Catojo dello Spinetto — Restaurant in Badolato

We are in love with Badolato, and this restaurant is one of the reasons why. The tasting menu was so delicious my husband had to restrain himself from licking the plate. All five courses delighted us. One of the best parts for me was that the food was complex and flavorful, yet not heavy. I’m an American and eating at 9 at night kills my heartburn, but because this menu was prepared to focus on flavor and not on fatty sauces, I went to bed and did not have one second of heartburn. That is a miracle. The chef has a different tasting menu each night but is prepared to delight with other dishes, especially for food allergies and preferences. We had the best yellowfin tuna crudo I’ve ever had anywhere, roasted octopus in a chickpea sauce, pasta with swordfish and cherry tomatoes, cod with roasted potatoes and peppers and a ricotta cheese crumble for dessert. Chiro, the chef, is a magician. How he can keep a meal light and still serve a full pasta course defies logic. Luigi, the front of the house, dellighted us with generous service and looked after our every need. The room itself is beyond charming. The back table for 2 is the most requested spot because it’s like you have your own small cave to have a romantic dinner. We read about people driving an hour to have dinner here, and now we know...

Before dining here I heard two complaints from another tourist, neither of which I agree; expensive and small portions. Too expensive? Ok. It's more than the many tourist pizza restaurants. However, you can't compare McDonalds with a fine dining. The food is of a very high standard and the bill was much less than I would have paid back home in England for a similar experience. Small portions? It is a set menu created each day by talented French chiefs. We were served five delicious courses and were very satisfied at the end of a very pleasant evening. Put that with the delightful service, beautiful location and local wines and you have a very enjoyable evening. The owner is proud of what he and the chef's have created. As they should be. I...

We went to the little gem of a restaurant in Borgo a Medieval village way up in the mountains in the South of Italy, Calabria! This place has character with a mystery and magical element that will leave you want for more! The food was out of this world with both host and chef interacting with the guests which is awesome, the five course menu has one hel of a surprise factor to it. Every day is a different menu set out by ( my opinion) a world class chef Ciro Piedimonte. The charisma of the owner Fabrizio Schiavone is second to none, where you are welcomed with a glass of red wine cultivated by himself! This is a...