Il Ristoro delle Colline
The closest restaurant to our house in Petrognano is Il Ristoro delle Colline at Fattoria del Gambaro. It is only about a 50 meter walk -- two short city blocks -- down the hill from the house. The restaurant offers a wam and rustic introduction to Lucchesi dining.


Il Ristoro delle Colline also features a Colline Lucchesi Rosso, the red wine that is a combination of Sangiovese and Merlot and is produced locally. Antipasto, primo, wine and water and dolce should be about 20 Euro per person. While the menu prices include service, a small five or ten percent tip, particularly if your experience is good, is a nice gesture and will likely make your next visit to "Gambaro" -- we call the restaurant Gambaro -- all the more welcomed.
The restaurant is closed on Mondays and only serves dinner. Arrive at 8 pm -- not before. Reservations for small groups are typically not necessary, but if you think of calling ahead or dropping in the day before to make a reservation, that's always appreciated.
IL RISTORO DELLE COLLINE
via di Petorognao - Petrognano
Tel: 0583 978 314
Close: Monday
Tratoria Corno Rosso
Corono Rosso is an alimentari and bar by day with a restaurant added on during the night to give the Corno Rosso almost a 24-hour-a-day life, six days a week. Corno Rosso is located just below the church in San Gennaro, a 20 minute walk from our house if you take the shortcut path that diverts from the main road connecting the villages of Petrognano and San Gennaro. [See picture above with a view looking up to Petrognano from the "San Gennaro" shortcut path.]

At night, Corno Rosso shifts gears to serve a simple, though thoroughly classic Lucchesi dinner. The typical meal will start with fresh melon and prosciutto with capresi salad, followed by hearty plates of pasta and the chance to sample both a ragu sauce and one with olive oil and herbs. THIS is the place to eat meat! Go with the biscetta alle Fiorientine or make it a carnivorous feast by adding pork and chicken and ordering the mixed grille. Our only word of caution is to remind you that Italians like their beef rare and tender, so rare you'd probably describe it as "juicy" and ready to moo the moment to poke a knife and fork into it. So, if that's too rare for your taste, this would be a good time to study that tourist's language guidebook and figure out how to say non troppo rari [not too rare] when you order your meal.
Call ahead for a reservation. That's a must. Dinner is a 8 pm. Corno Rosso is closed on Monday -- thank goodness, because Radia deserves the break.
TRATTORIA CORNO ROSSO
via Ilio Menicucci, 94 - San Gennaro
Tel. 0583 978 021
Closed: Monday
Locanda Eremo del Gusto

The restaurant is in a renovated family summer, country home. Meals are served indoors as well as out, with the outside terrace providing a full view of the La Valdinievole valley -- from the coast of the Ligurian Sea to the west, to Lucca, to the towns of the Capannori commune below, to the city of Monsummano Terme's mined mountainside that opens the valley east toward Florence.
The view alone would be reason enough to have dinner at del Gusto, but the there's pleasure to be found in the food, as well. But, if you want another approach to traditional Lucchese cooking, take the stroll up the hill.

Call ahead to make a reservation. Both Luca and Michela share their ample personalities in English, as well as Italian. If the night is right, Michela might also provide a tour of her family's newly-renovated vacation home and the suite of rooms they rent out for private dinners and for their bed and breakfast operation.
LOCANDA EREMO DEL GUSTO
via di Gelli, 37 - Petrognano
Tel: 0583 978 012
www.eremodelgusto.com
Closed: Monday to Wednesday
Eats at Home
via di Gelli, 37 - Petrognano
Tel: 0583 978 012
www.eremodelgusto.com
Closed: Monday to Wednesday
Eats at Home

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