La Taverna

Well, it probably was a bad idea to go to La Taverna on the first day of our holiday in Umbria, because from then on, we were chasing the same quality and experience as what we got at this place. We ended up returning on our last day because nowhere else matched La Taverna. Food, impeccable. Service, fantastic. The location, stunning. I think my favourite part though is how you can see the kitchen as you go in, instead of having it hidden away at the back like many other restaurants. You can see chef Claudio and his team preparing your dishes! I was even invited to come in and photograph the team as this was happening. A detail which I thoroughly appreciated was how whenever we said we were sharing a dish, it was split over two plates. (The Camembert starter in the photo is one of those examples) This allowed us to try more food between us! The dessert trolley was such a lovely touch. We didn’t think we could fit anymore food, but seeing the desserts rather than just reading a menu sure opens space for a little sweet treat in your belly. What a wonderful experience. We will be back to Italy just to return to this place.

Wonderfully quaint and authentic Italian restaurant. We were lucky enough to have a personal interaction with the owner and head chef who spent many years cooking at high end restaurants in the United States. The food here, restored our faith in Italian food after having “meh” experiences in Positano and Rome. Best ravioli pasta we’ve ever had!

Very beautiful restaurant tucked away off a main street in Perugia. The food was delicious and offered several seafood and pasta dishes. I appreciated the complimentary glass of prosecco upon arrival, and despite being a higher-end restaurant, still offering table wine in addition to nicer bottles.

One of the best restaurants in Italy. Period. Don‘t miss it! It‘s worth the experience! Highly recommended!

Thank you Claudio and staff for a memorable birthday evening. Food was superb, service was impeccable, the location stunning. We shall return.

Very good choice. Service was excellent. Unfortunately we were not hungry enough to go for first plates pasta and main course meat, but everything we got was perfect, including the desert. Easy recommendation.

paroadelle ragu and house wine. big wine pour! happened to be jazz festival but i managed to get table on terrace straight away no wait. i think good timing! attentive staff.

After a couple of so so meals in Perugia my friend and I asked our hotel receptionist where we should go. He made reservations at La Taverna. What a big difference! this was a fabulous restaurant. The owner walks around and is so congenial and makes everyone feel like they are eating in his home. The food is excellent and we enjoyed the atmosphere immensely. So glad we asked for a recommendation. Locals certainly know much more than visitors. Don't be put off by the back street you need to take to get there. It looks small but just follow the signs from the Main Street, it is about 2 minutes or less off the Main Street.

This place was lovely. Alley into the restaurant leaves much to be desired. Worth the scary walk ;) The bread (torte testo) has ham in it for the vegetarians out there.

Best pasta we have ever had. Great house wine and excellent prices. Enjoyable atmosphere and setting

Down a long darkish passage is the most DELIGHTFUL food, wine and service. Crisp delicate calimari with lemon, Gnocchi con Pomordoro Basilico ans Feomagio; and a Pappardelle Ragout de Umbria (large ribbon pasta with light tomato and ground pork) House red wine $5 euro/ glass and was very smooth Inside table under a vaulted brick ceiling, the staff were wonderful and helpful I. English and Italian. They smiled when we ordered in Italian Joining fellow reviewers - WORTH IT!!!!

A great restaurant, you have to go there for a dinner if you are visiting Perugia. The service is very good. You have to find it but that is not too difficult. Once you see the signage from the upper town plaza, just follow it down a bit and it will be on your left.

I love this place! Just wonderful food, especially the Caramelle! The service is impeccable, attentive and very friendly.

cannot recommend this restaurant anymore than I already do. I have told countless friends and family about how amazing the food, the staff and especially the chef was. We were only in town for two nights and our driver recommended. We check it out. The first night we managed to get a reservation thanks to our hotel and chef Claudio. I had sent an email and he personally responded getting us in. We had tasted some pretty phenomenal food during our travels over Italy, however, the food here was by far my favorite. So much so that we ended up eating both nights for dinner here because we wanted to eat our favorite meal as much as possible before we left for home. 10 out of 10 recommend. It's a hidden gem and you have to kind of look for it but definitely worth it.

Perfectly acceptable, but not quite great. I was given an appetizer I didn't order (and was charged for until I asked for it to be removed from the bill since it sat there uneaten). The fixed price option was an extremely small serving of the main compared to the table next to me - no mention of that on the menu. The setting is excellent, and you will likely go for that more than the quality of the food.

Truly Amazing. We really loved everything. The staff was super nice and so was the chef. They treated us very kindly and the food was insanely good. We tried many appetizers, some pasta and a dessert. All was super good. Also they recommended us some wine that was very tasting and matched perfectly with the entire meal. I would suggest this place to anybody who comes to Perugia. Absolutely worth to stop there to eat.

