La Pergola Orvieto — Restaurant in Orvieto

Read raving reviews about this place and the crowd, so I came early to be the first few customers at the opening for lunch. The menu is seasonal and changes based on the freshest ingredients they can get. I ordered the grilled lamb and a glass of the local Orvieto Classico. Everything is PERFECT! The bread is perfect too! So delicious that even though I was so full from just the main course, I can't help but have another slice! The grilled lamb chop is the best I've ever had from anywhere in the world (other than the freshly grilled whole lamb in Mongolia)! The lamb was perfectly grilled, it has a crunch on the outside (like roast pork) so when you bite into it, the fat crackles but still very tender on the inside. The fragrant lamb fats ooze with each bite! It was paired simply with sour purple cabbage. You know it's pure good food when it doesn't need much fancy stuff. Marination was just right, not salty at all and you taste the lamb perfectly. Heavenly deliziosa!

I wish I had a stomach for more but will have to save it...

I happened upon this place because it was the ONLY restaurant I found open on a January Monday in Orvieto (I walked to 10 other closed locations that were “open” on Google hours). The dining room seemed a little odd, but once I went to the bathroom and saw the incredible patio through the restaurant, I would have much preferred to be seated there. It was not mentioned to me, although I was the only patron in the restaurant when I arrived. As for the food, I was blown away. The Amantriciana with Umbricelli was unlike any I’ve had. Delicious. The house focaccia and loaf were exceptional. I also bake long-ferment sourdough and know a good one when I get one. Tiramisu was interesting, crunchy cookies in the bottom with no coffee flavor, but perfectly not too sweet. As the restaurant filled in, I noticed many people were getting the artichoke and cod appetizer dish, wish I would have added to my order had I more room. People were licking their lips. I may go back for the diaphragm and shrimp bone marrow...

Definitely try this place—delicious! It's as good as I remembered it being years ago when I came here the first time. Everything from my cocktail to the appetizers to the pasta, I ordered was wonderful! On my picture of the cheese tray, note that we ordered a double portion, so double the price! It was served with a delicious apple ginger compote. My pasta, the green one, was a cacio e pepe with mussels and my friend ordered an appetizer of grilled pumpkin (which was served alongside couple of other things) and it was all wonderful. We had a nice local Orvieto Classico wine and the bread here it homemade and delicious! Don't miss eating here. It's easy to make a reservation here on Google Maps also. I will note that the bathroom, while clean, was missing the toilet seat (the 'ciambella') which happens often in Italy, so for anyone who would need to be seated... just a heads-up, haha! It was a very clean bathroom though. it seems they just had one toilet and one sink for...