COMMENTS BY TIM1 - 5 | 6 - 10 | 11 - 15 | 16 - 20 | 21 - 25 | 26 - 30 | 31 - 35 | All | All users
 | La Gatta, Careggine -   
Today we made the excursion to 1000+ meters. The spectacular views in this area are worth it alone. La Gatta was not hard to find. TomTom did not have all the roads but once we were close there were good signs. It is a cavernous place; decor a bit functional. However, the welcome was warm and helpful. The table well set out and cloth napkins (always a good sign). The menu is short, all meat, no fish, and inexpensive. There may be a workman's lunch/menu turistico, but we were not offered it. Ravioli caserecci alla primavera was interesting - standard home made and delicious spinach and ricotta ravioli with a slightly strange sauce of strong herbs and what tasted like blanched tomatoes - unusual to me, but not unpleasant. Antipasto misto della Gatta was a bit bready, nice salami, but slightly dry proscutto. Tagliata di manzo was brilliant and for €7 was exceptional value for money. Grigiliata mista was good and wholesome. Peperoni al forno as a cotorno was delicious. Coffees, water and wine made a bill of €40 for two. Good, but not exceptional, value. Worth a second visit. - Tim | |
|  | Cantine Bernadini, Lucca -
Once we had found the unobtrusive entrance, we were wowed by the decor and atmosphere. The staff were very attentive and knew their products really well. The carciofi e ricotta tortelli in ragu di anatra e brunoise di verdure were very delicate, though a little on the tepid side. Petali di baccala su crema di cavolo fiore was delicious. Anatra in sesame crust was quite fine, but the whole onion in its skin, though very tasty, was a bit odd. Baccala con pomodoro e porri was perfectly cooked. A Luchese wine for 8 Euros rounded it off nicely. 63 Euros complete for two. - Tim | |
|  | Verdeluna, Barga -
After years of travelling away from Barga for good food, recently, the centre of town has been transformed and Verdeluna is certainly part of that transformation. Everything was wonderfully cooked - polpette di sarde beautifully subtle, warm seafood salad with a Caesar sauce packed with flavours, seafood and vegetariana lasagna were so refined and delicate (the vegetarian the biggest hit), and then scaloppine di pollo and swordfish steak in a divine emulsion of olive oil, lemon and oregano. There was pudding included in the set 24 euros but we resisted. The white wine also included was light and crisp. Be ready for the small dining room, but it is tastefully done and very welcoming. Definitely will be a favourite for the future. Booking ahead is a must. They only open mid-week if you book; so turning up on spec is high risk. - Tim | |
|  | Il Flamingo, Gallicano -
Had the menu turistico today - two courses, vegetable, wine, water and coffee for 10 Euros a head. Brilliant. Hard to know how they manage to make a profit. Fusilli al chingiale was near perfect. Pork fillet delicious; Polpette also delicious. Understandably the place was teeming with people - workers, travellers, locals, etc. Now I understand why they provide so much parking! Service very efficient. Nice airy dining room. Wine (white firmo) was OK, but for what it was very drinkable. Overall great Value. - Tim | |
|  | L`Altana, Barga -
Forced to eat here by the November shut down for holidays of many other local establishments, we were very pleasantly surprised. The service was very welcoming. The dining room very pleasant and the food excellent. The cook, Camilla Gianotti, is also the mural artist. The house wine from cantine mini of Montecarlo was very good. - Tim | |
|  | Trattoria da Riccardo, Barga -
In the summer, eating out on the balcony is very pleasant. Hardly a view, but in the open. But that was then; and now it is Autumn. Inside the atmosphere is a bit dreary somehow. I cannot quite put my finger on it. But cloth napkins was a plus, something I appreciate. The fritto misto was lovely, as were the tortelli with ragu. House wine (bianco firmo) is very nice (€4 a half litre). But three dishes between two, plus wine, water and coffee was €33, which felt a bit steep. - Tim | |
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