Italian restaurants

  1. Coco Lezzone, Florence - The pasta rigatoni al sugo is delicious and perfectly al dente.  Second visit revealed that tourists have discovered Coco Lezzone, but the family trattoria atmosphere remains. On my third visit, I was amazed with their ribollito soup. bus. card
  2. Al Pont de Ferr, Milano - Refreshingly original Milanese-inspired cuisine. The service is intentionally slow so sit back and enjoy one of the best meals of your life. bus. card
  3. Cadran Solaire, Courmayeur - Without embarrassment, I ate dinner at Cadran Solaire on consecutive nights and can highly recommend the vegetable soup with fontina, tagliata di manzo, risotto alla zucca, tagliatelle with artichokes and Val D'Aostan cheeses.
  4. Locanda nel Borgo Antico, Barolo - I had one of the best meals of my life at the Michelin star awarded Borgo Antico, situated at the end of a dirt road just outside of Barolo. Highlights were white truffle on fried eggs served in the frying pan, brasato with polenta, Il plin di fonduta, piemontese cheese plate and the best wine I have ever had (Paolo Scavino Bric del Fiasc 1999).
  5. Osteria La Tagliata, Milan - Sardinian restaurant in Navigli.  Order the house specialty tagliata (thinly sliced steak that cooks on a hot plate). Recommended with mushrooms. Maloreddus (gnochetti sardi) possibly the best first course I have tried in Italy. To start, get the bruschetta with meat balls and to finish, the pecorino followed by Mirto dessert wine. Bus. card Bus. card
  6. Il Luogo di Aimo e Nadia, Milano - The highlights on the San Valentino tasting menu were scamponi (prawns) infused with fresh erbs, verdure amare (nice play on words) with taleggio and black truffle, spaghettoni with reef mullet, lentils and Pugliese tomatoes, and the most insane desert I have tried successfully combining black truffles with chocolate. Highly recommended for special occassions. 
  7. Da Augusto, Rome - Best food I had in Rome. Excellent spaghetti cacio e pepe and rigatoni all'Amatriciana. 
  8. Roma Sparita, Rome - The best cacio e pepe in the world, served in a bowl made of parmigiano reggiano. I wanted to cry it was so good. Only time in my life I have ordered a second identical pasta at a restaurant. bus. card
  9. Osteria Da Divo, Siena - Although I dined solo at this romantic restaurant, I stayed for 3 hours as the food was too good to go home early. Although the ribollita could not match Coco Lezzone, the second first course I had, Pici al ragout di lepre, was excellent. I regret not going for the bistecca alla fiorentina next, as it looked incredible at the table next to me. Next up was a plate of pecorini senesi, likely the second best dish I have ever had in my life. Everything went well with the house Chianti (too dangerous to drink a bottle solo) and the brunello grappa was a great way to finish. bus. card
  10. La Lepanto, Alghero - Our final meal in Sardinia was the most memorable: For lunch we had an amazing aragosta alla Catalana and paccheri with fish ragu. 
  11. Lu Stazzu Porto Rotondo, Porto Rotondo - This agriturismo just outside the VIP area of Porto Rotondo combines a stunning view of the Costa Smeralda scenery together with an excellent set menu of antipasto (pecorino and smoked ricotta, aged and roasted sausage), first courses (ravioli, cullurgiones and gnocchetti), second course (porcetto and more smoked sausage) with fresh garden greens as contorno, and dessert (seadas and ricotta with Sardinian honey). It was th best meat dinner I had in Sardinia. 
  12. Enoteca del Carro, Bologna - In my 4 hour stay in Bologna, I had a great 2 hour lunch at Enoteca del Carro: Delicious Tagliatelle alla Bolognese, Piemontese capra cheese and house wine, all at a reasonable price. bus. card
  13. Ristorante Rabaja, Barbaresco - Only stopped in for lunch but was very impressed with the quality to value ratio at this restaurant in a town famous for its noble red wines. The low-cost tasting menu with excellent wines by the glass were a welcome relief from the more pretentious restaurants in the Alba area.
  14. Locanda del Pilone, Alba - The trecherous drive up and down the winding farm road past beautiful Piedmont vineyards is one of the appeals of this excellent restaurant on a Langhe hilltop oustide of Alba (Madonna di Como). The atmosphere was slightly too formal with two other tables in our small room making for an awkward dining experience. The food was very good but not at the level of Borgo Antico. Highlights were the Tajarin with white truffle, fettucine with razor clams, langoustine, and the cheese truck to close the meal. bus. card
  15. La Pischera, San Teodoro - An excellent ittiturismo serving fresh and tasty fish dishes in a beautiful setting on the water. bus. card
  16. Andreini, Alghero - Seafood tasting menu was very original and tasty, but some dishes were a bit awkward and the restaurant didn't quite live up to its one Michelin star. Service was too rushed but the sommelier gets respect for having made me the best gin and tonic (Hendricks gin, Fevertree tonic with a slice of cucumber) of my life. Full credit also for the excellent wine pairings. bus. card 
  17. Osteria del Caffé Italiano, Best steak on the planet (Bistecca alla Fiorentina) washed down with a beautiful 2007 Rosso di Montalcino. I didn't have room for any other food so I can't give a complete assesment of this restaurant. Pace yourself with the wine, as the journey to the subterranean bathroom takes quite a while.
  18. Mami Trilussa, Roma - Excellent but expensive restaurant in Trastevere. Formal but friendly service.
  19. Panson, Genova - Amazing trofie al pesto, tagliato di manzo and phenomenal cake for dessert. On second visit, even more impressed with the pesto. Excellent fried seafood critters. bus. card
  20. Al Tuguri, Alghero - Another excellent restaurant in Alghero. Both seafood and meat tasting menus were memorable with friendly service from the owner. Reasonably priced considering its tourist friendly location.
