We waited in the hotel lobby for the shuttle and joined other diners when it arrived. Everyone was quiet on the windy trip up to the restaurant. You could tell we were really climbing, and looking out the window was a little frightening! We made it safe and sound though.
The restaurant has a sort of deck that must be really lovely in warm weather and daylight. When we were there, the sides were down to keep everyone warm, but we could still see the lights from Positano below.
Soon after we were seated, our waiter introduced himself and asked us what kind of wine we wanted. I asked for red and Jeff asked for white, and he brought us over a full bottle of each.
Our dinner started with a plate of ricotta, mozzarella, and prosciutto. We were really excited to see the ricotta, after discovering how amazing ricotta is in Italy during our food tour.
Next came a plate of eggplant and a vinegar-based potato salad with olives and tomatoes. I really liked the intense flavors in the potato salad.
And then an array of vegetables: spinach, broccoli, and peas. These were all cooked very well -- they were a little mushy even -- so I liked them more than Jeff did (he likes crunchy vegetables).
And then there was eggplant Parmesan, one of my favorite dishes of the evening, and an egg-potato cake reminiscent of a Spanish tortilla.
Beans, chickpeas, and potato croquettes made for filling sides.
And all of those were just the first courses. I was happy to see so many vegetables. The pasta course came next, and it consisted of fusilli-like pasta with mushrooms and zucchini, ravioli with eggplant, gnocchi, and mama pasta -- which was sort of like cannelloni with a ricotta filling.
The next part of the meal reminded me of food I've had at Portuguese restaurants. We had nicely salted French fries and a lightly dressed salad along with a plate of grilled meats. There was lamb (which was amazing but the smallest portion on the plate), pork, chicken, beef, sausage, and kebabs. It was all very simply prepared, just lightly seasoned and grilled.
After dinner, we were given two glasses of limoncello, a plate of fruit, and a plate of desserts. There was grandmother cake, which was like a ricotta-chocolate cake (my favorite of the desserts); a rhum baba; and a profiterole.
I wouldn't say any of the food blew us away. It was all simple, homestyle, typical cuisine. The excursion up the mountain, the unique dining atmosphere, the local/family-run aspect, and the price tag are what made this meal special. (There were people sitting next to us complaining about the price, but for 35 euros per person, I thought it was pretty amazing. I don't know anywhere around here where you can get that much food and wine for that little.)
On the shuttle ride back down, everyone was filled with wine and chatting away. A couple next to us relayed that they were a little disappointed with the meal. They had sat down after Jeff and I and finished at the same time as us, so their courses were obviously a bit rushed. We lucked out and had a nicely paced meal.
There are all sorts of variables that can make this a good restaurant for some and maybe not the best choice for others. If you agree with me that the price is reasonable for all that food, if you eat meat and drink wine, and if you're looking for an interesting atmosphere and local food but don't expect the best food of your life, I think you'll enjoy La Tagliata.
We definitely had fun, left full, and really appreciated being picked up and dropped off at our hotel.
Next up: Day 10 -- Rome (Morning/Afternoon)
10 comments:
Wow, so much food! That sounds like such a great deal for the price! I love that they have a shuttle to bring you to and from dinner. :)
Before I finished to read your post I was thinking the same as the couple you talk in the end.
You have to know that in the south of Italy raw food is really cheap, from vegetables to meat and fruit, consider that those dishes were not so elaborated, not in a a high quality and not special, so you have spent too much. 20 euro per person would be more than enough.
Yes at the end you were full, drank a lot of wine and you were in Positano but really that seems to me just a place that make money out of tourists.
If you would have the ingredients that you can find there, you would have really cooked better, trust me!
But you spent a good time there so in the end that what matters but I'm really angry at these opportunists, unfortunately Italy is full of them nowadays.
If you think of it that way, that does make sense. Positano was definitely the most expensive of the places we visited. But if I compare it to here (Boston) and think about what it would cost for essentially a round trip cab ride, that many courses, and that much wine -- and then we'd have to pay tip on top of it -- it would be at least double what we spent in Positano. So that's where I was coming from.
That said, I've already decided that on my next trip to Italy, I am renting a place with a kitchen, buying local ingredients, and cooking the whole time!
That experience sounds like something that is definitely Italian and totally different, which is part of its appeal. 35 euros seems like a good deal to me :)
All I know about positano is from the real housewives of NJ since they go there at some point. But obviously I need to actually go so that I can eat some of the food there!
a full bottle of wine each is worth that price. (well, almost). I cant believe how much food! Those people who were complaining need to get with it!
Definitely sounds like a fun experience, even if the food was just okay. I love that they gave you so much wine!
I'll tell ya..the food looks MORE than ok. I guess. even in Italy, you're going to run into 'meh', although it's hard to imagine because I've glamorized the cuisine there so much. Definitely a good price, though! Did I wish you a Happy New Year in my last comment? well..Happy New Year!!
Looks like a great meal. I love the simplicity of Italian dishes.
that's kind of a cool experience :) and definitely seems like a good deal to me!
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