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Although Casa Marginetta’s kitchen has everything you’re
likely to need to prepare meals yourself, it’s fair to say that at least half
the reason for coming to Tuscany is to taste the fabulous food on offer!
After all, you are supposed to be on holiday!
Convalle - meaning "of the
valley" - is located within the beautiful Val Pedogna.
The Pedogna valley is also known by local reputation as "La valle di
gastronomia" which translates as "The valley of gastronomy".
Italians travel from miles around to dine in the wide choice
of reasonably-priced restaurants. Most are on or near the valley floor, but some
exquisite gems are tucked away up in the hillsides!
You won’t be disappointed!
La
Fonte
Trebbio
34, Convalle, Fraz. Pescaglia, Lucca
Distance: 0.7km
0583-359815 
Closed Tuesday in summer and possibly some other weekdays too in winter.
This restaurant, only a short stroll from Casa Marginetta, has become the firm favourite of ourselves and
our guests ever since it was
acquired and completely renovated by Daniela, a friendly Scottish/Italian lady
who naturally speaks perfect English.
La Fonte offers a good variety of traditional
Italian dishes in attractive surroundings and at very reasonable prices. In
addition to delicious meats such as peppered steak, pork and lamb chops etc., it
is sometimes possible to enjoy half or a whole freshly roasted baby chicken if you order
a day in advance.
There are many delicious starters too - a particular favourite being the
prawn and pumpkin risotto.
Excellent pizzas are cooked in the log-fired oven and – unusually – are served every day that the restaurant is open.
A take-away service is also offered.
When not too busy and subject to ingredient
availability, Daniela will also prepare non-menu dishes on request.
Why not try
the ‘Casa Marginetta Special Calzone’? This pizza is loaded with plenty of
mozzarella cheese, salami, ham, bacon, onions, tomatoes and garlic, before being
folded over and drizzled with tomato purée, then baked to perfection in the
traditional pizza oven. Irresistible!
If you like sparkling white wine, ask for Daniela’s ‘Special Prosecco’.
What a wonderful clean taste – and such good value!
You may even be offered a
complimentary glass of Daniela’s home-made Limoncello with the bill if you mention ‘Casa Marginetta’.
Il Molino del Volpe
Località
Molino Volpe, Gello, Lucca
Distance: 3.3km
0583-359045
Closed Wednesday in summer and possibly some other weekdays too in winter.
Located a few yards up the road to Puccini’s house in Celle,
this classy restaurant has found its home in a converted paper mill. The machinery
is exposed and has been preserved as museum pieces.
There is a Pizzeria on the first floor and a restaurant on the second floor.
Food and wines are excellent. Luigi is in charge of the food and cares passionately about it.
Il Molino is a firm favourite with Italians and it offers a good variety of traditional dishes in attractive surroundings.
Da Valentino
Località
Cima Fiano, 1, Fiano, Lucca
Distance: 3.9km 0583-38182
Closed Wednesday in summer and possibly some other weekdays too in winter.
Located in the nearby hillside village of Fiano not far from Convalle on the scenic route to Viareggio, this restaurant offers possibly the lowest prices in the region.
It seems that you can order pretty much anything on the menu – all 7 courses if you wish – mix and match dishes with your friends and drink as much wine and mineral water
as you like and the bill will still come to under 20 Euros a head!
It’s also supposed to be good for Sunday lunches and many ex-pats wouldn’t go anywhere else!
If you’ve got a lot of hungry mouths to feed and you want to do it cheaply then maybe you should give Da Valentino a try!
La Tana
Località
Tana, 7, Villa a Roggio, Lucca
Distance: 5.6km
0583-358017
Closed Monday in summer and possibly some other weekdays too in winter.
Located between Piegaio and Diecimo on the valley floor, there’s a warm welcome and some fine cuisine to be enjoyed at La Tana.
The ambiance is somewhat lacking due to fluorescent strip lighting – some have uncharitably likened it to a transport café –
but it’s fair to say that they have the best home-made tortelli that we have ever tasted!
Follow this with any of the succulent main courses and wash it all down with a
litre or two of the house vino bianco frizzante (semi-sparkling white wine) for
around the same price as water and you have a very enjoyable meal for an
exceptionally reasonable price.
A tasty free appetiser of ultra-thin and crispy
pizza is sometimes served before your starter.
At weekends, you can also choose
from a wide selection of pizzas.
An English menu is available and on Saturday
nights, a friendly English-speaking Scottish/Italian waiter works there too.
Il
Guerriero
Località
Grabbia, 1, Vetriano, Lucca
Distance: 9.9km
0583-358163
Closed Monday in summer and Monday – Thursday in winter
Tucked away in the hillside village of Vetriano, this fabulous restaurant should not be missed!
Despite the seemingly endless journey, keep going – it’s worth it when you get there!
This restaurant offers good food in superb surroundings at highly reasonable prices.
Your friendly host Armando has something on the menu to suit every taste and on warm
evenings you can optionally eat ‘al fresco’ on the terrace outside.
The home-made tortelli is different to La Tana’s, but equally as good.
The mixed grill contains enough meat to feed an army!
Then again you could choose the 20 Euro fixed-price menu which includes an appetiser, the
tortelli, the mixed grill, your choice
of dessert, wine (or mineral water) and coffee!
Starve yourself all day to do it justice!
Wild boar casserole is another
tasty option when in season. At weekends, you can also choose from a wide
selection of pizzas.
An English menu is available (we translated it for them)
and you should look out for the complimentary savoury doughnut-style appetiser
– tasty!
Brùton
Via
Ludovica, 5135, S. Cassiano di Moriano, Lucca
Distance: 14.3km
0583-579260 
On the banks of the Serchio river, in a
typically Tuscan setting,
Brùton have created a unique combination of in-house brewery and trendy dining
establishment which has got young Italians very excited as it is a complete
departure from traditional restaurants!
From 5pm until 2am you can enjoy fine beers and tasty food! You can even watch
the beer being brewed too, if you want. Then party into the night ...
Some nights, local bands feature and you can enjoy a variety of styles from
Rock to Jazz.
So, if you fancy a change - give
Brùton a try!
La
Mora
Via
Ludovica, 1748, Sesto di Moriano, Lucca
Distance: 15.0km
0583-406402
Closed Wednesday in summer and possibly some other weekdays
too in winter.
Located just past Diecimo on the road to Lucca , this former stagecoach station
now serves classic Lucchese food.
Start with the minestra di farro (soup made with emmer, a grain that resembles
barley) with beans, or the exquisite homemade tacconi (a thin, short, wide
pasta) with rabbit sauce.
Another favourite is La Mora's rendition of cacciucco (a Livornese fish stew)
which is succulent and not to be missed.
The wine list offers some great wines from the area, as well as from just about
everywhere else in Italy.
Da Sandra
Località
Valsozza, 1,
Fabbriche di Vallico, Lucca
Distance: 18.3km
0583-761846
Closed Thursday in summer and possibly some other weekdays too in winter.
Beyond Pescaglia in the hillside village
of Fabbriche di Vallico, this new restaurant is receiving rave reviews from all
that have tried it.
However, we haven’t been there ourselves yet, so we have no
idea of credit cards accepted etc. Please let us know your opinion if
you go!
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