Gingerlab La cucina — Restaurant in Pisa

After a challenging drive through a storm that brought with it fog, torrential rain and gusty winds, we arrived from The Garfagnana region, NE of Pisa, at the Pisa International Airport to drop-off our rental car and pick-up another. This took a while as the rental agent was confused about our reservation and assigned us the wrong vehicle. Once that was corrected we were on our way for an afternoon in Pisa. It was now noon. We’d had only a light breakfast and nothing since 7:30AM. We pulled into a parking space not far from the historic center of the city and searched Yelp for place to lunch.

We decided on a ristorante only a short walk up the street. As we were walking there we noticed this small restaurant. We were intrigued by the name and looked it up. Nothing about it other than the basics on Yelp. On Google Maps we found some info: vegan, “La Cucina” and several recent, glowing reviews! We decided to go in and try it.

We were one of only two parties there at that time. A lady came out of a hallway and told us we could sit wherever we preferred and that she would be with us shortly, before hurrying out the door to wait on an outdoor table. We seated ourselves at a table in a sunny corner next to a window. Within a few minutes she returned and recited the menu del giorno. It consisted of three pasta varieties: Gnocchi; Taglieli and Ricotta-Spinach Ravioli each served with a choice of sauces: Pomodoro, Verdure, Sugo di Coniglio. Also available was a vegetarian zucchini dish. Speaking with the lady in my best Italian which is conversational, at best, I had to ask several questions as I interpreted the menu for my wife. After the Q & A I ordered Gnocchi Pomodoro for Lisa and the Taglieli with the Sugo for me, Insalata mista, a carafe of Vino Bianco Frizzante and a bottle of Aqua minerale frizzante. Lisa is found on bubbly beverages!

Our server brought beverages and asked me something about the salad, to which I answered, Yes. I was distracted and only later, when the pasta dishes arrived first did I realize what I had agreed to, forgetting that in Italy salad is traditionally served after the first and second courses.

The pasta dishes were outstanding. The pillowy little gnocchi were bathed in a simple, fresh tomato sauce, with just a hint of natural sweetness. Freshly grated parmiggiano was brought to the table for sprinkling atop the gnocchi. The Taglieli, similar to tagliatelle, were a mound of pasta fresca, perfectly al dente, bathed in the tomato-based Sugo with very small, tender pieces of rabbit stewed with finely diced onion, celery and carrot, lightly salted and seasoned with a subtle mixture of herbs and a topping of fresh ground black pepper. For me, it could not have been better. Cucina Toscana!

The salad arrived following the pastas. A mixture of crisp lettuces, tender greens, sliced tomato, julienned carrot and some of the best mozzarella di bufalo I’ve had in Italy in the three weeks we’d been here. A bottle of good extra virgin olive oil, the same of balsamic vinegar, sale e Pepe were all the dressing necessary for this refreshing course. I came away with an improved understanding of why salad is better served after the entrees, as both a palate cleanser and a digestive.

We learned that our server was the owner along with her husband, who had arrived by the time we had finished our meal and was at the front desk cashing out the early diners and helping the steady stream of local patrons coming in for lunch.

GingerLab “La Cucina” is a little gem tucked into a corner, on a local arterial, only minutes away from the famous Piazza dei Miracoli. The owners couldn’t be nicer or more competent. They take pride in their establishment and it shines through in the ambience, food...

A Culinary Journey Worth Revisiting Our latest dining adventure turned out to be an unforgettable experience. From the moment we sat down to our meal, we were captivated by the tantalizing aromas and the warm, inviting atmosphere. The dinner was nothing short of amazing, so much so that we found ourselves compelled to return the very next day to explore more of the menu. On our second visit, we were delighted to discover that the culinary delights were just as wonderful as before. Each dish was crafted with meticulous attention to detail, offering a symphony of flavours that danced on our palates. Adding to the charm of our visits was the most adorable couple, who served and graciously shared their knowledge of food and wine with us. Their passion for the culinary arts was evident, and their recommendations turned out to be the highlights of our meals. This exceptional dining experience has left us eagerly looking forward to our next visit. The combination of exquisite food, a welcoming atmosphere, and the delightful company of our newfound friends makes this restaurant a place we are excited to return to...

Cena in questo localino delizioso a conduzione familiare, dall'atmosfera informale quanto basta per godersi in piena tranquillità il pasto. Servizio celere, cibo ottimo! E soprattutto, per la prima volta il personale di un ristorante a Pisa è felice di venire incontro con tanta premura al mio essere vegetariana/vegana! La parmigiana di melanzane con latte di soia era una bomba! Anche il mio ragazzo, assolutamente onnivoro, ha avuto desiderio di provarla e ha annuito soddisfatto! Ci hanno portato un antipasto di crostini misti abbondante perché potessimo provarlo tutti, con alternative creative che stuzzicano il palato, ad esempio humus di ceci alla curcuma e salsa di radicchio rosso. La frittura di patate e zucchine pastellate con la farina di riso, un'autentica rivelazione: croccante fuori, morbidissima dentro, ti scende giù che nemmeno ti accorgi. Anche i dolci davvero buoni: io non amo il tiramisù e non l'ho preso, ma ho visto i miei amici estremamente soddisfatti e il mio gelato al limone di Sicilia era perfetto, con la consistenza cremosa del gelato e il sapore intenso di un sorbetto! Ultima chicca, il marito ci ha offerto limoncello e un amaro digestivo. Tutti gli amari sono calabresi, a sua detta i migliori, e io non posso che confermare... niente a che spartire con gli amari industriali: sapore di erbe intenso e persistente, la parte alcolica non mi ha dato alcun fastidio (eppure di solito ne soffro). Tutto un altro livello insomma, a fronte di prezzi onesti (tra l'altro ci ha fatto anche un po' di sconto); in ogni caso, quei soldi se li meritano tutti! La qualità va premiata e valorizzata. Si vede che i gestori si impegnano a soddisfare gli avventori al meglio, a tutto tondo. Torneremo sicuramente! E appena potete, passate anche voi: lasciatevi coccolare, non ve...