It's unacceptable not to go to the "Ristorante dei Pini" in Spoleto at least once in your life. The... "risk," however, is that it could become a habit, because the food is good, the price is fair, the food is plentiful, the service is fast, the table setting is clean and has a tablecloth, the management is family-run, and the ingredients are local and carefully selected by the owner, Mr. Giancarlo.
Mr. Giancarlo, moreover, is a historic figure in the Spoleto community, born in his 80s, a man of another era, one of those people always attentive to ensuring that everything runs smoothly for the benefit of their customers.
But be careful! You need to make a reservation or call to find out if you can go for lunch or dinner, because the place is always full, as are restaurants everywhere that aren't "for tourists," but are frequented by locals who know where to go and where not, as well as by representatives who have been loyal for years and are aware of the quality and the reasonably priced.
As for the food, Strengozzi alla Spoletina is a unique specialty, exemplary and unmatched anywhere else, in Spoleto and Umbria. Many praise the deliciousness of Tagliatelle ai Pini, whose recipe is a secret. Other specialties include grilled cockerel, stuffed pigeon, grilled liver, beans with pork rind, stewed cod, fried lamb, and so on.
Not everything is always available, but try asking Giancarlo if you'd like something else, as sometimes he'll skip it or forget it when listing the menu. However, for special needs, he may be able to accommodate you on the spot.
If you read reviews from tourists claiming they were treated poorly or turned away because there was no room, or other complaints, such as there being no menu, etc., ignore them.
Since the relationship is familial, fatigue may not be masked. Likewise, since there's no such thing as false courtesy at I Pini, if something isn't right, it's pointed out openly, and for those who appreciate the place's charm, this is an added bonus.
Frequenting I Pini, we've personally observed that sometimes a group of tourists arrive demanding food, and sometimes there's no time to welcome them properly because the place is crowded and perhaps there are birthdays or family celebrations in progress.
When you meet Giancarlo and his two sons, Nicola and Alfredo, who, along with the talented Alessandro, serve the customers, you'll understand that a possible gesture of denial, made with a finger to a crowd of people arriving late at night, can only have been made with kindness, perhaps just a quick wave from a distance, a wag of the finger, and a smile... A very clear, quick, gestural "Sorry," which I've seen in some negative reviews be interpreted, unfairly, as rudeness.
As for the menu, the absence of which some lament, it does exist, but it's made of flesh, bones, brains, and heart, and its name is... Giancarlo 😊 Orders are always taken directly by the owner, an integral part of the restaurant's tradition. Giancarlo approaches the table and begins listing the dishes (always fresh and prepared daily) from memory, to the point that this "litany" has made Giancarlo one of Spoleto's most distinctive and endearing characters; so much so that he's even quoted and imitated in plays.
A fun video is circulating online, showing Giancarlo dei Pini in action; look for it.
And now: bon appétit!
Enzo Vincenzo
.
03 Febbraio 2026
10,0
We were looking for a traditional place in Spoleto, and the good reviews piqued our interest, so we stopped here. It's an excellent, old-fashioned, rustic place, serving traditional Umbrian dishes. The staff are friendly and approachable, and the service is very practical, yet fast and attentive. It's definitely traditional, dated, but effective for a good, typical Umbrian lunch.
Franco Tognazzo
.
05 Dicembre 2025
8,0
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