Piola da Cianci — Restaurant in Turin

Like each person who lives or passes through Turin, I heard about this famous place called Cianci. Of course, there are some myths that are true about this place:

you have to be there when they open or in the first half an hour in order to get a table quickly and to avoid waiting too much; there are a few tables inside, but not so many. They are usually taken in the first minute of the opening; no matter if it’s winter, autumn or cold weather, you eat outside.

I went here for the first time to have a dinner on a Friday evening in January. I took the best jacket that I have to keep me warm and I dressed up really well, so sitting outside at the artificial heat was not so bad. For an hour and a half it’s ok.

I was pleasantly surprised by the fact that the food is really delicious and the prices are low. It is very hard to find a place like this in Turin, where you can eat well and still cheap. I served here vitello tonnato, which was my favourite dish. Then gnocchi, panna cotta and an amaro for digestive. Everything that I ate or tasted from the others was good. Because of the fame of this place, I went there with very high expectations, so I was not impressed. The food is not something surprising, but it’s a tasty one.

The service - I know they have a lot of people each time, but the service was a bit ignorant and not so good. We did not wait much for the food, just between 10 and 15 minutes. The digestivi at the end of the meal are not on the house.

The check - the check came with no description of the served dishes. It came just with the total and, when you have a dinner or a lunch with 6 other friends, it is not so nice not being able to see each item ordered.

In conclusion, I will definitely come back here to eat when the weather gets warmer. I chose to give 4 stars, because: it is not the best restaurant in Turin, as I saw on many Instagram surveys. It is a decent place to eat tasty food with low prices; there are mainly outside tables, so that is not pleasant during the winter; the service has to be improved a bit.

I recommend anyone to try the Cianci experience...

We recently had dinner at Piola da Cianci, and it was such a fantastic experience from start to finish! We did have to wait about 10–15 minutes in line for a table, but honestly, it was absolutely worth it. The place has a really welcoming and authentic vibe, and once seated, everything ran so smoothly.

The service is impressively quick and extremely well-organized, especially considering how busy the restaurant gets. The staff manage everything with a smile, and you can tell they really know how to keep things flowing without making you feel rushed.

As for the food—simply amazing! We started with an antipasto, which was the perfect way to kick off the meal, full of flavor and beautifully prepared. Then we tried the plin, delicate little ravioli that were just bursting with taste, and the tajarin al ragù, which was rich, comforting, and cooked to perfection. Both dishes felt authentically Piedmontese, simple but absolutely delicious.

Another highlight was the drinks. They have a fantastic selection of wines, beers, and cocktails, so whether you’re in the mood for a glass of red with your pasta or a refreshing spritz, there’s something for everyone at very reasonable prices.

Overall, this place is a gem. Between the great value, authentic dishes, fast and friendly service, and lively atmosphere, we can’t recommend Piola da Cianci enough. We’ll definitely be back next time we’re in Turin—it’s the kind of restaurant you leave already planning...

PLEASE AVOID THIS PLACE. Tourists Especially the ones ouside of Europe who does not have Europe Green Pass DO NOT GO! EXTREMELY RUDE AND DISRESPECTFUL STAFF. They do not understand USA (CDC) vaccination cards. Me and my husband are traveling around Europe this month and we have been to Spain, France and now in Italy. We both had three vaccinations (Pfizer) and we have been showing ths CDC cards with our IDs to all restaurants and attractions (museums and many others) without any problem, until this place. Omg... they first sat us in the extremely crowded tight small place and then asked us for Green Pass, I showed our CDC cards and explained we are from USA and this is our vaccination card, the waitress started yelling at me "No, Green Pass or Get out" and pointing her finger to the outside. We looked her so surprised and tried to explain to her again, she repeated the same thing. I asked for the manager, she bring our her friend ! And her friend trying to explain to me that it is "illegal" to have customers without green pass. I told her this is how we got into country and we have been to so many places. Non of the understood (thier English were also not good) and they were so rude. We eventually went out to exactly next restaurant, showed our CDC cards and sat down, ate our food with no problem. Please, dont go this place. All these workrs need to learn some manner and how to speak to other people. They don't deserve any...