La Piola — Restaurant in Alba

Meh. Chose this place because it was highly recommended by all the guides and iwas disappointed. We had the antipasti mixed plate which looked like it was straight out of a retirement’s home cafeteria fridge. I can actually picture the staff taking off the cling film before serving it to me. My partner had the egg truffle thing, which was ok but nothing extraordinary for 55€. The food came out really quickly, not unlike your local Chinese restaurant after you order number 328 off the image intense plastic menu.

For the main, we had the ragù, which was dry and needed salt and pepper (and was also barely warm, feels like it was sitting there for a while). My partner had the creamy truffle pasta, which again was ok but nothing out of this world.

If you are looking for creative local cuisine, this is NOT the place. It’s just normal stuff where they sprinkle tonnes of truffle on top and then charge you 50€ for it. I do not recommend this place. Go to La...

This is an excellent place for food. I was there for lunch. They are terribly understaffed--only one waitress for the entire restaurant, both inside and patio. While she was a very competent waitress, she could not keep up with all the tables (this is why 4 stars rather than 5).

The food was exceptional. Mixed salumi was good. Tajarin with butter (con burro) and white truffle (tartufo bianco) was excellent. The white truffles this year and this week don't seem as intense as they were when I visited in October 2007, when their aroma perfumed the entire dining room of restaurants. But these were subtly flavorful, if not so aromatic (sold by the gram and measured by scale at the table, expect about 6g, for euro 40, per dish).

They carry Ceretto wines, and the Barbaresco is a superb pairing with the tajarin/truffle dish.

I ended with pear in Barolo reduction, with cream and cinnamon and Moscato d'Asti and caffe....

The bistro is run by the same chef for the 3 Michelin star Piazza Duomo next door. We'd eaten at Piazza Duomo, so it was interesting to have lunch at the bistro. The food is a lot more of a conventional lunch than the tidal wave of creativity and dishes next door, but all very exactingly prepared and wonderful. We had the appetizer plate, which included a half-dozen well-prepared items, I especially liked the roasted pumpkin with a bright apricot sauce that reminded me a bit of a similar dish at the other restaurant. I had the angliotti and my wife had the gnocci. Both were exquisitely prepared and delicious. Our bill for lunch -- without wine -- was just under 60 euros and entirely worth it. They have both indoor seating and a sheltered outdoor area in the plaza of the Cathedral. Definitely worth a try, especially if you can't afford...