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Lucignano: Il Goccino

Via Matteoitti, 88/90 , Phone: 0575.836707

Closing day: Monday

Reviewed by: Jan from USA, review #746

When: 2004

A fabulous enoteca with a knowledgeable, attentive staff and a chef that is imaginative and generous. The best meals we've ever had.

It is with great trepidation that I write this review only because I am afraid we will never be able to get a table there again! This was THE restaurant treat of Tuscany for us. In fact we ate there 4 nights in a row because we simply could not get enough of this wonderful food and ambience.

Every night we were served a starter wine or prosecco and a small appetizer before we ordered. A little chicken liver pate on crostini or a small wedge of polenta with a parmesan sauce garnished with blooming rosemary. The meals were paired with fantastic regional wine - always a wonderful suggestion within our budget. Their pastas, of course all homemade, are simple and exquisite - beautiful sage and butter or rich, earthy sauces. We had ribolia with fresh vegetables and several local olive oils; roasted coniglio with fresh vegetables; the tagiliata beef dish was infused with rosemary and mouth-wateringly delicious. One night I had a simple beef stew that melted in my mouth served with tiny root vegetales in a red wine sauce. The agnello with honey and herbs was out of this world.

Every dish had the perfect blend of fresh herbs and spice - the chef is a genius with the marrying of flavors. One night Doug had a grilled cheese round on a bed of fresh greens that I thought would take him out of this world and into the next - he fairly swooned. The vegetable courses were excellent - lots of wilted spring greens with garlic and then we discovered the mixed fried vegetables - in a batter much like tempora - wheeeee-law!!! We could not get enough - zucchini, fennel, red peppers, onions, eggplant, carrot.

We ended a couple of meals with dolci - vin santo and biscotti, cantucci, and once with a soft custard, cake and chocolate concoction that rocked our world.

This is our second experience at Il Goccino - we ate here first in 2001 and thought it was equally as good.

The prices were completely reasonable - with a bottle of wine, a primi or appetizer to share and each a main dish the total bill came to around $60.

I promise you will not be disappointed. I don't speak lightly on this food - we consider ourselves to be major foodies having cooked and served thousands of meals in our catering business. Just do us a favor and save us a place at the table!

This review is the opinion of a Slow Travel member and not of slowtrav.com.

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Lucignano: Il Goccino

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