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 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)