Piccolo Mondo

My partner claire and i first had the pleasure of visiting this excellent italian restaurant back in 2019. we do not live in the area and only visit southampton for the sci fi ball which used to take place at the grand harbour hotel. we initially stumbled across piccolo mondo via a brief google search for the best restaurants in the area, we loved it so much we have returned every year since. the restaurant is small and has a lovely cosy vibe, it always seems busy but this does not detract at all from its tremendous charm. the restaurant is lovingly decorated and it’s a really great place to go for a romantic meal. because we are only ever in the area in february we tend to celebrate valentines at piccolo mondo. we are definitely eyes bigger than our bellies people so we often end up with some of our dinners to take home, there’s no way we are ever going to leave behind any of the exceptional food from the restaurant. our first year we went for the calzone, it was the best one we have ever tried, very generous portions and it tasted amazing. the second time we went we had the gnocchi and oh my god, it’s the most amazing italian dish we have ever tried. it’s not often on the menu but they always make it for us. i’ve had gnocchi in many restaurants but none has ever come close to being as good as this, the mix of cheeses is exquisite. this year we had gnocchi as a starter, because it would be rude not to have it every time we visit, it’s too good not to have! i went for a steak with peppercorn sauce, it was cooked absolutely perfectly medium rare as it was so tasty. the peppercorn sauce was also exceptionally well made, it was thick and creamy with a lovely strong taste, i always have my steak with this sauce wherever i dine, however very few places make it well, the way piccolo mondo do it is just the best. my partner claire had an italian sausage and potato dish, it looked and smelled amazing and she let me try some, i was incredibly impressed with it, the quality and artistry at this restaurant is second to none. we enjoy a good drink when we go for a meal and their wine selection is extensive and reasonably priced for the quality on offer. we had the grillo this time and it was really good. we also finished off with an expresso martini, one of our most ordered cocktails, many places do this cocktail but very few properly master it, piccolo mondo certainly do, absolutely stand out, great strong coffee taste and it really hit the spot. the staff have always been exceptional, so friendly and efficient and clearly enthusiastic about making the customers experience great every time. they are more than happy to help you choose if you can’t decide on a dish and know their menu especially well. the manager even called a taxi for us at the end of the meal as we were let down by our uber driver, it arrived really quickly and it was so nice of him to organise it for us, just another wonderful touch to an already exceptional experience. this is hands down the best italian restaurant in southampton and i would say it’s probably one of the best in the entire country, you will not regret going. it’s now our tradition to visit every year. we used to be able to walk to the restaurant from the grand harbour, but our star trek convention has now moved to botley, but we didn’t think twice about paying £25 each way for a taxi because we love this place so much. it’s definitely worth the money to have a dining experience as consistently excellent as the one offered by piccolo mondo.

An absolute hidden gem in southampton. my partner and i both agreed this was genuinely some of the best italian food we’d ever tasted and it was so reasonably priced! such a cosy authentic environment and the staff were lovely. we will definitely be coming here again 🥰

Great little restaurant that you could easily miss as it’s tucked down a side street that leads to nowhere. if you do visit though, you are in for a great time. the service is excellent, the waiting staff are very friendly and helpful. the food is also great, which is the main reason you visit a restaurant. obviously they do pizza and pasta, but there’s a great range of other italian dishes too. i don’t think it is very accessible for wheelchair users as it is very small inside and the toilets are down a narrow staircase. they do have a small outdoor seating area though with heat lamps which kept the cold off very well. overall i was impressed and happy to have stumbled upon this charming little italian restaurant.

A little gem clearly loved by many. the restaurant is small and tucked away but pleasantly busy. whilst inside you feel transported to a small local restaurant in italy. there is quiet music however everyone is clearly enjoying themselves enough to talk over it. the food was delicious - we had the paté and king prawn starters (the prawns were a little bit over cooked however i am yet to eat an average price prawn that isn't) followed by the calzone and 'meat' cannelloni mains with cheesy garlic bread which were astonishing. i did not ask, however i am certain this restaurant make their own bread. i do however wish were were offered a bread basket or a bowl of olives on arrival instead of a packet of bread sticks to share. the service was fast, helpful and felt personal. we will absolutely be returning.

Freshly cooked authentic italian food, in a great little family run restaurant tucked out of the way in a busy part of town. some may deem the food a little pricey, but you get what you pay for, and here you get excellent food that is full of flavour, and good portions. the small setting helps create a lovely atmosphere, and the friendly staff couldn't be more attentive and helpful. we've been here many times and it's consistently very good.