Piccolo Mondo — Restaurant in Southampton

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...

As a Sicilian, I am always on the lookout for an authentic Italian dining experience, and Piccolo Mondo in Southampton exceeded my expectations in every way possible. From the moment I walked through the door, I was greeted with warm and friendly hospitality, which made me feel right at home.

The ambiance of the restaurant was cozy and inviting, and the decor was tastefully done with a charming Italian touch. The menu featured a wide range of traditional Italian dishes, and I was delighted to see that they had a dedicated section for my favourite food. I ordered the bruschetta as a starter, and it was delicious and brought back fond memories of my childhood.

For the main course, I opted for the spaghetti carbonara, which was cooked to perfection and bursting with flavor. The portion sizes were generous, and the presentation of the dishes was impressive. The drink paired perfectly with my meal.

The service at Piccolo Mondo was impeccable, and the staff was attentive and knowledgeable. They made me feel like a valued guest, and I could tell that they were passionate about their craft. The dessert menu was so tempting.

Overall, my experience at Piccolo Mondo was exceptional, and I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for an authentic Italian dining experience. From the food to the service, everything was top-notch, and I can't wait to visit again. If you're Sicilian like me or just a lover of Italian cuisine, this is the place to be. Five stars...

We were a family of 8 - 4 adults and 4 teens eating at 4:30pm.... I selected it because of the 4.9 star Google rating.... The staff are friendly. The layout inside is very constrained and small. We were sat on a long table by the door which was drafty. The noise felt very loud in the small space with diners packed tightly. The garlic bread was Delicious light and spongy sourdough. The 7 pizzas we ordered had the worst pizza bases I have ever eaten. They were like hard, brittle bits of pastry with the topping sitting ontop. It was the 27th Dec - So maybe they had bought in frozen bases but even Icelands own Pizzas are way better! The worst pizza I have ever eaten which was very dissapointing.... so avoid these. However, my wife's Milanese was delicious and the salad superb. We had to ask for water multiple times and getting the attention of servers was not easy. Kids enjoyed the deserts. Cost came in at £335 - £42 per head included a 2 x single scoop icecreams, 2 x deserts, 7 pizza, 1 chicken Milenaise, 1 bottle Prosessco, 3 beers, 4 soft drinks. It is clearly loved by locals who I did not see ordering pizza - Definately avoid the pizzas and go for the wide selection of other dishes. In hindsight I wish I had gone for Pizza Express or other chain but was swayed by the high Google ratings....