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| Siro's (Torgiano) roasted tomato caprese |
It’s
time for an update: Umbrian restaurants that we know and love. This is by no
means a complete list and we welcome suggestions. (Don’t forget to look on a
previous post for some of our favorite outdoor eating spots).
NOTE: We’ve
included the closing day when we know it. We’ve also included a phone number.
As for website links, the problem is that
some places don’t have webpages and those that do often don’t translate into
English. We hope we've given you enough info so that you can google.
San
Terenziano
We have a new arrival on
the piazza in ST, Buongustaio, which
means “gourmet” in Italian. There are about twelve tables. The food is
traditional and good. The location is convenient and easy to find for visitors
to the area. Tel. 347-366-1689
Nash and Cash still have their pizzeria,
which is on the road between San Terenziano and Grutti. Since the bright lights
inside are rather blinding, you might prefer to order take out or sit outside
if weather permits. There are menus for pizzas with tomato sauce (rosso) and
pizzas without (bianco).
Pizzas here are expected to be shared with the whole table, so groups of four
often order at least three. There are several sizes.
Closed Monday. Tel.
0742-932191
Grutti
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| La chef at Le Noci |
Frontignano
Casale dei Frontini is a typical agriturismo located on the road between San Terenziano and Todi at the village of Frontinano. You will see a big olive pressing stone at the entrance. The menu is what's cooking today, always good and always local. Call to book. Tel 075-8852174.
Collesecco/Saragano
The Dinosauro pizzeria has enjoyed a resurgence since the Oste lost
their lease in ST and moved to Bastardo. Dino has good thin crust and lots of
choices of toppings. Vegetarians will find lots to eat, as well as lovers of
salumeria (cured meats) and salciccia (sausage). Closed Monday. [You would
think the local pizza parlors would realize that if they both close on the same
day somebody is missing out on selling pizza to the starving masses who now
have to drive to Bastardo (6 km)]. Tel. 0742-98771
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| Bisteca at La Vecchia Cucina |
La Vecchia Cucina has been a favorite of
ours since we arrived in 1997. Giovanni, the owner, and his son fly private
aircraft and ride horses, in addition to serving the best Chianina bisteca
fiorentina this side of Florence (see our earlier post about that succulent
dish). They also serve good pasta (eggplant with sausage is terrific) and local
wines. They used to close on Wednesdays, but now they close on Monday. Tel. 0742-97237
Locanda del Prete in Saragano is the
restored section of the medieval town. The views are beautiful and the setting
is lovely. It’s a nice restaurant, so dress smart casual. Call in advance. Tel.
0742-98636
Montefalco
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| Coccorone |
This is a town to savor, from the wines to the
oils to the restaurants. We enjoy two sister restaurants, the informal Federico II (Tel. 0742-378902) on the
square and the charming Coccorone
hidden away (follow the signs or ask at Federico II). Federico II offers both
light fare and full traditional meals inside and out. Since they also sell
wine, they have a wide selection of the best wines along the Sagrantino Wine
Route, as well as throughout Umbria. Coccorone has a small terrace, as well as
a lovely dining room. Dress is smart casual. Coccorone (Tel. 0742-379535) is
closed Wednesdays.
For a wonderful
holiday dinner, we love Villa Pambuffetti.
Housed in an Italianate villa, the hotel and restaurant offer old style
elegance. The food is excellent, overseen by Alessandra Pambuffetti, and the
sommelier is Mauro, her husband. Alessandra’s cousins produce the
well-respected Scacciadiavoli wines. Her cooking classes are wonderful
interactive experiences followed by lunch with wine in the dining room. Closed
Monday.
Tel. 0742-379417
Olevm (Oleum--the Romans did not have a "u") is a tiny place with big flavor. There
are only a few tables inside and even fewer outside. In the back is a little
deli. There is a wide variety of oils to taste and the soups are very good. Find
it on Corso Mameli about halfway down. Call first if you want an outside table
or have a large group at 0742-379057.
Also on the piazza is the more
sophisticated Aurum in the boutique
hotel/spa, Buonadosi. In summer, there is a terrace in the back with beautiful
views as well as tables in the piazza. The inside space is sleek and more
upmarket. Closed Wednesday. Tel. 0742-379357
A lot of people
really like Alchimista across the
main piazza from Federico II and in summer when the tables are outside, it is
very pleasant. In the colder months, the dining room is in the cellar. There is
a shop for wines and oils on the ground floor. Closed Tuesday. 0742-378558
We tried Spiritodivino and it must have been a
bad day. The food and service did
not live up to the décor and location, not to mention the hype. We had to beg
for attention, though the inside of the restaurant was empty. The terrace was
almost full and there was only the manager and one bus person working. The
manager stood off to the side and chatted with a friend while we waited almost
half an hour for our wine. Perhaps you will have better luck. Closed all day
Monday, Tuesday lunch. Tel. 0742-379048
There are some
attractive ristoranti on the street leading down to the big arch, Corso Mameli.
