Coup de scene in the world of great Italian catering: Massimo Bottura, chef and owner of the legendary Osteria Francescana in Modena, restaurant awarded with three Michelin stars, elected first restaurant in the world in the list of The World's 50 Best Restaurants Awards 2016 in New York (first Italian restaurant to win the title) called by the Italian government to cooking for heads of state or government, such as the then French president François Hollande, or the German chancellor Angela Merkel at the Ferrari Museum in Maranello, or even for the former American president Barack Obama was dethroned in the Gambero Restaurant Guide Rosso 2018 and placed in second place on the podium of the best restaurants in Italy awarded with the three forks.
Niko Romito climbs to first place this year, self-taught cook, in love with the area, son of pastry chefs, former economics student dedicated to cooking for family reasons who from a modest inn set up by his father arrived at a former 500th century convent, the Reale di Castel di Sangro in the National Park d'Abruzzo, winning three Michelin stars and quickly placing himself among the best fifty chefs in the world. And who, among other things, also finds the time to design the restaurants of the new Bulgari Hotels around the world in Beijing, Dubai, Shanghai and Moscow.
In the ranking drawn up by the Gambero Rosso judges, in second position next to Bottura is another mythical character of Italian catering, Heinz Beck de la Pergola of the Rome Cavalieri hotel in Rome.
With 38 Three Forks which reward Italian haute cuisine and 25 Three Prawns which reward the trattorias guardians of family wisdom, the list of recommendations in the Del Gambero Rosso Guide this year reaches the highest number ever since the guide was born. A sign that – observe the curators – Italian cuisine is more mature than ever, the best exponents of Made in Italy unite and send a clear message to the world: it is no longer time for sterile style exercises, but for concreteness and immediacy of flavors and the territory remains the nerve center of the system and at the heart of everything is the ingredient.
Returning to the awards, the list of the best restaurants in Italy continues with a vote of 94 points out of 100 with Piazza Duomo in Alba (CN), Villa Crespi in Orta San Giulio (NO), Le calanders in Rubano (PD), Don Alfonso 1890 of Sant'Agata sui Due Golfi (NA), the Torre del Saracino of Vico Equense (NA).
At 93 points are Uliassi di Senigallia (AN) tied with the Enoteca Pinchiorri (FI), at 92 the Sant Hubertus of the Rosa Alpina hotel in San Cassiano (BZ), Laite di Sappada (BL), the Seta of the Mandarin Oriental Milan (MI), the Trout of Rivodutri (RI), Siriola of the hotel Ciasa Salares of San Cassiano (BZ), Lorenzo of Forte dei Marmi (LU), Dal Pescatore of Canneto Sull'Oglio (MN), Da Vittorio of Brusaporto (BG).
With 91 votes the list continues with La Madia di Licata (AG), Berton (MI), Taverna Estia di Brusciano (NA), Duomo (RG), Madonnina del Pescatore di Senigallia (AN), Ilario Vinciguerra of the Restaurant in Gallarate ( VA), Casa Vissani in Baschi (TR).
At 90 we find Le Colline ciociare of Acuto (FR), il Pagliaccio (Rome), Altman at Villa Rospigliosi of Lamporecchio (PT), Enrico Bartolini Mudec Restaurant (Mi), D'O of Cornaredo (MI), Pascucci at the Porticciolo of Fiumicino (Rome), S'Apossentu di casa Puddu in Siddi (VS), To friends since 1887 in Udine, Imago of the Hassler hotel (Rome), Miramonti l'Altro in Concesio (BS), Da Caino in Montemerano (GR), A stroll in Massa Lubrense (NA), Romano di Viareggio (LU).
The Novelty of the Year award went to Lord thank you, the new creature of Michele Biagiola in Montecosaro (MC) while the one as Restaurateur of the year to Stefan Wieser of la Siriola of the Hotel Ciasa Salares of San Cassiano (BZ).
The prize of the Three Shrimps, that is, trattorias that exalt territory and family traditions with an eye to quality went to: Locanda Mariella in Calestano, La locandiera Bernalda in Matera, La Madia Brione in Brescia, Masseria Barbera in Minervino Murge, Nero di sepia in Trieste, Osteria Ophice of Offida, Osteria del Treno of Milan, Pretzhof in Val di Vizze, Sora Maria Arcangelo of Olevano Romano, Tischi Toschi of Taormina, Tripe of Milan, Vecchia Marina of Roseto degli Abruzzi, Osteria of the villa from 1900 of Palazzolo sull'Oglio, and again Angiolina di Pisciotta in Salerno, Antica Osteria del Mirasole, Locanda di San Giovanni in Persiceto, Ancient Flavors of Andria, Osteria Bottega Bologna, La Brinca in Ne, Ai Cacciatori di Cavasso Nuovo, Il Capanno di Spoleto, the Consortium of Turin, Al convent of Cetara, Caffè La Crepa of Isola Dovarese, Futura Osteria of Monteriggioni, La Locanda Delle Grazie of Curtatone.
A particularly interesting special prize went to restaurants that stand out for their excellent value for money. There is something for all budgets, especially for those who are budget conscious: La Clusaz Gignod in Aosta, from Fausto to Cavatore, Stefano Paganini at the Corte degli Alfieri in Magliano Alfieri, the Tower of Spilimbergo, La Vite di Coriano, That fantastic Thursday in Ferrara, In Patent in Livorno, Sale Fino in Siena, Al mare in Fano, Nana Piccolo Bistrò in Senigallia, Satricum in Latina, Zunica 1880 in Civitella del Tronto, Borgo Spoltino in Mosciano Sant'Angelo, Il Papavero in Eboli, Megaron Paternopoli, the Forum of the Barons in Puglianello, Osteria Arbustico in Valva, La Strega in Palagianello, Biafora in San Giovanni in Fiore, Pomodoro in Scicli, Su Carduleu in Abbasanta, Lucitta in Tortolì.
