Ristorante Venaria Reale “Da Matteo”

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We are at the doors of The Langhe, on the left bank of the Tanaro river. The Venaria was originally an inn for the hunters, it became Royal in the XVIII century for noble acquaintances. Here Napoleon lived in 1796 during the armistice of Cherasco, and Narzole was invested by him for the traditional November Fair so “The Royal Venaria” became a reference point for staying in and taking refreshment, and it is even now with rooms at fair prices (60 – 80 euro). The annexe restaurant has taken the name of the owner, that with the help of his son Luca, has been running it for over 40 years, keeping alive the origins. Here you can taste the true Piedmontese cuisine, such as the window displayed traditional appetizers, and the fassone meat tartare, veal in tuna sauce, Russian salad, Bra sausage, salted tongue, liver patè, cotechino with fondue and so on…, with truffles throughout the year, white or black depending on the season. Among the first courses you can choose: ravioli with butter and sage or with meat sauce, risotto with fondue, Langarola noodles with mushrooms and vegetables soups. Among the second courses: the inevitable hazelnut roast, pot roast, fondue with truffles. Among the classic desserts: the panna cotta, bunuet and peaches with amaretto. Wines are chiefly Piedmontese reds of the producers of the near Langhe. For a whole meal, without quantity limits, you will pay not more than 30 euro excluding wines (except during the white truffle season when the price will be determined by the market).

I Matetti

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You can still find traditional Ligurian food in the renowned and famous Alassio, a true authentic trattoria, with the menu written in dialect by hand on a notebook like the ones used in schools many years ago: an informal atmosphere, black and white photos from the 70’s on the walls of children or “matetti” in dialect posing in their school uniform or for group pictures. Upon entering you’ll see a big blackboard with the daily dishes. Dishes follow Ligurian tradition, flavorful big portions. It’s a piity one has to choose as all dishes are worth trying. The owners are always happy and nice, sometimes they pretend to be grouchy but they’re just joking around and they’ll catch you off guard. For starters try their mixed appetizer with fried anchovies, seafood salad, cabbage wraps and Recco focaccia. Among their first courses we recommend their ravioli, pansotti, tagliatelle with bottarga and shrimp and the “gasse”: farfalle shaped fresh pasta, with pesto and potatoes. Among second dishes you’ll find mixed fried seafood, rabbit, octopus, stewed squid and the codfish. Their selection of desserts includes classics such as the bunet, tiramisù and ice creams. Their delicious apple fritters are served to everyone at the end of the meal. Small cellar with Vermentino and Pigato at reasonable prices. Excellent value for your money, a meal will set you back about € 25. Reservations are recommended.

Osteria Primi Dolci

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Cervere is known internationally for growing delicious leeks; their festival takes place in November. During the festival the chef offers a menu with the leek as a protagonist which includes 5 starters, a first course, second course and dessert for 28 €, drinks not included. Leeks are not their only specialty: you can also find snails cooked with fresh tomatoes, garlic, parsley and leeks which Giovanni Arpino enjoys very much, frogs and sliced fassone cooked on soapstone. The atmosphere is nice and cozy, the service friendly and attentive, thanks to cheerful chef Massimo and his collaborators. On their a la carte menu you’ll find traditional Piedmontese dishes with appetizers such marinated eel and meat tartare, first courses which include plin agnolotti, tajarin with “Granda” ragout and Castelmagno gnocchi. Second courses include frog and snails as well as fillets and entrecôtes served on a stone. Very interesting desserts, you should definitely try the nougat semifreddo with hazelnut sauce and zabaglione with Lady’s Kisses. Their wine list offers the best local wines. Fair prices, 30 euro.

