Restaurant U Paisanu — Restaurant in Bastia

Small, local restaurant offering a truly authentic taste of traditional Corsican cuisine. We were warmly welcomed by the elderly owner, who ushered us through a charming little shop on the ground floor filled with Corsican specialties - everything from marmalades and biscuits to wines, cold cuts, and cheeses.

Up a narrow staircase, the dining area holds just a handful of tables (about 5–6), giving the space an intimate and homey feel. The menu is short and focused, with around three starters, five mains, and two desserts - a great sign of home-style cooking.

The dishes were certainly unique. The marinated anchovies with chickpeas and potatoes were flavorful, though the raw garlic was overpowering for our taste. The ciambelle with cheese - a warm, thin pancake-like dish filled with gooey melted cheese - was a definite highlight.

The mains were hearty and on the heavier side. The ghialadicciu (a cold slice of slow-cooked sausage / meatloaf) served with garlicky warm potatoes was a bit of an acquired taste. The chestnut polenta with fresh ricotta and Corsican sausage was filling - sweet, slightly gummy polenta paired with fresh cheese and well-seasoned sausage.

The service was warm and personal. The owner took time to chat, share insights about the dishes, and even introduce us to some traditional Corsican music.

Overall, it was a unique and memorable experience. While some of the flavors weren’t quite to our taste, it was a great opportunity to explore the distinctiveness of Corsican cuisine. Prices were fair and in line with other regional...

Such a great little Corsican restaurant that you would not know is there unless searching in Google maps as the ground floor is the most delightful little grocer with wines, condiments, charcuterie & fromage. Upstairs is a quaint little restaurant and the dishes we had were delicious and typical of Corsican food and the local wine was delicious that I had to buy 4 bottles when we left! The host/owner is a gentleman and the waiter was ever so helpful providing impeccable service. If you want an incredibly tasty, fairly priced Corsican dinner then you must...

Après 1 semaine de GR20, 1 semaine de tour de Corse en voiture et pour notre dernier jour, nous avons rencontré ici, pour la première fois, l'extra-ordinaire chaleur et générosité Corse ! Cuisine familiale typique, et c'est très rare ! Les propositions de plats dans les restaurants classiques se cantonnent généralement au fromage et à la charcuterie "Corse". Ici, on voit que la cuisine est faite avec amour et générosité ! Le patron nous dits que ce sont des plats faits généralement au réveillon, et ... ça ne m'étonne pas !

Entrée (charcuterie et beignets) et plats furent des délices, mais surtout, ne passez à côté du fromage, vous allez avoir de belles surprises !

Pour finir, dessert et digestifs sont délicieux !

Mention particulière, au serveur, attentif, serviable, pro-actif et très sympa ! A ne louper sous aucun prétexte !

Merci pour cette expérience, en un repas, vous nous avez changé la vision de l'accueil des Corses (vision forgé d'après la plupart des refuges du GR20 ... - ! Merci, nous avons hâte de revenir et de vous faire découvrir à nos amis et familles !

Pour finir, le resto fait aussi épicerie fine - la charcuterie sous-vide est un régal une fois arrivé à...