Osteria Le Rughe di Cortona — Restaurant in Cortona

We visited this restaurant during the day to book a table for the evening and requested an outdoor table. We were greeted with politeness and professionalism. The table we were given on the charming roadside had a delightful Tuscan ambiance.

Our waiter was very friendly and answered our questions with great care. The food was exceptional. We started with a board of local pecorino cheese, which featured generous portions of four different types of pecorino at various stages of aging.

For the main course, we ordered three pasta dishes to share. Instead of simply bringing three plates for us to divide, the restaurant served each dish on its own wide plate, beautifully presented with a trio of pasta. This thoughtful touch enhanced our dining experience.

The pasta dishes we chose were excellent:

Pizzicotti alle pere alla gricia: Outstanding with a perfect sweet/salty balance and beautifully handmade stuffed pasta. Penne al fumo: A must-try, as it’s a Cortonan specialty. Paccheri zucchini e fossa: Featuring saffron pecorino cream and guanciale.

We would love to return to this great value restaurant...

Cortona has a lot of restaurants in a relatively small town which is great and this one was sensational. Its small and at the top of the town down a small lane but make the trip, its worth it. The food is beautiful and we had the best service that we have had in Italy. We asked to share the pasta with truffles, if this is on the menu please have it as it was sheer perfection. They kindly gave us the dish in 2 separate bowls which added to the joy of eating something so delicious, its been a few days since I ate it and I am still going on about how amazing it was. Our waiter kindly suggested we had ordered too many things and he was so right, we so appreciated his kind attention and the offer of a digestif at the end of the meal. We dined early and the restaurant was filling as we left and we loved every minute. Take an outside table if that is all that is left and book when its busy, you dont want...

Review of Osteria Le Rughe in Cortona

My experience at Osteria Le Rughe in Cortona was disappointing, despite the attentive and good service. The staff was friendly and prompt, ensuring our needs were met throughout the meal. However, the food fell far short of expectations. Both pasta dishes were greasy and marred by the overpowering taste of burned garlic, which made them nearly inedible. The two main courses were equally lackluster. The grilled meat was particularly disappointing—flavorless with a burnt exterior that ruined any potential enjoyment. Overall, the poor quality of the food overshadowed the positive service, and I would not recommend dining at...