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Imola: San Domenico

via G. Sacchi , Phone: 0542-29000
www.sandomenico.it

Reviewed by: jhdflyer / tallahassee from FL, review #3383

When: 2009

Elegant, expensive and worth every penny

San Domenico in Imola is expensive. We, two people, ordered the set lunch menu which was 55 euros each. No prices are published for the set lunches. Individual plates from the regular menu - primi, secondi etc. - range from 40 to 50 euros. The food is excellent, our first course was potato ravioli con funghi - yum. dessert was scrumptious, as was the appetizer. The secondo was a bacon wrapped fillet of beef with a grilled polenta patty.

There are no salt and pepper shakers on the tables - they don't want you fooling with their perfectly seasoned food. A sharp eyed server keeps an eye on your wine glass and if it starts to look empty he swoops in and refills it.

This is definitely the power lunch place in town. We, as with many other diners, were casually dressed, having come from a hike around Dozza.

Each place setting has 3 wine glasses for the different wines with each course. We just wandered in, last week in November, and there was plenty of room.

Reviewed by: teezee from USA, review #1300

When: 2005

As good as it is cracked up to be.

Ok, it is a Michelin two star and you want it to prove it deserves the recognition. Happily, it does.

Start with a stunning amuse bouche of octopus carpaccio and fresh anchovy delight and a bread basket that makes you remind yourself you need to leave room for other goodies (licorice/fennel breadsticks were a particular hit). Try the signature ravioli with the egg in it and truffles. It really is extraordinary; you will remember eating it. Follow up with guanciale, the cheek of the animal, unctuous and challenging in flavor, beautifully prepared and hard to get outside of Italy. Service matches food, and the restaurant is charming, up-scale rustic, and welcoming.

If you have room for dessert, we loved the sorbet served with a variety of perfectly ripe berries. We shared one dessert so we could try some of the wonderful small treasures provided gratis. (Well, ok, they may help account for the humongous bill!) These include a perfect tiny cream puff and the best almond brittle ever.

The wine list is fine and, as in many high end restaurants particularly in Emilia Romagna, we enjoy the nice gesture of starting you with a complimentary glass of quite good Prosecco. Price for two: about €200. While startling, this is actually well within the range of Michelin two stars and it is earned.

It can't be easy to be star and continue to shine. San Domenico is doing it.

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

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Imola: San Domenico

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