U Castellu is very off the beaten path for a traveler, but if you find a way to be nearby, it is…read moreworth it for the views and deliciously fresh food.
The restaurant is owned and run by a local Corsican farmer, and the Corsican spirit comes through in the menu, offering the Italian influenced Napoli style pizzas straight from the wood fire oven, and traditional French and Corse dishes such as cassoulet and salade de soleil. There are creamy local cheeses, charcuterie from local farmers, and if you come from May to October, the salads and vegetables used come mostly from Jean's farm in Bastelicaccia.
For dessert, I recommend you try the strawberries or the strawberry ice cream! The strawberries are not raised for size or their ability to transported, rather, they are a small, amazingly sweet variety that almost melts in your mouth. Jean grows the strawberries and prepares the ice cream himself.
As a digestiv, try the myrte, it is a cordial made from myrtle exclusive to Sardinia and Corsica and Jean makes his own of this as well!
If you decide to visit, be prepared to take your time, as this is a family restaurant in a small village and more emphasis is placed on catching up with the customers and less is placed on speed of preparation. I should note that this is a cultural difference more than a problem with the restaurant, and it is important to realize that each dish is prepared when it is ordered, there is nothing sitting around waiting to be plated. So with this in mind, have some wine and take your time here. How often do you get to visit a place where the olive oil, the strawberries, the vegetables, and the salads were made or grown by the owner who is now tossing your pizza?
For food that is truly fresh, delicious and representative of Corsican style, I highly recommend this restaurant!
