It’s the perfect place for an anniversary, or a romantic dinner, but it’s also the restaurant where Austrian politicians, actors and football players love to go. This is a fancy Italian restaurant, where one can feast on recipes originating from all over Italy that have been revisited with a contemporary touch. Francesco is the twenty-seven-year-old chef at Al Borgo who loves to experiment and create modern dishes out of tradition.
He made for me a tasty risotto allo zafferano e liquirizia (Risotto with saffron and liquorice), which was perfectly made, the Milanese way. It’s a classic of the Italian cuisine, however the liquorice powder gave it such a contemporary twist – don’t bother asking for it, as it’s not on the menu. But don’t worry – what is on the menu allows you to dream, and will sometimes overwhelm your imagination, and expectations. The service is very friendly, so much so that the waiters can often be seen cuddling the guests.
Carlo, the owner, comes from Parma, and is a true character of the place. His congeniality is one of the reasons why Al Borgo is so cozy and popular. Entire weeks at Al Borgo are dedicated to cuisine from specific Italian regions, while fresh Italian ingredients are delivered on a weekly basis. The extra virgin olive oil, sourced from Puglia, will have you tasting the sun and scent of the Mediterranean Sea.
The Mamma mia dishes Mia recommends: The crema di patate con cioccolato bianco e tartufo is an interesting combination, as are the following dishes: Crema di ricotta di bufala con avocado, gamberi e marmellata di pomodoro (cream made with buffalo ricotta, avocado, prawns and tomato marmalade), and the spaghetti neri alla chitarra con calamari, piselli al profumo di limone (squid ink spaghetti with squids, peas and lemon).
