A lunch at "Pappacarbone restaurant", in Cava de' Tirreni, is an experience that satisfies all the senses.
A nice and smiling maitre introduces us in the first room, living us to choose the table and depositing our coats in the cloakroom. The restaurant is pretty basic: simple but comfortable chairs, a very large table for two persons and a comfortable seat with cushions along one wall of the room.
The cuisine of renowned chef Rocco Iannone is truly superlative, based on local fresh fish and high quality mozzarella, in addition to a quiet, informal and professional service. The wine list is really well stocked. We ordered a good red wine: Agliano del Vulture - Azienda Agricola Eubea - Covo dei Briganti 2003 at the cost of 37 euro per bottle. A really indicated choice!
The appetizer consists of delicious fried zucchini flowers (three per person) and a slice of fantastic eggplant parmigiana. Subsequently, we decided to enjoy the famous tasting menu (in case of food intolerance, it is possible to substitute some ingredients), consisting of:
- whitebait and broccoli soup: a delicious symphony of flavors;
- cuttlefish with artichokes and balsamic vinegar: a very successful combination;
- ravioli stuffed with ricotta, spinach and a mix of other herbs with a truly divine sauce of sea (angler fish, cuttlefish, shrimp, squid, clam and mussel);
- fillet of cod with asparagus and clams: a light and refined second course;
- lamb with mashed potatoes: juicy and delicious.
The maitre suggested us to taste a selection of local salami and different types of cheese combined with honey, fig, apricot and quince jam.
For dessert we ordered the madeleinette (freshly backed and fragrant) with vanilla cold cream and quince tarte with Calvados sauce (an authentic masterpiece), sipping a scented glass of passito di Pantelleria wine.
Coffee here is still prepared with mocha, as if we were at home.
The tasting menu costs 70 euro per person: it seems more than appropriate regarding the freshness of ingredients, the excellent preparation and the superlative service.
We strongly recommend "Pappacarbone restaurant" in Cava de' Tirreni, near the Amalfi coast, for enjoying the culinary specialties prepared by chef Rocco Iannone. After our visit we also know why this restaurant is listed among the best ones in the Campania region.