We haven’t tried them all, so please let us know what you discover.
Trevi
We’ve written about Taverna del Sette before – it’s a
hidden treasure in the historic center of Trevi. It’s on the tiny Del Sette
street off the Piazza Mazzini. Tel. 0742-780741.
Clitunno/Pissignano
We discovered Zenzero one Sunday after shopping the
monthly outdoor market at Pissignano. Located right on the lazy Clitunno River
near Fonti del Clitunno, the outside tables offer a shady respite from hot
summer days. The food is good, too. Tel. 0742-780241. The address is actually
Via Chiesa Tonda 50, Fonte Pigge.
Deruta
If you’re going there to
buy ceramics, you just might get hungry. On the E45 just before Deruta, there
is Antico Forziere (075-9724314), an
upmarket restaurant in a rustic setting. In the historic center of Deruta there
is Taverna del Gusto (075-9724120),
which is a good restaurant with a few outdoor tables. It’s right around the
corner from the excellent ceramics museum.
Ripabianca/Collepepe
Hungry for lunch, but
not time to spare from sightseeing or shopping? Try Fiaschetto, which offers a flat price antipasto buffet on weekdays.
Other times, enjoy their lengthy menu of Umbrian specialities, pizzas and more.
Get off the E45 at Ripabianca, go to the crossroads at the Due Torre shopping
center, go under the highway, follow the road south and the restaurant will be
on your right. Closed Wednesdays. The restaurant is officially in Collepepe.
Tel. 075-8789347.
Alberata is a little place with a
different menu every week. Closed on Wednesday. Call to book at 075-8789345.
Collazzone
Al Leone (075-8788020) offers a good menu of tasty local dishes, as
well as pizza. There is outside dining in summer. Park in the lot behind the
church – the restaurant is just across the street.
Todi
For a long time, there
weren’t many good places to eat in Todi. That has changed. Here are a few of
better ones. The town isn’t big, so you’ll find these pretty easily.
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| Mercataccio |
Osteria delle Valle is a very small place with a big reputation,
well deserved. John, a Scotsman, is the chef and the food is really good. Tel.
075-8944848.
Oberdan is also very small and started out as an enoteca. The menu
is limited, changed daily. There is very nice outside dining in the summer. The
waiters can be a bit dogmatic about your wine choice, which can be a bit
frustrating. 075-8945409
Mercataccio is one we really like.
Really good food in a historic setting. Go down Via Cavour and turn down the
staircase at Via Mercato Vecchio. Tel. 075-8944799
La Scalette is down the staircase at
Via Scalette not far from S. Fortunato church. Their terrace is nice and
shady. We like the meat dishes. Tel. 075-8944422
La Mulinella has very good food in a
location outside the town, at Ponte Naia. Turn down the road to the swimming
pool. Tel. 075-8944779
Roccofiore is an upmarket place to have
lunch in the summer. The terrace is lovely, with a view of Todi. They make
their own wines. Go to Localita’ Collina, Chioana di Todi. Tel. 075-8942416.
Pane
& Vino is casual and relaxed. The antipasto keep on coming. Tel. 075-8945448
Umbria is a traditional trattoria with a
view. Tel. 075-8942737
Lake Corbara
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| Titignano |
Along and
above the lake are restaurants appealing to both those coming from Todi and
those from Orvieto.
Titignano is one of those places you don’t forget. How marvelous
that they are able to serve an endless array of dishes to more than two hundred
people and it is all delicious. It is also a great price: 25 Euros for a dozen courses
with water, coffee and wine. The setting is spectacular, too: a medieval town
on a hill overlooking the Tiber river, with the duomo of Orvieto silhouetted on
the distant horizon. You’ll need to book here for Saturday and Sunday lunches.
Lunch begins at 12:30 and ends after 4 pm. You can always stay in one of the
rooms if you don’t feel like driving home. Titignano is located on the north
side of the Tiber, about half an hour from Todi or Orvieto. Tel. 0763-308000
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| Pasta with fave and beets at Trippini |
Trippini is one of our newest finds. A
tiny restaurant in the hilltop village of Civitello del Lago, it is home to one
of Italy’s hottest young chefs.
Be sure to book as
there are only six tables. The view here equals that of Titignano, though it is
on the south side of the lake. We’ll be back with more on this one. Fixed price
four course lunch 35 Euros. Sophisticated cuisine, good service. Closed Monday. Tel.
074-4950316
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| Osteria del Belvedere |
Osteria del Belvedere is on the moderate end of the price scale, but it
definitely holds its own on taste. There are both seafood and meat choices.