Buonissimo! Truly incredible experience. Absolutely wow! This is my fiancé's favorite restaurant in the world and now I know why after going two nights in a row. The first night included: chicken liver pate, onion tart, pappardelle ragu, Gorgonzola and beet pasta, filet, strawberry tart, and a bottle of montefalco rosso. The second night included: spinach/bacon/parm salad, clam pasta, arrabiata pasta (not on menu), truffle ravioli, pappardelle ragu, key lime and ginger cheesecake, tiramisu, and two bottles of montefalco rosso. My favorites were: chicken liver pate, clam pasta, pappardelle ragu, strawberry tart, tiramisu, and montefalco rosso. However, everything was delicious and I feel confident saying the same for the other menu items I was not able to try. La Taverna is more than just about the delicious food. It's about the entire experience, from the moment you're seated to the moment you roll out of there. The polite staff seat you immediately to Prosecco and potato and leek soup. I felt like the most valued customer and I'm sure the other customers felt the same way. I was luck enough to meet Chef Claudio the second night. Chef Claudio is a wonderful and genuine person with a great sense of humor. He made my finance and I feel extremely special even sitting with us for 5 minutes to help us order. Chef Claudio and his staff made the experience truly incredible. I cannot wait to come back.

Great customer service and wait staff! La pasta e olió d'oliva era molto bene. They brought us little glasses of champagne with the bread upon being seated. Right away, the restaurant portrayed a very upscale vibe. Really cool atmosphere with tall curved stone ceilings and a wine cellar in the back. I have some food restrictions and our waitress went back and checked on some things and was able to help find me a pasta I could eat with grilled zucchini and chicken. My sister and mom loved their truffle dishes and we got to watch the the waitress grate the wild truffle onto their meals. The olive oil is just amazing here! Can't say enough good things about it. Yum! The chef used to live and work in Chicago and came over to our table to chat with us which was a nice added touch. Would absolutely come back!

The BEST food in Italy! I have spent a ton of time traveling in Italy, and thought until recently that I had seen (and tasted!) it all ... until my family and I came to La Taverna. Of all the restaurants I've been to, La Taverna sticks out as my absolute favorite. Each and every dish was delicious and incredibly fresh. Specifically, the pork cheek pasta, pesto tortelloni, and gorgonzola agnoletti were out of this world. The seconds were equally delicious - notably filet mignon, lamb chops, and salmon. If you are a truffle lover, this is the place for you - they have fantastic (and innovative!) incorporations of truffle throughout the menu. What I loved about La Taverna so much was that each and every dish, each and every course, each and every wine pairing, was phenomenal and elevated the dining experience. Beyond that, Claudio and his staff are incredibly accommodating, warm, and friendly. So many nice touches throughout our evenings here made us feel welcome and right at home. This is the type of restaurant that you dream about (I know I have been since leaving Perugia)! I'd highly recommend this to anyone who loves to eat and enjoy great company :)

This restaurant was recommended to us by our apartment rental host - you can't beat recommendations from locals! The location is a little hard to find (it's down a dark corridor of medieval stairs) but it's worth searching out. The owner, Claudio, came by our table to see where we were from (Los Angeles) and we all laughed when he said, "I used to live near Melrose and La Cienega!" Claudio is the nicest man, but we're here to talk about the food, aren't we? I started with the pumpkin soup and would have licked the bowl clean if I didn't have any self-respect. Claudio was kind enough to send out a dish of sweet Perugian onions with fresh black truffles on top. The waitress kept shaving away at the truffle and I have to admit I didn't say "stop" for quite a while (heh heh). The combination of the sweet onions and the earthiness of the fresh truffles was amazing. I was quite stuffed by then, but I still had my main course. By this time we'd been in Italy for 12 days so I wanted to try something other than the typical wild boar ragout. I ordered the chicken curry (I know... I know...) and it was such a delightful surprise. The rich flavors in that sauce are making my mouth salivate even now. Claudio explained the litany of ingredients he uses for his curry, including bananas and mangoes. Fantastic. I highly recommend La Taverna while you're in Perugia. The food and the memories are priceless.

Amazing food. Best so far In Italy! Love it!! And the wine is awesome! Pesto, white truffles, fresh pasta, sausage and everything fresh and delicious!

