Melania R.
Google
I had wanted to try ALT by Niko Romito for a long time, as a proud Abruzzese but also as someone who genuinely loves great food. Because this is exactly what Niko Romito represents: Abruzzo at its finest, and Italian excellence at its purest.
Frankly, if this review helps recover even a few stars for this place, I’ll feel like I’ve done a service to anyone who appreciates Romito’s vision. A place like this sitting at four stars is almost embarrassing. It deserves at least 5 /if not more.)
Let’s start from the concept. The idea of bringing high-quality food into a service-station context is brilliant, and ALT executes it flawlessly. The location in Montesilvano is strategic, perfect if you’re moving around the area. We went there on purpose before heading to Megalò for shopping (they’re about 20 minutes apart by car, and I’d definitely recommend driving).
The space itself is stunning: a minimalist yet colorful graphic concept, with a strong 1960s aesthetic that’s a real feast for the eyes. Inside, there’s also a shop where you can buy homemade products of all kinds, juices, jams, baked goods, Christmas panettone when in season, cookies, breads, and even gluten-free dessert options. An absolute delight.
We tasted many things, probably too many for two people, but we wanted to enjoy the experience fully and we’ll happily come back for the rest. The red pizza al taglio was already worth the visit: generous, spectacular tomato sauce, perfectly balanced, and a wonderfully crunchy base. That alone would have been enough.
Then came the savory bomba, a genius reinterpretation of a traditionally sweet pastry, filled with pork fillet and heart. The fat and meat give it a soft, melt-in-your-mouth texture that’s simply unforgettable. The homemade potatoes were good, though not exceptional (and yes, they could be improved), followed by delicious meatballs that fully delivered.
Desserts were the grand finale. The classic custard bomba, generously filled as you can see from the photos, and then a true revelation I still dream about at night: the Torta Raggio di Sole, made with buttery shortcrust pastry, pastry cream, late Ciaculli mandarin sauce, and toasted almonds. Absolutely spectacular. And the coffee? Not shockingly amazing.
All in all, this is one of those places where once you go, you will come back. We definitely will. A five-star place, and honestly even more. I can’t wait to try the other ALT locations.
The real genius here is accessibility without compromise. The only “risk” is that people underestimate it because of the service-station format. The smart move is to forget the context and focus on the food and concept. ALT proves that excellence isn’t about chandeliers, it’s about vision, consistency, and respect for ingredients.
