Appearing quite at home in the palatial Hôtel Bulgari, the cuoco Niko Romito (chef at Reale in Castel di Sangro) puts together some impressive haute cuisine! What should you expect from his capital “R” Ristorante? Classics straight out of Italy served in an elegant Milanese lounge-style space (graphic parquet floors, smoky mirrors, retro backlit walls…). The day we went, we opted for the condivisione menu for two, which began with a magic vegetable broth and a sumptuous giro antipasto, followed by: intense tomato bruschetta; amberjack brushed with an olive, caper and anchovy pesto; red Sicilian shrimp with citrus; incredible tender cuttlefish in an inky sauce; vibrant carrots cooked in their own juices; a traditional frittata di pasta; delicious sardines from Puglia stuffed with grapes; a classic vitello tonnato dressed in an extremely airy sauce. The equivalent of a fireworks display to kick off the meal, followed by some impeccable ricotta-spinach tortelli in a Burrino butter, then a tender and crispy veal chop, before a cioccolato e oro combo – homemade bread, a stack of chocolate mousse, chocolate tuile and chocolate ice cream, all wrapped in gold leaf. Masterful. // Albertine Simonet
FEELING THIRSTY? Beautiful French-Italian bottles, from both well-known and little-known estates, that are definitely on the pricier side: a Sancerre from Pascal Jolivet (€25 a glass), a Pinot noir from La Cantina Girlan in southern Tyrol (€80 a bottle), a Venetian white by Suavia (€95 a bottle)…
PRICE: Lunch menu €70 (during the week), condivisione menu €230 for two (dinner and weekends), à la carte €70-90.
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