Restaurant Review: Locanda Appennino

R E S T A U R A N T     R E V I E W S



SR = Strongly Recommend 
HR = Highly Recommend 
LE = Look Elsewhere



L O C A N D A   A P P E N N I N O
Via L. Grilli 19/21, 06019 Umbertide
Tel: 075 3536585




We have been visiting Umbertide for many years now but have not eaten at Locanda Appennino until this past year. We read many glowing reviews about Appennino's on TripAdvisor and wanted to check the restaurant out for ourselves. Appennino's is located just off the main square in Old Umbertide and is easy to get to. Reservations are suggested especially on a Friday or Saturday evening.



We stopped by Appennino's a couple days in advance to make reservations and noticed how elegant the decor was. Inside the main room is a tastefully designed space with plenty of dining tables. In the back area there is a terrace overlooking the Tiber river that is lined with beautiful flower pots and slightly overgrown vines. The back terrace is where one should request to dine as it is truly elegant and the atmosphere is warm and inviting.

Inside dining area
Terrace dinning area

When we arrived at the restaurant we were warmly greeted by the waitress and seated in the back terrace area (to our delight). We were the first customers which gave us a good chance to look around and get a better feel of the restaurant. Our first impression of the restaurant was a good one. We loved the setting and the atmosphere. Dining in the terrace part of the restaurant really felt like we were in a very elegant setting. 

Trying to decide what to order

A recent review (read review HERE) on TripAdvisor mentioned that the service did not meet expectations. Indeed, it is important to point out that some of our family friends who ate at Appennino's recently conveyed to us that the waitress was a bit "surly". In our experience, however, we did not find any issues with our service or our waitress. While not as social as the waiters at Lo Sberleffo, Poggiomanente or Calagrana, the waitress was both pleasant and efficient. She seemed genuinely happy to interact with our two children which was nice to see. 

The food we ordered was very good and it was evident that the ingredients used were both fresh and flavorful. The presentation was beautiful and it was apparent that care went into making and preparing every single dish. We started out the meal with a breaded salad which was nice and refreshing. Because our son loves cheeses we decided to get the selection of aged fresh cheeses with their own preserves which was exquisite. We ordered the Ravioli stuffed with goat cheese and bacon which was a tasty combination.We also ordered tender slices of grilled chianina beef which came with a side of fries. This was cooked just right so as not to dampen the flavor of the chianina beef and the fries complimented the dish nicely. Lastly, we ordered a fish dish and we were pleasantly surprised to see that the fillet of turbo w/ porcini mushrooms on a bed of puree of fresh peas was fresh and delicious.

Selection of aged fresh cheeses with their own preserves
Ravioli stuffed with goat cheese and bacon
Our son's standard pasta with butter & parmesan




We would not hesitate to eat at Locanda Appennino again. We enjoyed the setting and atmosphere. The food was tasty and the service was pleasant. If you are staying in or passing through Umbertide then we would strongly recommend [SR] eating at Locanda Appennino.

To view more of our pictures from Locanda Appennino click HERE


If you liked reading our review of this restaurant (or any that we review) and you intend on going to eat at the restaurant please do mention to the restaurant management that you read our review. Additionally, we encourage all our readers, family and friends to submit their own reviews of their restaurant experiences either directly to us, through the submission link above or in the comments section below each review. Thanks!

Restaurant Review: Poggiomanente

R E S T A U R A N T     R E V I E W S



SR = Strongly Recommend 
HR = Highly Recommend 
LE = Look Elsewhere



P O G G I O M A N E N T E

Uscita E-45 Umbertide/Gubbio
06019 Umbertide (PG)
Tel: 075-941-3085
Email: info@poggiomanente.com


"The Poggiomanente Restaurant is one of the most appreciated in the area and a point of reference for the lovers of quality cuisine. It offers a rich menu including some of the best dishes of Umbrian tradition: sapori di bosco,crescia with prosciutto ham,tagliatelle with goose sauce, Etruscan pennette,gnocchetti with truffle,roast duck,pork shank with fennel, fillet steak with Rubesco wine and radicchio salad. The building rises in the cellar of a XVI century farmhouse,an ancient mail station,and it offers an atmosphere which is at the same time rural and refined." (Poggiomanente Website)





Poggiomanente is a hidden gem located just off the Umbertide/Gubbio exit along the E-45 (for directions click HERE). A favorite with the locals, Poggiomanente offers diners several dining areas from which to choose from including one dining room that is located in a fully renovated 16th century farmhouse cellar. There is ample parking below and several parking spaces in front of the restaurant.