Great way to finish our day & trip to Perugia. Beautiful restaurant, great service & excellent food. Everything we order was delicious. Also it is very affordable. We ordered a classic perugian appetizer, each (my husband and I) ordered a main course, a bottle of wine, a bottle of water and a complementary homemade chocolate after dinner spirit and the total was 70 euro. Also, the chef said hello to everyone in the restaurant, it was a full house on a Tuesday night, and for our surprise he used to work in the Dorado Beach Hotel in Puerto Rico, today is the Ritz Carlton Reserve. It is a must do when you come to Perugia.

Wonderful jewel of a restaurant nestled in downtown Perugia. Great atmosphere, delicious food. To top it off the executive chef came to chat for a few minutes. I would give this restaurant six stars if I could!

I don't know how we found this place but I'm sure glad we did. Tucked into an almost inconceivable alley this is the home of one of the best restaurants I've ever visited. I loved every bite. I love the service. It was an absolute pleasure to meet the Chef. I highly recommend this restaurant. If you're anywhere near Perugia make the effort to come here.

When you come to Italy, you expect great food, but everything I ate from La Taverna exceeded my expectations. Delicious homemade pastas, the grilled sausage was outstanding as is or included in a pasta dish and the chocolate liqueur as a topping to vanilla ice was sensational.

Amazing from start to finish, in food, wine and service. Casual yet upscale atmosphere. Probably the best tiramisu I've ever had. They started us off with champagne on the house which was a nice touch. Overall a delicious experience.

A place that we would probably miss without social networks...a little hidden in the backyard is a small gem. A local restaurant offering local and very delicious food. We came here for a dinner and were nicely surprised. The food is very good and prepared with love and sense for detail. The waiters (there is a french style service with 4 different people taking care of you) are friendly, yet do not show any traditional friendliness or smile, which makes you feel that you disturb them a little... The menu is surprisingly long, comprising fish and meat courses but all fresh so there is a little problem choosing the right one for you because there will probably be more that you would like. I thus suggest sticking to the traditional style: antipasti, primi, secondi - because the food is nearly perfect.

Best restaurant in Umbria!!! We will always come back to La Taverna with Claudio and his wunderfull staff. Excelent food and wines for a very reasonble price. Also a warm welcome for kids without beeing a "kids" restaurant. The menu has his classics (ravioli con tartufo, steak/filetto tartare!!!(best in Italy) and tempura gamberi e verdure, with new seasonble choices. Nice terras for the summer and a wunderfull place inside. We feel always welkom when we arrive at La Taverna and were never disapointed while taking friend or relations to this best restaurant of Umbria.

We dined at La Taverna this summer, and the experience was simply perfection. The owner Claudio was amazing, and everything we ate, from appetizers to desserts, was divinely delectable. The staff was knowledgeable and attentive and did I mention THE FOOD?? It's been months now, and both of us are still dreaming about the ravioli and the torta al testo... Don't miss this gem! It's so worth the walk down the hill!

I cannot say enough about how amazing the food and customer service were! We had a party of 10 and were treated very well by everyone from the hostess to the executive chef. Our party ordered everything from salad to pasta dishes to grilled meat and seafood to the steak Florentine, and no one was disappointed. I highly recommend La Taverna!

Our rental can broke down on the way to the restaurant making us very late! They still accommodated our party of 10 and went out of our way to make sure we had a great evening! The food was fantastic (ravioli, pasta with clams, steaks salad potatoes-all excellently prepared and delicious)! Highly recommend this place!!

Yum! Yum, Yum, Yum! And whatever the Italian word for Yum is! Seriously, this restaurant has outstanding food and reasonable prices. On our visit in mid-September, 2013, we were sat outside during a lovely evening and immediately our server poured a glass of prosecco for each of us. We then ordered a liter of wine, and some of the most outstanding food I've had in Italy. If you've eaten in Italy you know that is a pretty high bar. The ravioli with black truffle shavings was certainly our favorite. Chef/owner Claudio came out and greeted each table and struck up a lively and interesting conversation with us. We learned a lot about his background and his time spent as a chef in Orlando. Since one of our party was from Orlando they had much to talk about. He then graced us with a complimentary liter of wine in addition to the one we already had at the table. Some of the best table wine in Italy as well. Post-dinner our server then served complimentary home-made chocolate liquer which was outstanding. Not the best I've ever had but darn close. Fantastic food, ambiance, and service. Go! Multiple times! Like we did.

