Sabores de Itália - Ponto Come
There are happy days . Yesterday , a late departure from Lisbon , towards the North , gave me to leave the serenity of Saharan A8 and exit toward the Caldas da Rainha . I had been told that the " Taste of Italy " had changed facilities , but it maintained its traditional quality.
It is a square with history, created in 1995 . Had gone there to see a first with my friend Jorge Galamba , long ago , been taking me a good impression . I returned three times , but the last I knocked on the door with his nose . The house was closed. I thought it was a crisis. After all , the restaurant only changed his address from 2010.
It was not easy to get there because the works in the city are more than many - this was not a year of municipal elections . The new " Taste of Italy " is located in a square in the old town (ask for the " square of the fish " ) , which has the virtue of having an excellent underground car park , which gives almost direct lift access to the restaurant .
In contrast to the classic tone of the past , the current house is decorated in a contemporary style with secluded smoking area . The service is very attentive and professional with a highly refined sense , as found in certain details . Maybe because it was Friday night of 6th and had a very reasonable occupation, the pace of service was slow .
But it was , frankly , worth it. All that being experienced was perfect. In the tradition of the previous house , the list is very careful with plenty of offers Italian-inspired , added to and Portuguese dishes . The wine list is balanced .
I usually do not here speak of specific dishes but a salmon carpaccio with truffles , open , stuck in my gustatory memory. It was a superb meal at a very acceptable price , which of course was helped by the fact that only have half - drunk bottle ( driving oblige ) a magnificent " Vallado " red .
Simple conclusion is well worth going to Caldas da Rainha , just to enjoy the rebirth of the " Taste of Italy " , a "lord " restaurant. For me , these days , one of the best Portuguese tables outside Lisbon and Porto ( and some Algarve , as they tell me ) .
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