Piccolo Mondo is located inside the upscale Michelangelo Hotel, and is the most swank of the dining options available. Being a fancier type of establishment, there is a dress code, which unfortunately I did not adhere to. Luckily they were able to seat me in the more informal lounge area, where the majority of guests seemed to be.

I was ignored for the first 10 minutes, the wait staff seemingly unaware I had been seated. The only one who paid me any mind was a hulking Michelangelo security guard, who seemed to make a circuit of the lounge every two minutes, and kick the back of my chair with his gargantuan feet when he passed by. Guarding against what, I wonder? Gnocchi thieves?

As I waited for a staff member, I surveyed the elegant decor, which was done in a palette of soft creams and browns. The high ceilings and dark wood furniture definitely create a regal atmosphere, which I hoped the food equalled. The live piano accompaniment was a nice touch, and made the waiting more bearable.

When I was finally able to order, the waiter seemed somewhat unfamiliar with the menu (perhaps a newbie?) and I had to repeat myself a few times. Which is strange, because there were not too many items on the carefully curated menu. It’s creative high-end Italian and Mediterranean fare with a bit of South African flair, such as salmon gnocchi with chive cream sauce, Cape Malay ostrich bobotie with butternut puree, spinach dumplings and melon chutney.

I ordered the “tuna three ways,” which was weirdly tough, though beautifully presented and ultimately tasty. I thought the salmon gnocchi was delicious, but my companion, who is a chef, felt it was sub-par for such a high-end establishment. Overall the meal was good, but not as grand as the surroundings would have you believe.

Apparently Piccolo Mondo is famous for its daytime high tea service, which is probably what I should have done instead, since the dinner was just on the high end of ordinary.