La Taverna came recommended to me ... I really did not know what to expect. After dining here (twice, actually, having had lunch here I HAD to come back for dinner!), I can summarize my review in one word - three letters; WOW! Where to begin ... ? The entrance, perhaps. Off the town center there is a narrow passageway with stairs that descend into a tiny alcove with the restaurant entrance. It is reasonably well marked, but it is so unassuming that it belies the culinary experience contained therein. The décor is fantastic ... a 14th century cellar, modernized, while maintaining its historical significance and charm. The maitre'd showed my wife and me to our table. There is enough distance between the tables to maintain a comfortable intimacy. Seated, we were immediately served a glass of Prosecco; perfectly chilled, delightfully refreshing. The chef, Claudio, came to our table to great us, as it appears he does every guest. Rather than order off the menu, I asked him to select a sampling of his favorite pastas for our primi piatti. Frankly, it would be impossible to describe the taste sensation of the ravioli, tagliatelle, and pappardelle so I won't even try. For a main course we both had the perfectly grilled fish (as recommended) garnished with farm-fresh vegetables, potatoes, and a small salad. Everything was wonderful and surprisingly light - especially considering the cuisine's full-flavor. The staff, while efficient and polished, maintained a warm light-heartedness that enhanced the dining experience. The wine cellar is also well-appointed and undoubtedly has a perfect complement for every palette. As we paid the bill we nipped delicious (complimentary) chocolate liqueur. Oh, and the tab was surprisingly painless for such an extraordinary experience! I have traveled the world, and dined in thousands of restaurants, this one tops the list! Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

INCREDIBILE! La Taverna is amazing! The decor, the staff, THE FOOD! Seriously do not miss this spot. Everything we had was a complete sensory experience, starting from the prosecco to the salad, to the pasta, to the lamb to the fish and then after dinner chocolate liquor. This is by far the best restaurant in Perugia. It is not to be missed. Everything is so fresh and delightful. I am told they even goes to the market every morning to select the fish. Seriously? It's that fresh! Everything is that fresh. I know most people go to Italy and expect an amazing dining experience but this exceeds those expectations. I am of Italian descent and have lived in Italy for 3 years and it exceeded all of my experiences. If you are looking for truly exquisite dining at a very fair price, look no further. Everything and I mean EVERYTHING we had was amazing!

Very good, nice outdoor seating, fresh local procini specials were great. The €12 fresh truffle ravioli had a generous shaving of extra truffles atop. Nice spot. €55pp for 3 courses and a bottle of wine.

I have been to la taverna 3 times now. The first of which on valentines day last year when we were looking for our wedding venue and then every time we have been back since. Every time the food has been exceptional, traditional italian food with modern twists and every dish we have had has been amazing. We even took my in laws who both work in the culinary trade and they were equally impressed. If its a nice warm evening its great to sit outside but the inside is equally beautiful. The service really makes the evening as well despite there being about 6 months between each visit the same english speaking waitress remembered us and was brilliant at translating and recommending dishes. Every time as well Claudio the head chef and owner has always come out and seen us as long with everyone there that night which is a really nice personal touch. I couldn't recommend highly enough i guarantee you wont be disappointed!!! Cant wait to go for lunch next week a few days before our wedding day :)

excellent food. lots of fresh truffles. very nice ambience. the staff were very friendly and attentive. very much recommend. just fing try to park nearby. park along the belvedere and walk!

I thought this restaurant was good in many ways, but lacked in service and ambiance compared to other restaurants in Perugia where we dined. I'd give it 3 1/2 stars. We chose to eat here since it was so highly rated, but our experience was not to that level. We are an American family and have been to Italy many times, and understand the culture/dining experience. The food was good and priced correctly and we particularly liked the house red wine. We felt ignored and neglected,however, taking over 2 hours for two courses. If you are in no hurry and enjoy the company of the people you are with, La Taverna may be a reasonable choice.

We wandered down the nifty little pathway/staircase that leads to La Taverna and wound up having one of our best nights out in Italy. Despite it being a very busy night with the opening of Umbria Jazz Fest and the height of the dinner hour at 9 pm, we managed to land at an outdoor table with no reservations (still not quite sure how...I'd definitely recommend reservations in Perugia during the festival). Chef Claudio was making the rounds of the terrace and we wound up in a conversation about California where we live and where he has worked and lived. We told him what we liked to eat and drink and he ordered for us, including an *amazing* pork shank not on the menu that my lucky teenaged son got (I kept snagging bites until he started fending me off with his knife :) But our dishes (branzino and a local sausage) were also excellent. We also got a fabulous mixed antipasto and yummy chocolate thing for dessert. Everything was really great. Plus Chef Claudio ordered us an excellent bottle of wine similar to but much more affordable than the one we were thinking of and he even took our son back to see the kitchen. For some it might be an expensive meal (and you can definitely get good and cheap food in Italy, as we did many nights) But for us, given the quality and amount of dishes we had, the charming atmosphere and staff (and, yes, the prices we're used to at home) it was really affordable. Excellent! Mille Grazie to Chef Claudio & his staff!