La Stanza del Gusto

Description:

• Self-taught chef Mario Avallone has attracted a loyal following to this one-of-a-kind restaurant, which caters to gourmet tastes and wine aficionados. With its dark wood paneling, warm yellow walls, coffered ceiling, and array of curios, it can be best described as old-world funky. The extensive wine list has lots of local vintages that you would be hard-pressed to find elsewhere in Italy, let alone abroad, and includes many half bottles and by-the-glass offerings. The meal is built around a series of assaggi: small portions of skillfully prepared, beautifully presented dishes, taken from the local tradition and reinterpreted by the chef, such as his sartù di riso (a baked rice dish). The dishes are presented as a prix-fixe menu (definitely the way to go), but you can order a la carte; just remember that portions are not exactly hearty, so this isn't a great place for young children or the famished.

• © Frommer's 2013

Awards:

Frommer's

•  Highly Recommended 2010