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Recommended Reviews - L'Altro Cantuccio
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Wow a top of the line dinner experience from the first all the way to the seventh plate we tried. The service was top of the line. The ambiance was superb. Unfortunately, I cannot choose. What was my favorite place because I like them all. The tomato soup was the sensational answer in a very surprising way! Della and we had was practically melting in my mouth, the cheesecake was without questioning, the best cheesecake I have had in my life. I actually told my friends, I will never have any cheesecake except for that one.
This place was absolutely amazing! My husband and I were both blown away by it. We selected it because of positive gluten free reviews and we were not disappointed in any way. Almost the entire menu is available with gluten free modifications. The staff was extremely polite, spoke excellent English and explained the menu, as well as every dish. They also had an English menu. Unfortunately I did not take photos of everything we ate - it was too good and I forgot! The atmosphere was so beautiful as well! We ordered the beef tartar and scallops appetizers, as well as the 50 hour cooked beef and salted cod main courses. We also ordered the cheesecake dessert. Additionally, they brought us fresh baked breads (my husband loved all 4 types and asked for more!), locally made olive oil, locally made wines (sparkling, Pinot noir and a dessert wine), two different "illusion" tastings and chocolate truffles with a tiramisu cream inside. The gluten free bread and crackers were packaged, but very good quality. My husband was given a "tomato" which was actually a gel exterior with a kind of cream and pâté interior. I was given an "asparagus" made from catfish and peas. They were both beautiful and tasty. The beef tartar was a work of art and one of the best, if not the best, I have ever had. It came with picked vegetables and edible flowers. The scallops and cauliflower were perfect. The sauce was so good that we scraped the plate! The absolute star of the show was the 50 hour cooked beef. Both of us kept saying "wow" as we shared it. The salted cod was also very good. The cheesecake dessert came with two - one traditional and one made to look like a piece of cheese. The second had a hazelnut exterior. Both were excellent, but the second was amazing! This is an excellent restaurant and we will return!
Phenomenal meal and service!!! I literally cannot recommend this place enough. This is truly the best restaurant in town. We ordered a pasta to share and two entrees and everything was cooked to perfection and brought to our table with perfect pacing. We ordered the duck and the cod fish- highly recommend them both! The duck was unbelievably tender and seasoned perfectly, and the fish was delectable.
We stumbled upon this place on our visit as it is somewhat hidden. Thank goodness we ran across it! They served a prosecco before dinner and onion soup as an amuse bouche that were both delicious. All of the primi piatti , secondi piatti, and contornos (first courses, second courses, and sides) were remarkable and the service was amazing in both English and Italian (ask for Daniele!) The Montepulciano wine was extremely reasonably priced, juicy and delicious! If you are in Montepulciano and looking for a nice, quiet place to lunch or dinner I highly recommend Laltro Cantuccio!