We first read about Poggiomanente on TripAdvisor which gave the restaurant good reviews and mentioned that the restaurant was a favorite with the locals. The bit about being a "favorite with the locals" piqued our interest. We immediately wanted to check it out for ourselves so we made it a point to book our first dinner in Umbertide at Poggiomanente. Making reservations via email was a breeze. We received a quick response back from management confirming our reservations for 7pm.

Getting to Poggiomanente was not difficult at all. If you are coming from Umbertide you need to follow directions to the E-45 to Perugia. Drive past the entrance leading to the E45 and shortly after you will see a parking lot belonging to Poggiomanente on the right with a small building (pictured above). The restaurant is just up the a small hill which is easily walkable.

Heading up to the restaurant from the parking lot below

We arrived at 7pm and were greeted by a very nice waitress named Malina. A quick walk around the restaurant revealed a very warm and inviting setting with a typical Umbrian decor. On the wall were pictures posted of guests of the restaurant. We were pleasantly surprised to see pictures of Ralph Fiennes and Monica Bellucci who apparently were "regulars".

Pictures posted of famous guests of the restaurant

We were the first dinner guests to arrive that evening and were allowed to pick our table. We picked a table in one of the bigger rooms and passed on the cellar room as it seemed more appropriate for couples. Indeed, as the night moved along more families with young children joined us in the big room.


The room that we dined in

Cellar dining room
The service was friendly and efficient. We asked our waitress to give us the most highly regarded dishes and she recommended the pepper steak with rose salts and steak with truffles. Both dishes did not disappoint. We were very surprised at how tasty both dishes were. However, we were particularly taken by the pepper steak with rose salts as it was incredibly flavorful with just the right amount of spices. The presentation of the pepper steak was also very impressive as it came out sizzling on a hot plate and cooked right before your eyes.This type of presentation was nothing new to us but seeing it done in Umbertide was. The steak with truffles came out nicely and the truffles did not overwhelm the dish as they sometimes can. Our son enjoyed his pizza and lots of dad's steak. During the meal, the owner came around to our table to see how we were enjoying our meal. He was both pleasant and charming.


Assortment of meats antipasta


Pepper steak with rose salts


Another angle of the delicious steak

 

Steak with truffles
 The truth is, Poggiomanente is a terrific restaurant that serves excellent local cuisine. The staff is efficient and friendly. The owner comes around to every table and strikes up a warm conversation. We strongly recommend [SR] this restaurant to anyone passing through or staying in the area and will definitely be returning to eat here in the future with family and friends.


We give our stamp of approval!



To view more pictures of our visit to Poggiomanente click HERE

If you liked reading our review of this restaurant (or any that we review) and you intend on going to eat at the restaurant please do mention to the restaurant management that you read our review. Additionally, we encourage all our readers, family and friends to submit their own reviews of their restaurant experiences either directly to us, through the submission link above or in the comments section below each review. Thanks!

Restaurant Review: Nonna Gelsa's Ristorante


R E S T A U R A N T     R E V I E W



SR = Strongly Recommend 
HR = Highly Recommend 
LE = Look Elsewhere



L O C A N D A   D I   N O N N A   G E L S A

Via Centrale, 14 - Niccone 06010
Tel: 075 9410699
Email: info@locandadinonnagelsa.com




Located in the village of Niccone this is by far one of our personal favorites as the ownership and staff are extremely personable and the food is always excellent. We have eaten here many times and have sent many of our friends and family to eat here too.



Getting to Nonna Gelsa's is really very easy.  If you are coming from Umbertide, you simply follow the road signs to Mercatale and Cortona (S416). When you reach the sharp turn (you can either go straight to Citta di Castello or make the sharp turn left to Cortona) the restaurant will be on your left. If you are coming from Cortona, look for sings for Nicconne and the restaurant will be on your right well before you make a sharp turn right towards Umbertide. There is ample parking space in the private parking lot owned by the restaurant. Reservations for large groups is a must.



We first ate at this restaurant with our dear friends Katharine & Lenny Michaels when it was located just around the corner from the main piazza in Old Umbertide and we had the pleasure of meeting Chiara and her father who both cooked and served the meals. We remember, to this day, how incredible the food was. In particular, we remember eating an anchovie antipasta (off the menu) which just blew us away.

Taken with Chiara (owner) February 2007

Outdoor dining tent at Nonna Gelsa's Ristorante

Chiara is very charming and personable. When we first met Chiara, she was still working on her English. Now, she is perfectly fluent which is a testament to her drive to succeed. Her drive to succeed took her restaurant to new heights as she made the decision over ten years ago to move the restaurant and her family to a bigger space outside of Umbertide located in the Village of Niccone. The decor of the restaurant is elegant and tastefully designed. The relatively new outdoor eating area is situated under a big tent which provides shelter from the elements.













