Trattoria la Pignatta In Ovada

We weren't familiar with the place and went there almost by chance. What a great surprise! It's a real trattoria, both in terms of the ambiance and the food. It's not your typical, run-of-the-mill trattoria, where you pay premium prices for a fake trattoria setting. We dined on basic Piedmontese/Ligurian dishes and were extremely satisfied. It was a simple dinner; we both enjoyed the cod, and the dessert was very satisfying (the baked crème caramel was superb). I'll gladly return.

Excellent place! We thoroughly enjoyed our meal and the waiter was very friendly! A typical restaurant with delicious dishes.

We stopped for lunch at La Pignatta on our way back from Liguria, drawn by the excellent reviews... and we were delighted! Even though it was already 2:20 PM, they welcomed us with great kindness and seated us without any problems. We ate tagliolini al tocco, raw beef with parmesan shavings, and Fassone beef stew, accompanied by an excellent house Dolcetto wine. To finish, zabaglione and biscuits. The atmosphere is rustic and welcoming, perfect for a Piedmontese trattoria. The owners are helpful, professional, and very kind. Excellent value: everything for only €59. Highly recommended if you're passing through Ovada!

A pleasant surprise found while diverting from the return route to take a look at Ovada

We stopped by on a roadtrip through Italy just now and this place was Italian perfection. Local, wonderful service, and the food top notch.

We randomly chose this restaurant on Google, and it was a great experience. Run by two very friendly and kind brothers, the restaurant is very well-maintained and has a rustic yet stylish feel. The outside area is also decorated with unique lights. During high season, on the last Friday of every month, the two brothers entertain their guests with live music. The food is very good, and the portions are small enough to accommodate multiple dishes. The ravioli al tuccu and the pappardelle with artichoke sauce were fabulous. You could really taste the freshness of the ingredients and the home-style cooking. The Fassona beef tartare with parmesan shavings was also excellent! The fried panissa was excellent. To finish, a delicious bunet and a delicious apple pie with gelato! Highly recommended!

I'm writing this review based on my own, very personal, experience, which unfortunately wasn't positive. In the dining room with us was a group of young people, well over 18, who were rowdy and extremely rude. This is certainly not the owners' fault, but they did absolutely nothing to moderate or limit the situation, despite my complaints. Loud noise, shouting, and swearing in a restaurant (not a stadium), especially with other people present, are, in my opinion, absolutely unacceptable. I have no complaints about the service or the courtesy of the girls who served us, and the interior of the restaurant is very nice. The food was decent, I'd say; the vitello tonnato didn't taste like vitello tonnato, and the potatoes on the side were practically inedible. I didn't order a starter, but none of my friends had any negative comments. The raw beef and the Russian salad were very good. The cold cuts for the appetizer weren't exceptional either, so overall I'd rate it 3 stars, based on my personal experience, of course. Prices were more or less average for local restaurants, but perhaps a bit too high for the quality.

Trattoria-style dishes, typical fare. The pasta and especially the pesto could be improved. The vitello tonnato is excellent: thin and well-cooked; the sauce is delicate and just the right amount. The service is friendly but a bit sketchy (like almost everywhere these days). There's no wine list. It's located in a narrow alley. The place is charming, if a bit dark. Good prices.

Characteristic restaurant with home cooking.

A pleasant surprise, a restaurant I stumbled upon. All the dishes and desserts were delicious. Friendly and quick service.