Podere Sant'Angelo

Situated in attractive countryside where the plains give way to rolling hills (a perfect destination for a Sunday outing), this simple yet well-kept trattoria serves all the usual traditional local specialities. The typical fresh pasta and the desserts are all home-made.

Situated in the beautiful countryside outside Cerreto Guidi, Villa Petriolo is a magnificent Medici residence offering luxurious rooms in a setting of outstanding charm. In addition to the beauty of the villa and its garden, overlooked by the restaurant’s terrace, the location benefits from the property’s delicious home-produced ingredients, such as extra-virgin olive oil, wine, Cinta Senese pork, meat and chicken, produce from the kitchen garden and ancient grains. The kitchen reinterprets these rich ingredients with a modern twist, offering two tasting menus — one of which for vegetarians —

The 18C ceramic stove, bright, colourful decor (both period and vintage), long family tradition and excellent cuisine all contribute to making this restaurant which opened half a century ago a bastion of fine cuisine in Piacenza and the wider Po valley. Meat and fish both feature on the menu, although it is the latter that has become renowned as the restaurant’s speciality over the years. The excellent service is friendly and informal yet highly professional, while the extensive wine list also includes a good selection of wines by the glass.

The determined and enthusiastic young owner of this restaurant graduated with a literature degree before giving in to her passion for food. She swapped her pen for a ladle and now creates delicious local specialities such as braised veal cheeks, alongside dishes from Pïacenza and Mantua, such as pisarei (a type of gnocchi) and sbrisolona cake.

This restaurant with a low-key, hushed atmosphere has the feel of a tastefully furnished private home, with an open fire to warm cold winter evenings while a cool, welcoming outdoor terrace becomes the ideal spot for al fresco dining in summer. The dining experience comprises four tasting menus and an extensive à la carte menu, offering a generous variety of dishes designed to delight every palate. The recipes range naturally between meat, fish and vegetarian options, offering a wide and well-balanced array of flavours. The desserts are all well worth trying and our favourites include Tribute

In a small village with a fascinating crenellated castle, this restaurant is run by a husband and wife team. They offer a refined cuisine that is a balanced blend of local recipes and creativity.