Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
(
www.vincafe.com
;
Via Vittorio Emanuele II 12; set menus €10-25)
It's hip, but by no means exclus-
ive. Anyone can sup on a glass of wine here, as long as you can squeeze through the door
(it's small and popular) and have the time or expertise to sift through a list of over 350
varieties. If in doubt, choose Barolo.
Downstairs, in a cool vaulted stone cellar, the restaurant serves up huge healthy salads
and pasta.
Locanda Cortiletto
D'Alba
(
www.cortilettodalba.com
;
Corso M Coppino 27; meals €20-30; noon-midnight)
The Cortiletto is
one of those secluded ring-the-front-doorbell kind of places where you're welcomed like a
family friend and served like a Savoy king. Seating is on an upstairs terrace or in a down-
stairs wine cellar, and menu items never stray far from the Langhe hinterland. Think
plin
(ravioli) sautéed in sage and butter, cheese fondue or veal cooked in Nebbiolo wine.
It has five lovely colour-themed rooms upstairs that are rented out from €80 a double.
TRADITIONAL ITALIAN
€€
Piazza Duomo-La Piola
( 0173 44 28 00;
www.piazzaduomoalba.it
;
Piazza Risorgimento 4; meals €20-30, set menus €60-80;
12.30-2pm & 7.30-10pm Tue-Sat)
The best of both worlds are bivouacked in this two-in-
one, suit-all-budgets culinary extravaganza in Alba's main square. Downstairs, La Piola
sports local blackboard specials, such as
vitello tonnato,
that change daily and allow
diners to create their own plates. Upstairs, the theme goes more international in chef En-
rico Crippa's Michelin-starred Piazza Duomo, where you can eat creative food beneath
colourful wall frescoes painted by contemporary artist Francesco Clemente.
GASTRONOMIC
€€€
