Edmund Osbaldeston
Google
An Exceptional Evening at La Grotta
Our Italian adventure in Montepulciano was capped with a wonderful dining experience at La Grotta. We were a table of seven Americans, and with that comes certain caveats and assumptions. A couple of us can be loud. One member of our group doesn’t eat meat, but we all made an effort to be polite and observe basic Italian manners. Several in the party are self-described foodies, and we all deeply appreciate local food and culture.
Our waiter for the evening was supported by a skilled team of staff who worked in seamless coordination. They were attentive to our needs and responsive to our many questions. The lead waiter helped me select a bottle of Champagne to begin the evening, and after learning our preferences and dietary needs, he recommended a lovely light red that paired well with both seafood and meat dishes across the table.
The amuse-bouche was a savory tomato profiterole, elevated yet approachable. The second-course highlights were the squash blossoms and the veal tonnato. The veal appeared gently poached or perhaps sous vide, yielding a tender, delicate slice of beef that paired beautifully with the creamy, umami-rich tuna sauce.
And then the duck gnocchi arrived...This was the star of the evening. The gnocchi were toothsome and gently springy, with their savory potato starch still pleasantly present. The duck was finely minced, making it easy to enjoy like a meat ragù. Its rich flavor was enhanced by delicate drizzles of black garlic and dill. Order this.
For the mains, our table enjoyed a variety of meat and seafood dishes including beef slices, lamb, Umbrian pork, and croaker with beurre blanc. All ranged from enjoyable to excellent. The use of cardoncelli mushrooms with the flank steak added a welcome layer of earthiness to the beef.
For dessert, we ordered most of the menu. Each offering ended the meal on a satisfying note, though none quite outshone that unforgettable duck gnocchi.