Where do I even start? Montepulciano is a dreamy town tucked into a Tuscan hillside. In chilly mid-November, it's haunting and empty and blessedly peaceful. Admittedly, a fair amount of places were closed, possibly due to it being a drizzly (but still so atmospheric!) Monday evening, so when I looked at the menu for L'Altro Cantuccio, I was excited to see that it was open. I was even more excited to see a vegetarian entree that I figured could be made vegan. We entered the restaurant at an early time for Italy, 7:30 or 8, but we'd skipped lunch and we also were calling it an early night because we were staying at an agriturismo about 45 minutes away. Not surprisingly, we were the first customers (by the time we left around 9:30 or ten, there were only 2 other tables). If you're looking for a dark, intimate dining experience, this is your place. It's so beautiful inside, like an upscale tavern, with ambient lighting and a fireplace. I was totally unprepared for this utterly exquisite dining experience, but I had a hint of what was to come, once we were greeted by an urbane set of waiters. I asked if the farro dish could be made vegan and he said it could. That's all I ordered (besides a glass of sparkling wine, and my husband ordered some kind of steak), but we received several curated complimentary amuse bouche, presented like the edible works of art they were. Only one item was not vegan, a duck liver macaron. Besides two tiny bites of vegan pates, there were these incredible bites that appeared to be olives but were savory cocoa butter truffle that contained olive oil and crushed olives (like a filled chocolate). I never had anything like this before. This was followed by a single cherry tomato... or so it seemed! It was actually a bite of pappa al pomodoro. And then there was the divine bread service (see my photo). The main event, also presented like a work of art, the farro. It's absolutely delicious and I treasured each bite of grain, truffle, mushroom, beans in a porcini broth. This was followed by a complimentary dessert, two tiny chocolate shells with a passion fruit topped non dairy cream and two tiny spoons of chocolate pop rocks. I can't say "exquisite" enough! Now I must note my appreciation here for the service, as I was informed as to exactly what things were vegan when they brought out all the complimentary courses (I am not entitled... I never expect such service). I walked in without a reservation and this meal exceeded my expectations beyond words. And coming from the US, it blew my mind that the cost of this extravagant meal was comparable to a casual dining experience. Core dining memory may be an understatement. I'd return to Montepulciano if only to dine here. read more
10 months ago
Our Perfect Last Night in Tuscany - Best Romantic Dinner in Montepulciano at L'Altro Cantuccio! After a day of strolling up and down the winding hills of Montepulciano, my wife and I stumbled upon L'Altro Cantuccio, and what a find it was. Tucked under the archway of an ancient stone breezeway, our romantic little table caught the cool evening breeze and gave us front-row seats to the quiet hum of this timeless Tuscan town. The dim lighting and centuries-old walls made it feel like we were dining inside a piece of history -- only with the comfort and warmth of a dear friend's welcome. From the start, the staff set the tone, with Leaza leading the way. "Outstanding" doesn't quite cover it -- her knowledge of food, wine, and spirits transformed the evening into an experience. She presented three perfect wine options, guided us like an old friend, and had that rare gift of knowing when to be right there and when to step back, letting the romance and flavors speak for themselves. A rustic bread board with pillowy focaccia, nutty seeded bread, and golden olive oil -- the perfect Tuscan welcome. We began with cocktails -- a Negroni for me, an Aperol Spritz for my wife -- followed by an appetizer that can only be described as edible theater. The crispy egg "candido" with pecorino foam, green coffee, and Sichuan pepper arrived in a smoked ceramic egg, releasing an intoxicating aroma when the lid was lifted. The smoked ceramic egg, opened to reveal the delicate crispy egg "candido" over pecorino foam -- like unwrapping a culinary gift. Alongside came a complimentary aperitif -- whimsical bites that looked like one thing but tasted like another -- playful and creative. A tiny "tomato" that burst into chilled gazpacho on the first bite -- a fun and surprising twist. For our first course, my wife had the ravioli of stewed pigeon topped with seared breast, Sangiovese wine reduction, and a butter-sage powder. It was perfectly cooked -- tender, rich, and delicious. I had the truffle pasta, a nest of golden tagliolini crowned with a snowfall of freshly shaved truffles, the scent so intoxicating it turned heads at nearby tables. The truffle pasta -- a mound of golden tagliolini under a generous snow of fresh truffles, plated on sculpted white porcelain. Both dishes were paired with a 2018 Talosa Nobile di Montepulciano, deep ruby in color and velvety on the palate -- a flawless choice from Leaza. The mains were pure Tuscan indulgence. The local Chianina beef cheeks were slow-cooked for 50 hours until they practically melted on the tongue, plated with seasonal vegetables and a silky sauce. The Fiorentina T-bone steak was a feast for the eyes -- thick, juicy, beautifully charred -- presented whole before being sliced and served on a black marble slab. Too full for dessert, we closed the night with an Indonesian Kopi Luwak coffee. The brewing process was presented tableside like a ceremony. Sitting there, sipping coffee in the cool night air, hearing the faint murmur of other couples, I couldn't imagine a better way to end our last night in Tuscany. L'Altro Cantuccio isn't just a restaurant -- it's a memory you'll carry home. The flavors, the setting, the care in every detail... you must eat here! read more
