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Chuisi: Osteria La Solita Zuppa

Via Porcenna 21 , Phone: 0578-21006
www.lasolitazuppa.it
Closing day: Tuesday

Reviewed by: James from USA, review #3792

When: 2011

Frenetic owners - fast not slow food -- over-priced - small portions - sadly now a high priced tourist trap riding on its former high rating laurels

As a former American journalist with an Italian family here, we went to La Solita Zuppa with great anticipation based on its past high ratings with various travel guides. I was with an Italian friend and an American ex-pat who lives in Orvieto.

As soon as we sat down, one of the owners came to the table with an order book in hand, and launched into a verbal description of what we should have for lunch. His approach was haughty and quick, tensing up all of us. When my Italian companion asked him to slow down and give us a few moments - and a menu -- he acted like we had insulted him. And again began explaining his suggestions. When we again asked for a menu and few moments to look it over, he literally threw his hands up in the air and huffed off. He then reappeared to plop a menu on the table and left. His partner, a truly frenetic thin woman, then came to the table in a very loud voice and demanded what the problem was... She raised her voice and created such a scene that the other dozen customer paused and looked over at us. To cut to the chase, we ordered per the waiter/owner's suggestions without looking at the menu. When only one of us ordered wine, the lady came and seized the glasses from the table ringing the glass like bells.

The food -- white Tuscan soup, zucchini soup -- came in tiny flat bowls which held less than a cup and while good, was not by any means excellent. We had coniglio which came in a portion which could have been mistaken for a squirrel. The beef was excellent, but sliced so thin and spread upon the plate in a way that disguised another tapas sized portion. The contorni was a mush of fagioli. The greatest shock came with the bill -- 90 Euros! No coffee, no dolce. And then the owners simply ignored us, quite obviously, until we simply left the cash and departed.

Retired now, I have reviewed restaurants for major publications and guides in the Pacific Northwest. Sadly, what we experienced here was a restaurant with lots of recommendations from 2009 and back, none new, now cranking out over priced, under portioned dishes like some Tuscan McDonalds.

I love all things Italy, and I took the time to write this review because La Solita managed to ruin a wonderful day in Chiusi from us with service more becoming a car dealership than the fine Tuscan restaurant this place likely was and is no more.

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

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Chuisi: Osteria La Solita Zuppa

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