Osteria La Pimpinella In Bra

21/10/2025: Attentive service, authentic cuisine

18/10/2025: My "sixth sense" for culinary temples helps me choose a place in Dogliani. Saturday is dedicated to the Feminine Universe, in a birthday mood. My eye falls on the Locanda del Sorriso, for its location, setting, and...its title, which honors a rare commodity these days: smiling. Eleonora is a treasure among the tables, spontaneously eloquent, with a smile that perfectly embodies her pleasure in welcoming. The dining room is busy, but the decibel level is very low. The à la carte menu is rich yet essential, almost as if they want a minimum of concentration on the offerings, lest they run the risk of being distracted, a real disappointment in the kitchen. The veal with tuna sauce is a compelling color, and the veal tartare and sausage have the consistency of times past. The plin with gogonzola, a curious and well-chosen variation on the traditional version, thrills her wife. I step outside the box and order fried eggs topped with shaved truffles: are we in the Langhe, or aren't we? Dogliani is the DOCG denomination for the absolute best dessert: how could I not savor a glass of it, full-bodied and structured, yet with that typical elegance of flavor that characterizes a high-quality dessert? After a quick nod to the woman's birthday, the lady surprises us by serving the desserts with the lights off and a candle on my wife's portion. The chorus of diners (pure sharing, touching!) will be with us for a long time to come. The final touch is perfectly balanced, and it couldn't be otherwise, because if the smile worked as a "bait," it should remain, even after you've paid. Truly a satisfying experience in every way. I took the usual notes: I'll return without any ifs or buts...