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Colle di Val d'Elsa: Arnolfo

Via XX Settembre 52 Colle di Val d'Elsa , Phone: 0577-920549
www.arnolfo.com
Closing day: Tuesday and Wednesday

Reviewed by: AndrewG from CA, review #3678

When: 2010

Our favorite meal of our 2005 trip and the expectations were high for the 2010 return.

Once again, this very elegant and refined restaurant, with a parade of amazingly pretty, creative, and delicious dishes, and impeccable service, did not disappoint. Enjoyed a terrific 2004 Le Trame Chianti Classico from Giovanna Morgante’s Podere Le Boncie (our very favorite Chianti producer, with whom we had visited the day before). We will return to Arnolfo whenever we are in Tuscany.

Reviewed by: Karen from PA, review #228

When: 2001

This was, by far, my first choice since the trip before and it exceeded my expectations.

When we sat down we were the only ones in the place (that 8 pm dinner again) and within 2 minutes Norm got a bad-news business call so he stepped outside to take it. Giovanni, who runs the house, was very considerate about this interruption. He did bring the little appetizer tastes, but waited for Norm to return before approaching us any further. These first bites were lardo in a tender flaky biscuit (who knew lard could taste so good?), gougeres, smoked salmon, and seared tuna on a bit of greens in a puff pastry shell. Yum. I'd suggest you order from the specials; the red mullet was filleted tableside, the mixed lamb grill was melt-in-your-mouth. I remember a couple of pastas and I remember trying not to eat every bite, but it was impossible. We had a most wonderful all-Italian cheese course and no desserts. This is where I learned my new food obsession - fig preserves with the cheese. Can you tell we enjoyed it? It was pricy, about $100 pp, but we did splurge on some Sassicaia. Surprisingly the Badia a Passignano Riserva was better at 2/3 the price.

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Colle di Val d'Elsa: Arnolfo

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