Sometimes it’s good when your partner (like Mauro) is picky about choosing a restaurant – that way they can find a real gem, such as Home Restaurant da Elisa in Palombaro.

How We Ended Up at a Restaurant with Only Five Reviews

I’m usually vexed (especially when I’m hungry) by this Italian mania for reading every single restaurant review before making a life-changing decision called “where to eat”, but fortunately Home Restaurant da Elisa only had five reviews. And because all five-star reviews sounded intriguing, Mauro booked a table and that evening we went to find out what’s so special about it.

It turned out that Home Restaurant isn’t just a name – it’s literally a restaurant in a first-floor apartment. From the street, through the open balcony, we saw balloons hanging from the chandelier – it must be here, we thought, and we burst into laughter.

What Awaits Behind the Balcony Door

The owner opened the door and invited us into the living room, where there were two tables – one smaller for two (occupied by a couple enjoying sausages) and the other, larger, for eight.

That’s where we sat. The owner offered us prosecco and asked what we’d like to eat. There’s no menu – the dishes are freshly prepared, so you can eat whatever you want (to some extent, I’m guessing) or take the owner’s suggestions – what we did.

What We Ate 

As a starter, we ate two fried items – one was round, long, and oblong, so I approached them with a bit of suspicion. I shouldn’t have been, because inside were vegetables, cheese, and mushrooms. Heavy, as fried food usually is, but really good.

For our first course, we opted for pasta with a vegetable-tomato sauce and meat. A huge portion of very tasty, thick homemade pasta arrived on the table with a sauce made from fresh tomatoes. And even though I don’t like fresh pasta, I must admit that it was fantastic. For the second course, we treated ourselves to juicy pork knuckle baked in beer and a salad. And at this point, I unfastened my belt, because the portions were large.

To finish our very meaty dinner, we had a piece of cake – homemade, of course – and homemade liqueur. We also ordered water and 1/5 l of wine. The entire meal cost 45 euros. Unbelievably good value – a full dinner for two for this price. I’m still amaze ! I’m still amazed.

Domenico and Elisa – The Couple Behind It All

While enjoying the delicious, freshly prepared food, we chatted with the lovely owners.

The couple – 70-year-old Antonio (if I remember his name correctly) and his younger partner from Romania – opened the restaurant because Elisa loves to cook. She does this from morning till night, so you can have breakfast, lunch, or dinner there – basically, whenever you want. They also host private events, for example birthdays. They cook and sell food at a ridiculously low price to seniors, so besides being a business, it’s also a great community project.

Dinner, Conversation, and Cigarettes on the Balcony

I’ve already said the food was delicious – freshly prepared by Elisa using local ingredients. The joy of cooking and her pride in her skills were palpable in the dishes. I can’t remember the last time I ate joy.

The atmosphere in the Home Restaurant was uniquely fun – like dining in a friendly local eatery with a family member you’ve never met before. We ate in their living room, surrounded by their personal belongings, e.g. family photos and books.

We had a really good chat, perhaps because Elisa and I are foreigners in Italy and it was easy for us to find common ground. Or maybe because Italians simply love to talk – and this, combined with good food and wine, ended in a smooth conversation.

At some point, the discussion moved for several minutes to the balcony, as the owners and Mauro had a cigarette.

We spent over three hours at the Home Restaurant. Unlike traditional restaurants, you can truly relax there – you’re too surprised by the circumstances to think of your own worries.
In normal restaurants, if you bring your problems to dinner, you eat with them and leave with them. In this case, you leave thinking and talking about the experience.

But be aware: it’s definitely not a place for introverts – the owners will want to talk to you. But if you have just moved to Palombaro (by the way, many foreigners live there), the restaurant might be the perfect place to mix with the locals.

The Real Italy is here.

And I think that’s what I like most about Italy – even though I’m not its biggest fan (my excuse for living here is my Italian partner). Places like this, to me, are the real Italy. This country is full of small things that can leave you speechless, unexpectedly happy, or genuinely amazed.

Italians are undoubtedly megalomaniacs — always praising their culture, their food (in their opinion the best in the world), and their art (also the best, of course). From a tourist’s perspective, that’s Italy.

But for me, the real Italy lies in those small, unpretentious restaurants where people cook for you — yes, it’s still a business, but you don’t feel that way while sitting there.
And only by mixing this irritating megalomania with those small, authentic experiences can you say: I know Italy.
Because if you’ve only seen Rome, Venice, or the other tourist spots, you’ve seen just a cover — not the country inside.

So if you truly want to get to know it, go for dinner at a Home Restaurant.