3 years ago
This place is just awesome. This place tops many of the Michelin starred restaurants that I have been to. The food, the presentation is an artwork, the flavors outstanding, very innovative with traditional dishes and creative with modern dishes. The wine list is mostly very accesible price range, 30-50 Euros but for those desiring more exclusive list you have that too. Ambiance is cozy, and warm. We were seated in passageway from one dining grotto to the hall. Like it. You just gotta go! read more
Wow a top of the line dinner experience from the first all the way to the seventh plate we tried. The service was top of the line. The ambiance was superb. Unfortunately, I cannot choose. What was my favorite place because I like them all. The tomato soup was the sensational answer in a very surprising way! Della and we had was practically melting in my mouth, the cheesecake was without questioning, the best cheesecake I have had in my life. I actually told my friends, I will never have any cheesecake except for that one. read more
3 years ago
This place was absolutely amazing! My husband and I were both blown away by it. We selected it because of positive gluten free reviews and we were not disappointed in any way. Almost the entire menu is available with gluten free modifications. The staff was extremely polite, spoke excellent English and explained the menu, as well as every dish. They also had an English menu. Unfortunately I did not take photos of everything we ate - it was too good and I forgot! The atmosphere was so beautiful as well! We ordered the beef tartar and scallops appetizers, as well as the 50 hour cooked beef and salted cod main courses. We also ordered the cheesecake dessert. Additionally, they brought us fresh baked breads (my husband loved all 4 types and asked for more!), locally made olive oil, locally made wines (sparkling, Pinot noir and a dessert wine), two different "illusion" tastings and chocolate truffles with a tiramisu cream inside. The gluten free bread and crackers were packaged, but very good quality. My husband was given a "tomato" which was actually a gel exterior with a kind of cream and pâté interior. I was given an "asparagus" made from catfish and peas. They were both beautiful and tasty. The beef tartar was a work of art and one of the best, if not the best, I have ever had. It came with picked vegetables and edible flowers. The scallops and cauliflower were perfect. The sauce was so good that we scraped the plate! The absolute star of the show was the 50 hour cooked beef. Both of us kept saying "wow" as we shared it. The salted cod was also very good. The cheesecake dessert came with two - one traditional and one made to look like a piece of cheese. The second had a hazelnut exterior. Both were excellent, but the second was amazing! This is an excellent restaurant and we will return! read more
4 years ago
This was one of the best dining experiences I've had in all my travels. The service, the food and the "extras" all came together for a fabulous evening. I cannot recommend this restaurant enough! read more
Phenomenal meal and service!!! I literally cannot recommend this place enough. This is truly the best restaurant in town. We ordered a pasta to share and two entrees and everything was cooked to perfection and brought to our table with perfect pacing. We ordered the duck and the cod fish- highly recommend them both! The duck was unbelievably tender and seasoned perfectly, and the fish was delectable. read more
11 years ago
We stumbled upon this place on our visit as it is somewhat hidden. Thank goodness we ran across it! They served a prosecco before dinner and onion soup as an amuse bouche that were both delicious. All of the primi piatti , secondi piatti, and contornos (first courses, second courses, and sides) were remarkable and the service was amazing in both English and Italian (ask for Daniele!) The Montepulciano wine was extremely reasonably priced, juicy and delicious! If you are in Montepulciano and looking for a nice, quiet place to lunch or dinner I highly recommend Laltro Cantuccio! read more
4 years ago
9 years ago
Cute location in beautiful countryside of montepulciano. Great wine obviously. Food a little overdone, like they're trying a little too hard for a small town country tavern. No need for the potato foam and molecular gastronomy! Sometimes you just want good home cooking this was not that. Service was good but a tad overbearing. read more
10 years ago
