Osteria Gallo Nero — Restaurant in Montecrestese

Osteria Gallo Nero has become a destination when we travel in the Piedmont area of Italy. This Michelin restaurant offers a vast collection of wines to accompany a very eclectic menu.

Receiving the Michelin rating yet again in 2023, our meal did not disappoint. We selected the Grilled Piedmontese Beef Fillet with potatoes and steamed greens, the Calamarata Di Mare (pasta with shell fish), and a bottle of Brunello di Montalcino 2018 to accompany.

The meal and the flavors are superb! In the past, we have had the Deer with Polenta, the Raviolo Alla "Gallo Nero," starting with the stewed snails "Alla Gallo Nero" and ending with the Pears and Nutella Cake.

Tonight, we finished our experience with the "Little Tasting of Desserts," with an espresso with Amaretto.

The presentation of the meal and the desserts is always unique. The restaurant, with its unique design, offers a romantic indoor dining experience and an outdoor dining with music.

If there was something to improve on, it would be that our server was not knowledgeable in wine pairing. Which vintage would go best with our selection. As a customer, we are not knowledgeable of the current inventory, so it would be nice to try a different wine experience.

Reservations could be a must to highly recommended depending on the day of the week. Parking can also be cumbersome, so plan ahead. There is parking on the lot, and in front of the restaurant as well as across the way.

There is not a bar to wait in, nor is there a waiting area. Once you are seated, though, you will enjoy a true culinary...

This is an excellent restaurant! An interesting modern building with lovely views over the mountains. Exceptionally delicious regional food…for € 40 a massive plate of charcuterie and cheese, all local and all excellent, enough superb, light gnocchi to feed an army, a vast plate of penne (it wasn’t exactly penne but similar) with venison ragu and then, in case an artery remained unblocked, a really outstanding venison casserole with delicate polenta (there is such a thing!). An excellent wine list I couldn’t get into because of driving duties. Very helpful, friendly people who were happy to assist with taking away what we couldn’t eat (it was far too good to waste) and sold us some of the cheese we particularly liked. I can’t recommend this unexpected gem too highly. REAL Italian food and...

A visit to this traditional Ossola restaurant is highly recommended for several reasons: the stunning location, particularly the dining area with large glass windows and a modern country-style architecture; the high quality of the local dishes, showcasing the best flavors of the region; and the well-curated wine cellar, featuring many gems of Italian winemaking.

That said, there is room for improvement. The wine list, while impressive, is not fully comprehensive and occasionally lacks consistency in the information provided. Additionally, considering the high standard of the venue and its wine selection, the menu could benefit from the inclusion of a few more contemporary reinterpretations of traditional dishes.

Overall, a wonderful dining experience—highly...