”
25 Reasons To Love Piccolo
- Family-friendly atmosphere and space for large groups.
- House-made mozzarella and marinara sauce.
- Live music.
- Dedicated catering team for weddings, birthdays, baptisms and more.
- Fresh-baked bread made daily.
- Seasonal specials: pumpkin gnocchi in the fall.
- Classic Italian dishes with modern twists.
- To-go pizza options for quick bites.
- Date night ambience.
- New, improved full bar with specialty crafted cocktails.
- 37 pizza varieties!
- Gluten-free pasta and pizza crust available.
- Reservations on OpenTable.
- Pasta flights to sample multiple dishes.
- DJ dance nights.
- Smoked, Old Fashioned cocktails.
- Happy hour drink deals Mondays through Fridays.
- Cannoli cart, other custom novelties available for catered events.
- Two additional nearby locations in Doylestown and Pennington, NJ.
- Open for Sunday brunch with a special menu.
- Pillowy-soft potato gnocchi made in-house.
- Olive oil sourced from Italy for the finest flavors.
- Knowledgeable waitstaff to answer questions.
- Winner of 'Best in Bucks' eight consecutive years.
- Gives back to nearby schools and community organizations.
Newtown Shopping Center location, 32 West Road: 215.860.4247
Barn Plaza Shopping Center, 1745 South Easton Road, Doylestown: 267.485.4000
Hopewell Crossing, 800 R Denow Road, Pennington: 609.737.9050
PiccoloTrattoria.com/Newtown