Piccolo Mondo

I had dinner here and found the location and atmosphere to be very good. The staff was very attentive and made sure we had everything we needed. I had the grilled calamari and it had a very good smokey flavor and it was cooked very well as it was also very tender. Good selection of wines. The others with me had pasta and also a fish dish and both were happy with the selection. I would definitely go back and explore the menu!

Lygon Street at 6pm feels a little like a regular Bali shopping strip, well the areas near the restaurant certainly do. The Maitre D’ stands out the front and swats/​hassles/​assaults (not literally) the customers as they pass by. And if you linger, even for just a second, they’ll do their best to keep you, in any way possible. And the longer you keep them at bay, the greater the chance of free food being thrown in.
We started at the wrong end (the right end really) of Lygon Street in search of some home cooked Italian food, that being the Southern end although there are restaurants peppered all along Lygon. Piccolo Mondo was only our 4^th consideration but ‘Joseph’ despite his youth was most persuasive. He did throw in a free entrée but I liked that he started telling me where exactly his family sought their fish and calamari from and the dishes they offered from those catches.
All of our dishes had that home cooked feel/​taste so we were not disappointed. It was honest, simple, and flavoursome. I ordered a house white because I wanted the old flask serving but unfortunately that came in a regular wine bottle.
The margherita pizza was standard but very tasty.
The chargrilled squid was delightful and the freshness obvious.
The seafood pasta dish I had was beautiful and I could have had more — luckily I got to finish my kids meals.
And the mussels in a traditional chilli/​wine/​tomato broth were divine.
A lovely dining experience.

First I ordered the Scallops in Butter. These were cooked to perfection! They almost melt in my mouth. I savored every mouthful! 5 out of 5
The butter drizzled over your side salad just takes it to the next level!
Next came the BBQ chargrilled calamari… This was very tasty and also cooked very well, crispy in parts but not too chewy. The flavored were simple and effective.
With 2 dishes cooked so well and very thoroughly enjoyed, I couldn’t say no to dessert.
I went with the classic Panna Cota (Vanilla) with strawberries.
Again well presented, delicious and very enjoyable
The service was very friendly, quick and attentive!
I’ll be back to enjoy more from this fantastic restaurant when Im back in Melbourne and will be sure to bring my friends.

Feeling like a home made pasta lunch we ventured to Lygon St where the choices for Italian are endless. Piccolo Mondo was our choice based on the charming sunny coutyard in which the proprietor invited us to eat. The meal was everything the passionate Italian owner said it would be: pasta made on the premises, freshly caught fish, and deliciously simple ingredients, enjoyed in the winter sunshine with a glass of house red.
The only criticism would be that the price was on the high side of average, with mains between $ 20-​$ 30. Nothing to break the bank, but a little on the steep side for pasta. However, quite lovely food.

I dined here recently when the good folk at my usual on Lygon Street (La Spaghettata) couldn’t be bothered to fire up the stove. Two diners at Piccolo seeing our dilemma, leaned over the fence and highly recommended it so my partner & I gave it a try. They were right. The staff were friendly, attentive, and happy to work. The food was good. We enjoyed our meal. I’d eat here again.

Of the dozens of choices along Lygon Street, this was one that a group of nine of us tried. We were all happy with our meal. The service was impeccable, the food was plenty good and plenty of it. The staff and the owners were very personable and fun to be with. This is a good place.
We ate street-​side. Lots of reasons to do that in summer — wink, wink — mate.