The food quality has not changed (fresh, delicious and cooked to perfection!) and the the same great hospitality that we first experienced in Umbertide remains to this day. We eat at Nonna Gelsa's Ristorante at least once during every visit and is our go-to restaurant for family and friends. We were, however, disappointed that we could not eat at Nonna Gelsa's this past trip (August 2011) as we were fully booked trying out other restaurants in the area. We can confidently say, however, that out of our own personal experiences eating at Nonna Gelsa's that this is a can't-miss restaurant and we urge anyone in the area to stop by to meet Chiara and and sample her dishes. We strongly recommend eating at Nonna Gelsa! [SR]

Taken with Chiara (owner) August, 2011



If you liked reading our review of this restaurant (or any that we review) and you intend on going to eat at the restaurant please do mention to the restaurant management that you read our review. Additionally, we encourage all our readers, family and friends to submit their own reviews of their restaurant experiences either directly to us, through the submission link above or in the comments section below each review. Thanks!

Restaurant Review: Calagrana

R E S T A U R A N T     R E V I E W S



SR = Strongly Recommend 
HR = Highly Recommend 
LE = Look Elsewhere



R I S T O R A N T E   C A L A G R A N A

Agriturismo Ristorante Calagrana
Loc. Bastia Creti, 277 - Umbertide [PG] Italy
Tel/Fax 075 9410865
Mobile 333 7328211
info@calagrana.com
Owners: Alberto & Ely
"The restaurant offers a warm and simple setting with original features creating a wonderful environment in which to dine and spend long pleasant evenings. It has become the key meeting point for our guests, where you can come together and taste the wine and delicacies of the region, or simply mingle over an aperitif. Outside the restaurant is the veranda offering views over the swimming pool and the spectacular valley of Niccone. It is a lovely place to spend the long summer evenings."  (Calagrana Website)


The main entrance to Ristorante Calagrana

Calagrana is located in a small hamlet named Bastia Creti which is situated between Umbertide and Mercatale (environ of Cortona). The drive through the Niccone Valley to get to Calagrana is wonderful and picturesque. We had no problems finding the restaurant as it is clearly visible from the S416. The restaurant typically opens at about 7:30pm and reservations are a must. Our reservation confirmation failed to reach Calagrana in a timely manner due to internet lag but Ely (owner) was extremely accommodating and made an exception for us even though restaurant was completely booked.


The dining veranda is a must on a beautiful evening

The restaurant's own description (above), in our opinion, is spot-on. The setting while simple offers fantastic views of the Niccone Valley below and the environment is both warm and inviting for families and couples alike. We thought the decor was very tasteful and the staff very efficient and personable. The owner's 14 year old daughter, Sophia, was very charming. We found that Calagrana is very popular and has a steady flow of regular patrons (which makes making reservations even more important!). 


From Tagliatelle with Wild Boar Ragu and Bitter Chocolate to Guina Fowl Stew with Peppers and Tomato it was clear to us that the menu provided a generous selection of dishes from which to choose from. While we were not familiar with all of them our guess is that the menu was comprised of typical Umbrian dishes (with Chef Alberto's personal twist) and non-typical Umbrian dishes.

Like the service and setting the meal left us fully satisfied. The food, itself, was scrumptious. The flavors popped in our mouths and nothing was overdone. We found the portions to be just right. We were especially impressed by the Fried Tomato on a Bed of Prosciutto antipasta which was dry and semi-crunchy on the outside but moist and flavorful on the inside (tomato and mozzarella).  We also enjoyed the Quail on a Bed of Risotto. The quail, though small, was sufficiently rich and was complimented nicely by the risotto. Our son loved his off-the-menu dish of pasta with butter and parmesan.
Fried Tomato on a Bed of Prosciutto Milan style

Chicken Liver Paté with Chilli Sauce

Quail on a Bed of Risotto

Our meal with fries and vegetables

Pasta with Butter and Parmesan

Our choice of wine for the evening

If you are staying in or passing through the area we strongly recommend [SR] making reservations to eat at Calagrana. We were very satisfied with our experience at the restaurant and expect to go back again sometime in the not too distant future to meet Alberto and to try out a couple more of his dishes.

To view more pictures of our experience at Calagrana click HERE



If you liked reading our review of this restaurant (or any that we review) and you intend on going to eat at the restaurant please do mention to the restaurant management that you read our review. Additionally, we encourage all our readers, family and friends to submit their own reviews of their restaurant experiences either directly to us, through the submission link above or in the comments section below each review. Thanks!
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