Piccola Gastronomia - Cucina naturale — Restaurant in Salerno

I just arrived Salerno at lunch time and accidently entered this tiny restaurant, it was truly a memorable experience.

From the moment I walked in, I was struck by the cozy and inviting atmosphere, and the delicious aroma of the food being prepared in Massimo. His voice was hoarse, but he explained the ingredients of each dish, and sharing his passion for healthy and delicious vegeterian food.

The soup and bread with sauce were standout dishes, but what really made the experience special was getting to know Chef Massimo and hearing his inspiring story.

When I asked him about his low voice, he shared that he had undergone surgery for a brain tumor 15 years ago, which had affected his nerves. Despite this setback, he had fought to regain his health and pursue his passion for cooking, opening Piccola Gastronomia da Elsa to share his love of healthy and delicious food with others.

His story was a powerful reminder to me that life can be unpredictable, but we had a strong heart to face all the difficulties. As someone who is currently working in Italy on a short-term contract, I was feeling uncertain about my own future, but Massimo's resilience and positive attitude were an inspiration to me.

I was also touched by his interest in Chinese traditional medicine, and his belief in the healing power of herbs. It reminded me of my own grandparents, who raised me and also use a lot of Chinese traditional medicine. Massimo even asked me to write down my name in Chinese characters, which I was happy to do.

The last interesting thing, when I complimented him on the restaurant's name and decor, I assumed that Elsa is his wife. To my surprise, he laughed and told me that Elsa is actually their dog!! They also had two cats, but Elsa is the queen of the family. I hope his wife won't be too jealous of...

The love and passion of Massimo is woven into every meal. His innovative use of healthy ingredients has given me ideas for when I get back home. He really appreciates the support of those who come to his restaurant.

At 10 Euro pp for a beautiful set menu of the day it is an absolute steal and I encourage people to add a little on top if you can afford it. He sells beer too.... beautiful local craft beer that compliments the food nicely.

He explains the ingredients and loves what he does... It is worth coming to Salerno just to see him. He loves looking after his customers and talking about food and Italy with you

If you are planning on coming at opening time, it might be worth letting him know by What's App in advance so you can make sure he is ready to serve his beautiful freshly made food ... half an hour after the listed opening time you should be fine though.

Healthy pure vegan, a beautiful experience, affordable and...

We had a lovely dinner at Massimos place. He cooked us a vegetable soup, followed by a plate of different food and a melon for dessert. Everything was lovely prepared and presented. Nice to find a totally vegan restaurant in Salerno. Very reasonable pricing. After dinner we also had a nice chat with him and his wife, giving us many details about the city and the surroundings. On their recommendation we did a daytrip to Vietri sul Mare. All in all definitely worth the visit. Greetings to Salerno from...