Osteria Alla Ghiacciaia

We visited this restaurant in Udine and were immediately charmed by the beautiful setting along a small stream – a peaceful and scenic spot for a relaxed meal. The food was fresh and of good quality. The pasta was well-cooked, but the presentation felt a bit plain and the flavors could have used more depth and variety. It lacked the finishing touch that makes a dish memorable. The highlight of our meal was definitely the octopus salad – perfectly tender and full of vibrant, refreshing flavors.

I went to the ghiacciaia last evening to eat dinner. I ordered Cjarsons, a local dish. It was listed in the first plates. When I got it it tasted like cinnamon and very sweet, not at all like Cjarsons I ate at many other restaurants. It also didn’t say it anywhere on the menu, I went there after a 5 hour drive and just wanted a good local dish and all they gave me was Cinnamon with butter in dough and molten cheese on top. When I asked the server about it she got defensive and said I should’ve asked her first and she turned around to other guests and said she couldn’t read my mind and I should’ve asked her in a very disrespectful tone like I couldn’t understand Italian. After that incident we got ignored and treated badly. It was very unprofessional and our server took a simple question very personal. We should normalise asking/telling the staff if something wasn’t good.

The staff was very friendly and was speaking in English. But the food was not that nice unfortunately. Cheese and sweet duo is not for me. Meatballs with tomato, beef and baked pumpkin were nice. And also spritz was small and good.

Very tasty food and reasonably priced. Very nice ambient (outdoor). Suggestive place to eat lunch.

The staff was kind and quick, the food was great and quite affordable compared to other Osteria. Loved it❤️

I was amazed to find the place so packed on a weekday for lunch. I was then told the restaurant belongs to a long-established family in the area, and it clearly shows in how well they have managed to preserve the local culinary tradition. Obviously, that reflects also in how keenly the clientele appreciates what they get served. In my case, it was a very quick lunch, but everything was perfectly prepared, plus I had the funny experience of being congratulated by a congenial waitress on my choice of wine :-) I regret not having had the time to go back and taste more dishes, perhaps in a more relaxed evening atmosphere. The decor is lovely, and the value for money appears to be excellent.

The trick here is to actually get served! If you are not a local, then you may need a good deal of patience. Two other tables came in after us, were seated, placed orders & were served drinks & food before we had even been graced by the presence of a waiter! Poor service aside, the food was good.

What should definitely be highlighted is the atmosphere. With beautiful flowers and a small cozy lagoon, it is a very unique experience. There are fewer dishes on the menu and they tend to be more unique, but in terms of prices, I don't think it's unrealistically expensive. On the plus side, there is a children's menu and the place is very careful about where the ingredients come from. I rarely come across a restaurant that puts such emphasis on this, there is a longer description at the end of the menu of what is sourced from which farm, I think this is what makes it really special, it is VERY AUTHENTIC! I went for the house taglaitoni, sant danielle ham and poppy seeds, it was delicious! They give you a separate bag of breads which is also a plus! It is worth arriving early, because as we have seen, around 7-8 there is already a long queue in front of the place! And thankful thanks for getting a child's sneezer, so we can have a more relaxed dinner! 😄✨