Ristorante Santo Spirito

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In the Argentina valley at about 400 meters, immersed in the green and small lakes that the streams Argentina and Corte create in their path, with the possibility of having a stroll and excursion for either families or expert walkers, we find the hotel-restaurant Santo Spirito, an institution, that since more than a century offers dishes cooked following ancient recipes and using genuine products and local outstanding items. The vigilant family management has created a hospital environment; in the hall there are various relics and objects from the past, with old photographs and documents. The dishes are traditional, those that were prepared at home by grandmothers and recall to the mind flavours of the past. We find here chickpeas and assorted legumes soups, home made tagliatelle or fresh pasta with chestnuts flour, like the “colpi di dito” or the quadrotti to be dressed with “bruzzo”, the tasty sheep ricotta. Among second course dishes goat with beans, molinese escargots, stewed boar. Delicious homemade desserts like the pudding with eggs and castagnaccio, prepared in the ancient way. Vegetables are almost exclusively produced in the family farm, tank to grandpa Augusto. The selection of wines includes the Ormeasco produced by the family farm and also excellent bottles of Piedmont wines. The menu’s price ranges from € 20 to € 35.

Trattoria Vascello d'Oro

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This spot has become an institution, it was established in 1887 and has always been family owned and since 1982 it has been in the hands of the Cravero family. The owner Beppe, great talker and chef together with Mrs. Lidia, kind and pleasant in the dining room and their son Marco who is a sommelier; thanks to him the restaurant has a very wide selection of wines. The trattoria is warm and welcoming and it is located inside a typical country home, with four dining rooms which have been decorated with antique family furniture and a wine cellar “la crota dl’amicissia” where up to 10 people can dine; there’s also a new space on the upper floor and during the summer people can have lunch in the small terrace. For starters we recommend the classic mixed Piedmontese appetizers, among which you’ll find meat tartare and Russian salad. Among first courses you’ll find the ravioli rice and cabbage and the tajarin with sauce. The star of the show are the mixed boiled meats, this trattoria is the perfect place to try this dish with the right number of meats and typical sauces (7 cuts of meat and 7 sauces.) If you’d like to try other specialties we recommend the batsua (breaded and fried pig’s feet) or the finanziera. Good selection of desserts, from the bonet, hazelnut cake and pears cooked in wine. Tasting menu priced at € 37, during week priced at € 35.

Osteria Au Casun

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Climbing to 900 meters and visiting the small hamlet of Bajardo is really worth the wait, its historical centre, the church that was partially destroyed in the terrible earthquake of 1887, from which a wonderful landscape can be enjoyed both in the winter and summer time, just like it is worth stopping by to enjoy the excellent cuisine of Claudia and Pier, young restaurateurs who opened this tavern and offer a cuisine mostly made of zero km. genuine products, cultivated by the farmers of this area. Claudia, the chef with her sweet smile will offer you a menu from 25 to 30 Euro which includes mixed starters, with samplings of vegetable and wild herbs cakes, barbagiuai, herbs and rice pancakes, various croutons, local cold meats and cheeses. First course dishes are particularly tasty like wild herbs ravioli, rossese grapes or nettles tagliatelle with rabbit meat sauce. Among second course dishes we can mention Apricale rabbit, Ceriana sausage, white boar meat, that all have to be tested. Absolutely to be tasted the cakes made by Claudia, who had experienced in a bakery, delicious meringue cakes with marron glacè, light truffle cream and delicious tiramisu. Pier in the hall, friendly and helpful, will suggest you the best combination with the best wines.

L'erba Gatta

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Gianni and Carla are the owners of this restaurant which since 2008 has been offering tasty and light local cuisine, accompanied in this adventure by a young and passionate staff. In the kitchen, Gianni prepares dishes with typical products of the area, such as oil, wine, bread, beans, cheeses, wild herbs and Triora saffron. Among the appetizers the diced beef on parmesan cream (10€) and the classic brandacujun (10€). Among the main courses the sugeli (local handmade pasta that is made with a very simple dough and has a shape that resembles to orecchiette) in lamb ragout (€ 10) and ricotta and borage ravioli with cherry tomatoes and marjoram (€ 10). Second courses include the great protagonists of the inland cuisine: stewed snails (€ 14), baked Brigasca sheep toma cheese (€ 9), rabbit with olives, wild herbs braised in red wine (€ 11). Exquisite homemade desserts, such as Triora saffron infused creme brulè (€ 4) or panna cotta with coffee caramel (€ 4). The restaurant is located in the historic center, it is worth a visit and on the tablecloth you will find the map that will suggest a route to discover this fascinating village known as the land of witches. Menus from 25 to 30 €. Wine list with local labels and generous Piedmontese wines.

