After spending a few days in the Dolomites where we enjoyed the company of family and friends rather than focussing on food, we decided to make a big jump and stop at this wonderful family-owned restaurant and inn, very highly rated in the Espresso Guide in Italy. We received friendly and professional reception including taking our coats and placing them in the cloak room. The bathrooms are reached via a marble staircase, interesting picture framed walls and a waft of floral scent.
While walking to our table we glanced around the beautifully set dining room with cabinets with curios, old cameras, decanters and wine bottles. We also noticed a very large round table covered in a stunning tablecloth with matching runner.
On our table the decoration was fresh flowers and a bunch of fresh chilly peppers with cinnamon sticks. Looking through the menu the Locanda offers two set menus - one is a degustation for 70 Euro and the other is called Territory for 76 Euro; or you can select a la carte. We opted for the a la carte as one of us is not great with shellfish. The amuse bouche offered by the house was cream of leek with anchovy flavours. Followed by snails (out of the shells) with a creamy herb sauce (very tasty), two pastas - ravioli filled with cime di rapa (greens) with anchovy and shizo shoots; and tortelloni filled with piglet garnished with crunchy red cabbage. The chef Renzo Dal Farra came and spoke to us before ordering and totally personalised our order because one of us does not love anchovies, so this was omitted for that person. Main courses: fresh sea bass (although this is not a coastal location) and oven baked veal on mash. The food was perfectly cooked and tasted superb. We have to say while we were waiting for our mains we noticed the nearest table of diners to us had the famous Alpago lamb signature dish, it looked divine. We did not order that because there was a minimum of two. Sheep ricotta cassata with lemon sorbet and crumbed pistachios was our shared dessert. The chef also gave us a taste of one of his gelatos in an orange sauce, hmmm!
We drank a bottle of Petit Arvine from Valle d'Aosta, mineral water and coffee (served with petit four, especially remember the coconut panna cotta). Service was professional and friendly, especially by the attractive lady sommellier. All this for 110 Euro, much less than we expected at this Michelin star restaurant.
Parking in front of the Locanda is limited but there are several free of charges bays about 50 metres away. From the windows of the dining room we could see the Alpago snow capped peaks. Would definitely go again.
Signora Dal Farra kindly took us on a tour of the accommodation and the cellar. Two types of rooms - 80's Italian modern decor of a generous size on the first floor, and traditional wooden lined alpine smaller rooms in the attic. Worth mentioning is the extra large shower in Room number 3.