Today we arrived in my favourite city of Siena and were fortunate enough to get a room in the magnificent Grand Hotel Continental in the city centre. Although an acquaintance made on our flight had made a recommendation for a Siena restaurant "where only the locals go", our concierge advise us that it was actually "rather touristic", and we should try La Sosta di Violante.
He happily obliged us a reservation, and we enjoyed the 10 minute stroll by the Campo and found a very attractive and welcoming restaurant with a few tables outside, and one empty one, presumably awaiting our arrival.
The waiter warmly welcomed us and invited us to take an aperitif at our table. The menu looked very varied, and typically Tuscan, and I would have been happy to try absolutely anything and everything on the menu, but we made our choices.
We shared a Tuscan starter which included a wide variety of samples of the various starters on offer, including: Broccoli pie with onion jam, local ham, anchovies, sun dried tomatoes etc. Each and every item on that plate was exquisite, with us both agreeing our favourite to be the pie.
For pasta, I had the Pappardelle with hare ragout and bobby had Pici with onion and leek. We both enjoyed the pici but I have to say the Pappardelle was one of the finest pasta dishes I have ever experienced.
We took the waiter's recommendation for a 2001 Brunello (from the rather extensive wine list consisting of at least 10 Brunellos and scores of Chiantis), which was a perfect compliment to the Tuscan selection.
For main course, (and after each of the steak options had been shown to me at the table), I opted for a smaller steak with salad, and Bobby had the Chicken in spicy sauce. My steak was perfectly cooked (rare) and so tender, to perfection. Bobby's chicken was very impressive, charcoal cooked with a Tuscan pepper spice sauce.
Finally, we just about managed to share a dessert and finish our wine .... phew!
Service: 9/10
Food Quality: 10/10
Overall: 9.5/10
An absolute gem, and a must whenever in (or close to) Siena ...
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