Ristorante Da U Titti

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In a few minutes from the sea you get to Lingueglietta, become a full member of ”The most beautiful villages in Italy”. Riccardo and Chiara’s restaurant is inside a beautiful stone house, outside a large terrace with a beautiful view, which in summer is very appreciated. Inside the dining room is very accurate and cosy, lights and modern furnishings, with candles and special objects, make the location refined and elegant. The service is assigned to Chiara, always smiling and kind, while the kitchen is Riccardo’s reign. Both Lombard native they have taken over the restaurant for about two years and have already received considerable appreciation. There are two tasting menus: one of 5 courses for 40 euro and the other of 7 courses for 55 euro. Among the appetizers a la carte we mention the marinated sturgeon, late-growing radicchio, asparagus, eggs and corn (17 euro). Among the first courses worth to be tasted the stewed goose ravioli, quince mustard, pumpkin consommé, ginger and bay leaves (16 euros). Among the second courses the venison’s loin, Martine pears, red cabbage and American potatoes or the mullets with their sauce, chestnuts, clementines (25 and 18 euro). Refined and exquisite desserts. Homemade bread, breadsticks and focaccia, with particular flours. The presentation of the dishes and the service are very accurate. The wine list has selected labels and fair prices. Reservation is recommended.

Osteria del Tempo Stretto

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When you walk through the tavern’s door you get into a welcoming and well-kept location, leaving behind the traffic and noise of the Aurelia drive. The chef Cinzia Chiappori has a great professionalism, but she is a simple and honest person. She loves getting involved in trying new dishes with special ingredients, she likes to open her kitchen to other chefs and offers four-handed dinners, even with skit nights. The constant of its cuisine is the highest quality products always fresh and zero-mile. In the last year she renewed the dining room, with a touch of pink, and even her menus by offering for working lunch at noon unique and simple dishes at 15 euro, and in the evening more elaborate menus at 30 euro. Cinzia offers a creative local cuisine, where the local fish is very present, as well as artichokes and violet asparagus, slow food presidia. The delicious rabbit tuna and salmon tartare with raw artichokes and brandacujun are worth to be tasted. Among the first courses we mention the corzetti with artichokes and clams, the noodles with curry and shrimp ragù. Among the second courses, the delicious octopus cooked in red wine. The desserts are very carefully prepared by the chef, with unusual ingredients, such as the panna cotta with asparagus, edible flowers and lavender. In good weather you can have lunch in the garden and stop and rest in the three beautiful rooms on the upper floor.

Le Due Palme

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Restaurant near to the center of Ventimiglia, by now well known and appreciated for its excellent pizzas and always new offers. Pino and Marcella, the owners, have made a choice of quality and research of excellent products to satisfy even the most demanding customers. Since a few months Pino has been offering “pizzas d’autore” on Mondays and Wednesdays, original creations with unusual ingredients, but always of the highest quality, such as pumpkin cream and shrimp, or smoked salmon and DOP cheeses. The pizzas are prepared using 7 doughes, with different flours and leavenings, such as the hemp one or the Roman shovel, which requires a long leavening and a very high hydration that makes it light, crunchy and exquisite. In addition to pizzas (70 in the menu card !!!), a wide choice of pasta dishes, both meat and fish, ravioli, trofie, tagliatelle and a savory risotto of the fisherman, and to follow you can taste an excellent tagliata with arugula served on the soapstone as a grilled fish or grilled prawns. Good offer of vegetarian and vegan dishes too. Classic desserts, with something new like the chef’s pie and the grandmother’s cake. The restaurant is very large, bright, also suitable for events and business dinners, the service is prompt and courteous, organized by Marcella, always smiling and kind. Card of local wines and craft beers.