Last night we went for dinner at Monestevole, a restaurant in the beautiful Umbrian countryside between Preggio and Umbertide. You may have passed Monestevole if have done the Migianella Long Walk from my book, Circular Walks On The Tuscany Umbria Border.
Monestevole Restaurant, Tuscany Umbria Border, Italy
The owners, Alessio and Valeria Giottoli, have recently moved their Osteria di Giottoli restaurant to this location from nearby Polgetto, a hamlet on the road between Preggio and Umbertide.
The previous restaurant at Polgetto was always great value, it served a fixed menu at €20 a head, house wine included, and often had live music at the weekend. The new location differed from that at Polgetto; instead of a cavernous interior the dining area is spread across a cosy series of rooms within the large building in which Alessio and Valeria live. In the summer, diners will have use a large garden with a huge stone built barbecue.
Crostata With Chicken Liver Topping
After drinking an aperitivo by a roaring log fire we headed into one of the rooms where our table was laid.
Grilled Melanzane, Monestevole Restaurant, Tuscany Umbria Border, Italy
We started with a great selection of antipasti, traditional crostini with chicken liver topping, grilled melanzane (aubergine), potato frittata, prosciuto crudo and some superb pecorino cheese served with chestnut honey.
Pecorino & Honey, Monestevole Restaurant, Tuscany Umbria Border, Italy
Next came a plate of gnocchi made from Patate di Pietralunga, a local potato whose hard texture makes it ideal for pureeing and forming into gnocchi.
Gnocchi, Monestevole Restaurant, Tuscany Umbria Border, Italy
Then it was on to the secondi; thinly sliced steak served with rocket and cherry tomatoes and drizzled with balsamic vinegar and olive oil.
Steak With Rocket & Cherry Tomatoes, Monestevole Restaurant, Tuscany Umbria Border, Italy
Dessert was a pice of sponge cake served with espresso coffee and afterwards a selection of digestivi, grappa and the bittersweet alcoholic liqueurs that Italians are so fond of and I am starting finally to enjoy! Alessio is a well known character in Umbertide, he plays in a band and his family run several businesses in the town, he and Valeria make eating out at Monestevole a really welcoming experience.
The whole meal came to €30 a head, €25 for the food and €5 for the assorted wines that we had sampled.
To book a table at Monestevole, telephone 0039 331 271 6970 or 333 884 3242
See the Location of Monestevole Restaurant, Umbria (Opens Google Maps)
Tuscany Villas, Tuscany AgritourismYou can eat at the Monestevole Restaurant when you holiday on the Tuscany Umbria border. Gorgacce Rentals have a selection of self catering holiday accommodation in this beautiful part of central Italy, visit their web site http://www.tuscanyumbria.com/ for Large Tuscany Villas, Small Tuscany Villas, Tuscany Farmhouses, Tuscany Agritourism and Tuscany Bed and Breakfast apartments, all with swimming pools. Also, look at our Cortona Apartment, Tuscany and Spello Apartments, Umbria. Whether you are looking for a Luxury Tuscany Villa or budget Tuscany Agritourism Apartments you will find suitable accommodation for your vacation in Tuscany and Umbria.
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