Al Mangiar Bene — Restaurant in Perugia

This was such a cozy restaurant very close to our lodgings in Piazza Della Repubblica. We made reservations at their opening hour on a Friday evening and were at the middle of a 'cattle call' into the restaurant. I guess this is what we should have expected as the time was a bit early for traditional dinner time in Italy. I think, because of this situation, we did not feel a warm response from the servers as they were quite busy with the immediate seating of so many patrons, so I'll give them a pass. My husband and I both had a lentil soup and pizza. The soup is so flavorful, made from local beans. The pizza was very good, but too much for two (perhaps should have shared), so combined we had a whole pizza to take away. The food at the surrounding tables looked like they were nicely prepared. If in Perugia again we would go, but not on such a...

Never in my life have I had the pleasure of looking down at my plate, and feeling depressed that my meal was almost over. I ordered the norcina rigatoni, expecting nothing more than an average bowl of pasta, but what I got was truly a religious experience. After I finished my meal, I stared towards my girlfriend; with her plate half full I waited to hear the words, “I’m full, you can have the rest.” Within four bites I contemplated ordering another bowl. Instead, I sat there, longingly staring at the empty dish in front of me, which I had scraped with bread, leaving no evidence the plate had ever been dirtied in the first place. It truly is a crime against all culinary experience that this restaurant does not have a Michelin star. In total: 5 big booms. 💥BOOM 💥BOOM 💥BOOM...

We’ve been in Perugia for the 10 day Umbria Jazz Festival and were referred to this place by another restaurant that was full when we arrived without a reservation. We have enjoyed this place so much, we’ve already been back a second time and are not talking about making one more visit before we leave! I’m a pescatarian and I’ve fallen in love with the truffles and love theirs the best—their Tagliatelle al Tartufo, with actual small truffle pieces, not just truffle sauce. In addition, their Mangiar Bene Vegetariano antipasti was great, but too much food for 2 of us. The second time we got the bruschetta and enjoyed that, as well. The pizza also looks great. If we go the third time, we are considering...