Ristorante Oscari
S. Maria Tiberina
Via Roma, 125
Monte S. Maria Tiberina
075-857-1008
Owners: Emilio & Valentina Oscari
Review copyright - Ginda Simpson
Owned by Emilio and Valentina Oscari, Ristorante Oscari sits within the walls of S. Maria Tiberina, a mountain village perched high beneath Umbrian clouds, near the Tuscan border. Emilio, a native to S. Maria and his wife, a native to nearby Monterchi in Tuscany, opened their restaurant over thirty years ago, when there were no restaurants within the city walls. Valentina is the cook, incorporating the knowledge and experience gained at home, learned from mother and grandmother, as they prepared meals for their large family.
The menu they offer today, is the best of both Umbrian and Tuscan traditional cuisine, casareccia – home cooking at its best. Mike and I chose two different menus so that we could sample as many of their specialties as possible at one sitting. The specialties not to be missed are, beyond a doubt, Chiche al Tartufo (a handmade egg pasta shaped into little pouches, and filled with a truffle & meat stuffing, topped by a delicate cream truffle sauce) and Strozzapreti alla Boscaiola (hand-rolled fat spaghetti-like noodles with a creamy tomato sauce with a hint of mushrooms and sausage). Their house-wine is satisfying and their vin santo, served with an array of dessert choices, is excellent.
The restaurant is housed in a 13th century building. The décor of each dining room (there are three) is farmhouse rustic, but the views from the one, are heavenly. During the summer months, tables are set up outside, where the views are awesome.