More than 5 stars - This place is a true gem tucked away on the third floor of Plaza Magnus in…read moreColinas de San Jeronimo, Monterrey.
In a town full of pizza and cheap pasta, Chef Luigi Granata delivers excellent Italian, traditional pasta dishes, pizzas, salads, and desserts. The food is perfect for a family-style meal, and the restaurant works well for that, too, but don't hesitate to go alone - like I do!
The pasta is not homemade, but it is perfectly cooked, and sauced, and the sauces are a little bit of heaven. Fettuccine Giggi is a mushroom-based sauce with wine and cream that delightfully coats the pasta and is full of rich flavor. (I admit to eating the whole dish, when I usually eat half.) Spaghetti carbonara, so often done wrong, has hit the spot on several occasions with just the right amount of bacon and sauce that coats the pasta, leaving it with a creamy mouth-feel while being unseen. The carbonara also reheats well, which is rare. Traditional tomato sauced pastas have also been good, too, and go down even better with a push from their flatbread. I am eating my way through the menu and looking forward to trying their filled pastas and gnocchi soon.
The salads are fresh and generous, especially the ones with cheese and meats. Their simplicity allows the quality of the ingredients to shine, and they are well-sized to share or eat for a meal, especially the one that has a full sphere of burrata. Their minestrone offers a hot vegetable option for a filling meal without carbohydrates.
Dessert portions are huge, so prepare some will power or bring a friend! The panna cotta is lovely, a nice creamy texture, not overly sweet. The tiramisu seems pretty traditional and has just the right amount of espresso. You can also enjoy a lovely espresso at the restaurant to close out your meal, if there is any room left.
There is free parking below the plaza, and be aware that the restaurant closes early on Sunday. This spot is heating up, so you may want to make a reservation.