Seafood is brought in fresh from the Mediterranean port of Civitavecchia. Pasta
with vongole (clams) or scoglie (mixed seafood) is very as good as on the coast
and costs less. Located about halfway between Todi and Orvieto on the south
side of the lake. Tel. 0744-950140.
Collevalenza/Acquasparta
Il Re Beve at Castello Casigliano is great for Sunday lunch, on the
terrace in summer or in front of the blazing fire in winter. They have good
meats and the location is lovely. Get off the E45 at the Collevalenza
exit. Closed Wednesday. Tel. 0744-943428
Spoleto
Tric Trac, which is on the piazza near the duomo, is a
good place to stop for lunch or an aperitivo when you’re sightseeing in
Spoleto. Tel. 0743-44592.
Spello
Spello is a beautiful little town, which
is a good place to go after the crowds in Assisi. We’ve been to La Bastiglia
(Tel. 0742-651277), which is upmarket and sophisticated with one Michelin star,
as well as the more trattoria-style Il Mulino (Tel. 0742-651305) and Il
Pinturicchio (Tel.0742-301784).
Assisi
We love Assisi,
but don’t often stay there for a big meal. We’ve been to the Ristorante San Francesco, which was nice
and had a good view of the valley. Tel. 0758-12329.
Orvieto
Vinosus, a small restaurant on the left side of the duomo, is our
choice for lunch in Orvieto. There is a lovely small terrace and a good wine
list. Closed Sunday evening and Mondays. Tel. 0763-34107.
San Francesco, around the corner from the cathedral, is a good
place for a quick buffet lunch – it’s open every day.
Norcia, Preci,
Casteluccio
Vespasia in Palazzo Seneca, Norcia, is a beautifully restored
cardinal’s palace with an excellent restaurant. It's pricey, but
the atmosphere is lovely. Tel. 0743-817434.
Grotta Azzurra is owned by the same family as Palazzo Seneca. It’s
a big trattoria with traditional food near the main piazza in Norcia. Tel.
0743-816513.
People
travel from all around to Il Castoro
in Preci, a town a few miles from Norcia. The food is really good. The location
is near the national park and various hiking trails. Tel. 0743-939248.
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| Castelluccio |
Castelluccio is about 25 km from Norcia up in the mountains. It’s a
spectacular location, worth the drive. The town overlooks the vast fields of lentil and
other legumes, so it’s great place to buy beans and grains to take home.
The farro and lentil soups in any of the small restaurants are always good.
Torgiano
Siro is a little hotel with really good
food. It’s worth the trip to Torgiano. For a large group the house antipasto is
impressive and delicious. Tel. 075-982010.
Book on Sunday for lunch or if you are a large group.
Corciano
Il Convento is a good restaurant in a beautifully restored convent.
The town of Corciano is one of the best preserved medieval towns in Italy.
075-6978946.
Bastardo
4 Piedi & 8.5
Pollici is a tiny ristorante behind the EMI supermarket in Bastardo. Chef Laura
will make homemade pasta at your table on request. The menu changes daily. Book
at Tel. 333-997-9958.
Pizzeria d'
Oste was located in San Terenziano for about ten years. When they lost their
lease they moved to Bastardo. Same good pizza. Closed Monday. Tel. 0742-960287.
Monti Martani
Standing high on the mountain above the valley that runs from Todi to Perugia and Assisi, Trevi to Spoleto is Il Rifugio, aka Rifugio San Gaspare, a rustic restaurant with a stunning view. Follow the signs from Bastardo to Giano dell' Umbria to Monti Martani. Giano is a lovely little village which you will drive through until you reach the road that goes up (ever up) the mountain. Il Rifugio is near the antennae that you can see from the bottom. Inside is a large fireplace where the meats are grilled. There is also seating outside. Tel 0742-90189.
Montecastello di Vibio
Home the world's tinest theatre, Montecastello di Vibio is also home to Il Grottino di Zio Toto', a small restaurant with very good food. You can eat outside in summer. Tel. 075-8780652
Monti Martani
Standing high on the mountain above the valley that runs from Todi to Perugia and Assisi, Trevi to Spoleto is Il Rifugio, aka Rifugio San Gaspare, a rustic restaurant with a stunning view. Follow the signs from Bastardo to Giano dell' Umbria to Monti Martani. Giano is a lovely little village which you will drive through until you reach the road that goes up (ever up) the mountain. Il Rifugio is near the antennae that you can see from the bottom. Inside is a large fireplace where the meats are grilled. There is also seating outside. Tel 0742-90189.
Montecastello di Vibio
Home the world's tinest theatre, Montecastello di Vibio is also home to Il Grottino di Zio Toto', a small restaurant with very good food. You can eat outside in summer. Tel. 075-8780652
Sharri Whiting, 2013
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