Dast Restaurant — Restaurant in Reggio Calabria

Dining at Dast was one of the most memorable experiences of our trip to Calabria. From the moment we walked in, the warm and inviting atmosphere - full of locals laughing, sharing food, and enjoying wine made us feel immediately at home.

The restaurant is run by the wonderful brother-sister team Daniele (chef and owner) and Roberta, who couldn’t have been more personable or welcoming. Within minutes, it felt as though we had known them forever. Their passion for food, wine, and hospitality radiates in everything they do.

The menu is rooted in local ingredients and flavors, but elevated with thoughtful, modern preparations. We began with a chef’s snack of mollusk fritters, light and flavorful, a perfect introduction. The tuna tartare with pickles and onions came in a delicate citrus broth that was as refreshing as it was refined, while the raw needlefish slices with nuts and citrus struck an elegant balance between briny and bright.

The pastas and risotto were equally stunning: a perfectly al dente seafood risotto full of herbaceous depth, and a creamy lamb ragù paccheri that was deeply comforting yet sophisticated.

For dessert, Daniele’s creativity truly shined. The mascarpone gelato with olive oil, salt, almonds, and raisins was an absolute revelation: unexpected and absolutely delicious (trust me!). The chocolate ganache tart with gelato was the kind of indulgence that makes you linger over every bite.

The wine list deserves its own mention: a fantastic selection of local bottles, nearly all under 30€, making it easy and fun to explore the region’s unique varieties without hesitation.

Dast is the type of restaurant where you come for the food, stay for the people, and leave already planning your return. If you want to taste the soul of Calabria in the most welcoming of settings, you cannot...

If you’re looking for a culinary experience, DAST is the place to go. We were here for a few hours (which flew by) while we enjoyed our wine and our courses. The ingredients are fresh and the chef obviously knows what he’s doing by mixing different flavors into untraditional dishes — hazelnut in risotto?! Who knew it could be that good!

I came with a group and we all ordered different things off the menu. My husband and I each got an appetizer/antipasto (amberjack tartar and the catch of the day crudo with mango and almonds), a primo (risotto and the lamb ragu paccheri pasta), a secondo (skirt steak and the cuttlefish with scamorza cheese) and a dessert to share (mascarpone gelato and the shortcrust lemon tart). Considering the ambiance of this restaurant, we expected the portions to be small but they were very filling. The staff was professional and friendly and immediately brought out some water and a complimentary glass of Prosecco. Also on the house was the delicious rustic bread and arancini.

We’re definitely going to dine here again when we come back to Reggio and are excited to try new dishes - we were told the chef changes the menu according to what ingredients are in season! Can’t recommend...

Wow! Thus restaurant blew me away! We came in late on a Wednesday night and were starving and were attended to right away! Our server Roberta was so lovely, she suggested wine based on our price point and flavors, she also advised perfectly on what to eat in terms of how much food, break up for fish/meat/veg dishes and everything was perfect! I think truly everything on the menu is excellent but it all comes down to your personal flavor and taste and they really took time to care about that. We also talked to her chef a bit and got his tastes on the dessert and he led us perfectly to things we wouldn’t have gotten but he was exactly right! We also loved talking to him about his process and all of the intention behind the menu here. Overall this was the highlight of our stay and we will...