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.

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.

This is the worst Italian I have ever been to. They have no idea what Italian food even is! I'm sure this is covered up by the fact that they smother everything in garlic parsley sauce. There is no flavour in anything, and ingredients taste cheap and un seasoned. Calling the pizza a pizza is an insult it had more garlic than the garlic bread. This is not a good place or the best Italian as other reviews suggest. This would make for a great episode of kitchen nightmares. Stay away if you appreciate good food.

Lovely warm welcome, love this little hidden gem in the middle of Southampton. Been coming here for over 40 years and you still get the authentic Italian experience, the cheesy garlic bread was amazing and the best around, the red wine also went down well, congrats to all the staff for a lovely place to chill and relax.

Piccolo Mondo has one of the nicest atmospheres in Southampton. I used to live right next door and went frequently and now I go back whenever I can, the staff are lovely, the food is very reasonably priced and incredibly tasty. The restaurant is not large, which adds to the atmosphere but it does mean its worth booking especially if you're a larger group!

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.

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.

Went in for a Birthday meal. Small but lovely venue. The service and food were amazing. I had the Steak which was good but had pasta envy..... Definitely will be back to try more of the menu!

Went for a friend's birthday, the host couldn't have been more attentive. Server friendly too and both most welcoming. Food was fresh, hot and tasty!! Only a small restaurant but adds to its charm!! Will be returning

Staff was really friendly and welcoming but the food was just okay, no many choices of pasta, just spaghetti or penne (I was expecting at least rigatoni from an Italian restaurant) . In my opinion there are better Italian restaurants in Southampton . But the atmosphere is really nice, is a quick trip to Italy without leaving UK!!

Absolutely blown away with this restaurant. First visit and definitely not the last.The menu offered so many choices and the drink list also. The house red was a quality wine. Food was outstanding, fresh and hot but to top it off we were not rushed, felt welcomed and the whole ambiance and experience exceeded our expectations. Thank you

Staff attentive from start to finish. Lovely vibe. We would definitely return if we were in the area again. My partner said it was the best pasta he’s ever had (and he’s had a lot of pasta). Highly recommend. Call to book in advance as it’s quite small and very popular.

Great atmosphere! and full flavour pizza 🍕🍺 the host was great too, very accommodating👌🏻the parking situation is a bit difficult, but there is a car park nearby 🚗

Always helpful warm welcome and food both delicious and well presented. Very good Italian. Little external area. Close to civic centre and just down small street.

Went for my stepsons birthday. Small venue, but the service and food was impeccable. We had literally just got back from Rome a couple weeks prior, so going to an Italian restaurant it was always going to be up against it. But as said the food was lovely, service was brilliant. And has a wonderful evening.

What a beautiful place to eat!! The food is amazing and the service is even better.we found this little gem totally by accident it's easy to miss down a side street but if your in Southampton please try it. We had a bottle of chanti, a starter for two, 2 mains, 2 coffees and a shot of lemoncello each and it was less than 80 pounds. The lady at the front of house was generous and kind to customers and really was a delight. Perfection. Thank you for a wonderful experience

Another all five stars from me. The restaurant is very nice, location is easy to access. The one downside is that parking is quite limited in that area however, everything else is spot on. I would recommend to dine in for the best experience possible. The top five dishes I recommend are: 1. Cheesy garlic bread (whole) 2. Chefs Special Pizza 3. Pollo Pesto Pasta 4. Pollo Picollo Mondo chicken 5. King Prawns

It is impossible to get a cooked meal in Southampton after 7pm, except for Piccolo Mondo. Great food, efficient service. Clientele is elderly people, first dates and a possibly serial killer.

What a lovely little restaurant. Lovely friendly place and the food was lush. Staff were very friendly and attentive. Quite small sizes and it was very busy so would recommend you book so not to be disappointed.

This little restaurant has been a family favourite for years. Homemade pasta, fabulous service, amazing food and an all round brilliant authentic restaurant. If you are looking for real Italian food I highly recomend this hidden gem. Food is always good portions, fresh and delicious.

Lovely cosy traditional Italian eatery. Service very good and food excellent. Went for lunch on a Saturday. We hadn't booked but luckily there was a space for 2 - we will book next time as it was very popular. Highly recommended!!

Was really disappointed with the pizza and pasta, especially when you consider the high prices. The pizza was thick and doughy, and looked undercooked. The pasta came out with a watery sauce and didn't feel like it was freshly made. The service was good and the man serving us was really nice, the atmosphere was good, it's just a massive shame the food was expensive and did not taste nice.

This is the best pizza place in not only Southampton, but quite possibly the world. The calzone from this place is truly incredible. Dough is perfection, lovely and moist and quality tasty ingredients. Very small little place so I have only ever seen it busy so ensure you book in advance but once you get your booking you are in for a treat!

I've lived in Southampton for a few years now but I had not visited Piccolo Mondo until recently for a birthday. The garlic bread was actually very good and slathered in garlic - Which is great, considering it seems to be hard to find a really good garlic bread these days! I had a cheese and tomato pizza which was delicious with garlic oil on top. This place is clearly a hidden gem. It's small though, so I would advise booking a table.

Me & my son found this hidden gem 💎 in Southampton, food was amazing. There are lots of vegan options too 😋 staff amazing and friendly, great atmosphere. it's the first place I'll go next time I'm in Southampton. 😋 xx

I had a throughly nice time at this restaurant, that might have been more to do with the company I had over the restaurant itself. The food was really very good, absolutely nothing to complain about there, and extremely good value for money. However, it's a very small premises, and customers were packed in, they did have screens in place for what they were worth. Also the table we were on was obviously a picnic table with a table cloth on, I really didn't feel like I could put much pressure on it for fear of it collapsing. That all said, I believe I would visit again, at the very least to give them another chance.

What a lovely place to eat! The food was really hot when it came out & it was super fast. there was a lot of food to eat & Also The staff were so friendly. Definitely can’t wait to eat again here!! 5/5

The food was tasty, huge and tasted like it was made with love! I came here on a friend's recommendation. It did not disappoint. I will be coming back!

Came across this superb little Italian restaurant by chance when walking around Southampton. The food was delicious with good portions and the service and atmosphere excellent. Don’t be put off by its location… seek it out and you won’t be disappointed.

Excellent little restaurant - visited Saturday early evening and it quickly filled up so you need to book! Great food and Drink selection. Will recommend to others.

Amazing place, small but where you can feel like home, perfect service, fantastic food and wines, good presentation. Perfect atmosphere.

Lovely little restaurant! The staff are so kind and accommodating, the service is excellent and they had no issues accommodating a large table. Would really recommend the antipasto starter, and all the mains dishes we ordered were delicious - they have a killer tomato sauce. We had a lovely time!