  21. Il Pavone, Alghero - Excellent Sardinian food in a nice (although touristy) setting on the waterfront in Alghero. Recommended for the tagliolini with bottarga, basil and pecorino. Although we didnt order the aragosta here, it didn't seem quite as exciting as the version at La Lepanto.   
  22. Dongio', Milano - Calabrian restaurant that serves excellent spicy pastas at a great value.
  23. Maruzzella, Milano - Pizzeria with similar atmosphere to the popular La Taverna but better interpretation of Pizza Napoletana. bus. card
  24. La Fettunta, Milano -  Great Tuscan restaurant in the center of town. Highlights were pici di Montalcino, and pappardelle al cinghiale.
  25. Star Rise, Milano - Sicilian restaurant in Città Studi with excellent food at a reasonable price. bus. card
  26. Osteria del Treno, Milano - Excellent antipasti, pasta and cheese courses. Try the "slow food" options on the menu and you won't be disappointed. 
  27. Locanda dei du e mes, Milano - The best Milanese food I've had. Despite its trendy location on Ripa d. Porta Ticense, the prices are reasonable. bus. card
  28. La Latteria, Verbania - Excellent antipasti (speck of duck, gnocchi fritti with truffled prosciutto cotto) and first courses (gnocchi with castelmagno cheese). Wine list is small but well thought out. bus. card
  29. Rosa Alpina Wine Bar and Grill, San Cassiano - fighetto wine bar with excellent wine and beer selections. Very good pizza and excellent pastas. 
  30. Giggetto, Rome - Best carciofi (artichokes) in the world as long as you get them in season. Don't forget to order supplì and fiori di zucca also. Best first course is rigatoni alla gricia (original amatriciana recipe without tomatoes). Carbonara was good but I have had better. For cacio e pepe and amatriciana, go elsewhere. bus. card
  31. Trattoria del Tribunale, Parma - Antipasto: it doesn't get any better - prosciutto crudo, parmigiano reggiano, culatello, gnocco fritto (torta fritta)...you will struggle to make it to the first course. For the first course, go with tagliolini al culatello...unbelievable. Good handmade tortelli (with herbs, pumpkin or potatoes and mushrooms) but a bit too rich for my taste.
  32. Al Vecchio Mulino, Pozza di Fassa - Excellent selvaggina (game) at a reasonable price: Muflone (moufflon), cervo (venison), capriolo (deer). Also worth trying are their mushrooms...paura.
  33. Focacceria Genovese da Yuri, Genova - best focaccio di Recco and farinata I have ever tried. bus. card
  34. Al Merluzzo Felice, Milan - Very good Sicilian food. Especially enjoyed the pasta with mixed seafood. The cannoli here are insanely good.  Good luck with the menu if you don't know the Sicilian dialect.
  35. Ristorante Antica Trattoria Maria Del Porto, Genova - Trenette al pesto genovese...best I've had.
  36. Mister X, Arabba - Best tagliatelle with mushrooms/ragu I've had. Best refuge food in the Dolomites.
  37. La Vendemmia, Bergamo - Excellent antipasto and first courses (casoncelli, foiade). bus. card
  38. Piero e Pia, Milan - Excellent wines at reasonable prices. Food is made with love but service is lukewarm at best. Try the Turtei pasta and cheese plate at the end of the meal.
  39. Rifugio Bamby, La Villa - Excellent steak, pasta and desserts - all home made and "organic." Maybe the best bombardino in the Dolomites.
  40. Rifugio Arlara, Corvara - Very good tirolean dishes with friendly service.
  41. El Brellin, Milan - No longer serving brunch, this restaurant on the canal offers excellent Lombardy-inspired dishes. Toursity. bus. card
  42. Baia Chia, Milan - One of the best Sardinian seafood restaurants in the world. Highlights include spaghetti with bottarga, gnocchetti with clams, and tuna. Recent visit a let down due to poor freshness of seafood.
  43. The Bells pub, Bergamo - Best pub food on the planet, there is no doubt in my mind. Their 400g steak was mindblowingly good, and second only to Bistecca alla Fiorentina in Florence. Their antipasto plate with assorted salumi and formaggi was excellent and enormous.
  44. Trattoria Corrieri (Parma) - Best parmigiano I have consumed. Risotto al parmigiano was insanely good. Crudo and torta fritta were good but not at the level of Tribunale. The waitresses were totally stressed out running in and out of the disorganized kitchen, almost ruining the experience (thankfully we were nicely buzzed).
  45. Clapsy, Alassio - Excellent focaccia di Recco (tried both Crudo and Pesto modifications). The view of the nice beach and fighetto atmosphere don't hurt either.
  46. Osteria di Porta Ciccia, Milan - Very good brunch, friendly service. Good seafood pastas at dinner.
  47. Pizzeria Spontini, Milan - Pizza al trancio (thick crust) with mozzarella, pomodoro and a few anchovies. Best of its class in Milan but recent visit a disappointment.
  48. Focacceria Il Frantoio di Arpe, Monterosso - excellent focaccia in Monterosse (Cinque Terre)
  49. Pizzeria Anthony, Milan - Serves thick Pizza al trancio and the thin interpretation of pizza from Naples. bus. card
  50. Il Gabbiano, Milan - Excellent pastas, very good pizza and supposedly good paella, this restaurant is the best option near polimi. bus. card
  51. Piccola Ischia, Milan - Noisy, crowded pizzeria that serves medium or large Napoletana pizzas. Must book a table in advance.