TRATTORIA NORINA In Pontremoli

What a pleasure to finally find something authentic! A very good meal, generous antipasti. For a light eater, one portion is enough for three people! Thank you for your generosity and warm welcome. An extra star for our waitress who always had a smile on her face :)

Nice, friendly atmosphere and warm welcome, good food and good service... The price was reasonable and within expectations. Everything was clear. Recommended.

During a motorcycle tour and without a reservation, I easily got a table this Easter Sunday. Having read some of the reviews here, I wanted to see if it was a tourist trap: it isn't! But with some reservations. I speak a little Italian, but I deliberately played dumb. More on that later. ^^ First off: I didn't see a menu and therefore didn't know the prices, so I just ordered whatever came to mind. I ordered water and half a liter of house white wine, which was served quickly. The house wine was good, with a light pineapple note and quite crisp. Perfect! A server who wasn't taking payment (so presumably not the owner) explained the available dishes to me right at the table. She didn't make much of an effort to use simple language or speak more slowly for me, a clearly identifiable tourist. First point deducted for service. I chose Pasta Carciofi (whether they sold me cappelletti or something else, I honestly forgot, but it's not important) as my first course, and although the tripe was tempting, I went for the ossobuco. A short time later, the first course arrived and was perfectly al dente, delicious, and a generous portion. Parmesan was on the table and could be used as desired. It was a great start. After the first course, I got up to go outside for a cigarette. The woman, whom I assume is the owner, asked me what I had ordered for my second course... I thought that was settled. So I reiterated that I would like the ossobuco and went to smoke. Shortly after I returned to my table, the ossobuco arrived. Surprise: I hadn't had it with peas before. It was perfectly braised, the meat was incredibly tender, and the peas added a touch of sweetness. Too sweet for my taste. So I asked the server, who wasn't authorized to take payment, for pepper and salt. I overheard her comment to the kitchen (almost directly across from me) that the ossobuco wasn't seasoned enough. But I didn't get any pepper or salt. Incidentally, I wasn't offered a side dish either—perhaps some polenta would have been nice. Second point deducted for service. After two or three minutes, I managed to get the owner's attention, and she promptly brought me salt and pepper. See? It turned out to be a great dish for me, and I even scraped the marrow out of the bone. With bread and the remaining sauce, it was really good. A sweet dessert was too much for me, but I still managed a caffè doppio and a grappa barricatta. The coffee was good, and the grappa was poured generously. I paid the bill at the counter: €35 in total, so no unpleasant surprises. In my opinion, the quality and quantity were absolutely worth it. They could work on the hospitality, though. As far as I could tell, the clientele was mostly local (or at least Italian-speaking). The restaurant is somewhat hidden away in a long passageway and offers a great view from a small terrace. What I find completely unacceptable: the only toilet is accessible from the terrace. It's shared by men and women and was in a deplorable state during my visit. You could blame the users, but if I were a woman, I wouldn't have wanted to use it. And even as a man, I don't like standing in urine... The rest of the ambiance is unique, but it's what I expect from a trattoria. It's perfectly fine if it's a little off the beaten path, as in this case. What I find completely unacceptable is that the only toilet is accessible from the terrace. A saying like the one at the entrance about complaining or bad-tempered people can backfire with poor service... "Non si accettano lamentosi malmostosi" (They don't accept complaining or bad-tempered people). In that case, the service staff has to deliver and not make fun of the guests!

Overrated place, an appetizer cost €18 and was absolutely not worth it for either quantity or quality. The rest was decent but nothing special.

The atmosphere is simple but welcoming. The staff is friendly and the food is excellent.

A must-try experience. A typical place to eat testaroli with pesto and traditional appetizers. The zuppa inglese is delicious. Top-notch service, everyone is friendly and smiling. Highly recommended.

Raw ingredients are the strong point. The fried lamb is amazing, as are the chestnut fritters with local ricotta. The atmosphere is rustic and a bit "easygoing." The owners are kind and hospitable. We have become regulars. Recommended

Tradition reigns supreme in this characteristic local establishment. The welcome was perhaps a little rushed (accomplice and excusable given the full restaurant), but it didn't detract from the taste and quality of the food offered.

If you're looking for a family-friendly atmosphere with a delicious flavor, Norina is the perfect trattoria. Home-style cooking where you'll find authentic flavors and simple, friendly service, as it should be in these environments, no frills but full of substance. Delicious appetizers—a nod to the excellence of the chestnut flour and ricotta fritters—classic and carefully crafted first courses (borage ravioli and the ever-present testaroli), and memorable desserts. For those who love to rediscover a little serenity. Thank you!

Wonderful Christmas lunch 2025!! Excellent service and food, thank you so much!