Bracali - Menu

This was our second visit to this hidden gem that is located in the small country village of Ghirlanda. This restaurant is rather nondescript on the outside but... read more This was our second visit to this hidden gem that is located in the small country village of Ghirlanda. This restaurant is rather nondescript on the outside but once you step through the front door you enter a beautifully decorated and elegant Roman inspired interior with pastel coloured walls and gold and black chairs and other furnishings. The restaurant is owned and run by the Bracali brothers, Francesco a largely self taught culinary wizard and Luca, who is a wine guru and also a delightful front of house host. There was an a la carte menu as well as several degustation menus to choose from. We both chose the Frank menu which was EUR190 per person. The menu included three amuse bouche, bread (including a gluten free bread), seven savoury courses, cheese, dessert and 8 different types of petit fours served on a beautiful multi tiered cake stand. All of the dishes were beautifully presented and extremely flavoursome. We had aperitifs of Anna Maria Clementi Frangicorta absolutely superb and Luca was very generous in pouring us another glass to enjoy with the first savoury course, the soup. Wine list was very extensive and we followed Luca 's suggestion in having a bottle of La Pace red 2013 which was only EUR70. Service was very friendly and efficient with the dishes being particularly well spaced. Francesco greeted us as we left and presented us with a small book detailing the extraordinary story of the development of the restaurant and the journey and significant difficulties, particularly for Luca, that they had to overcome to be where they are now at the top of their game. We can 't wait to return.

There is nothing on the outside of this fantastic restaurant, located in a very small village in the countryside, that will prepare you for what awaits you insi... read more There is nothing on the outside of this fantastic restaurant, located in a very small village in the countryside, that will prepare you for what awaits you inside, and that is apart from the delicious food. This restaurant was beautifully and stylishly appointed, with brick/tiled floors, white walls, gold and black light fittings, gold armchairs with black upholstery, Romanesque looking gold and black planter stands, large round tables with linen tablecloths and small vases of fresh flowers, and black, white and gold crockery that was specifically designed and made for the restaurant. It was stunning. There appeared to be three separate dining rooms and we were seated in the one in the middle with a great view of the kitchen through a large glass window. The maître d' was Luca, brother to Francesco the Chef, and Luca was ably assisted by Alicia who spoke very good English. We chose the tasting menu (Euro160 per head) which consisted of an amuse bouche, 3 starters, 6 dishes including dessert and a superb selection of petit fours with coffee. There were also 4 different types of house made bread as well as gluten free bread. The tasting menu included a type of soup with cappuccino and onion foam, a terrine of tomatoes with prawn tartare and passion fruits, Chianina tongue with a warm parmigiana cheese sauce and jelly chicken stock, gnocchi made with nettles together with a fois gras pudding and grape juice, pigeon with carrots and chocolate sauce together with a terrine of the pigeon livers with a tartare of pigeon fillet and risotto with mushrooms. The dessert was wild berries with gelato. Every single dish looked and tasted delicious. The petit fours came in a 3 tier cake stand with 2x9 different tasty morsels. Wine list was extensive. we took Luca's suggestion and had a bottle of the restaurant's own cabernet sauvignon which we thought was excellent. Service was impeccable. Luca and Alicia were friendly, attentive and informative. We were lucky enough to be able to thank Francesco before we left for cooking such a superb meal and were given a beautifully coloured container of their own olive oil a great momento of a wonderful lunch. We will definitely return when next in Tuscany.