Ristoro Venacquaro - Pietracamela

It's been 2 years since we last visited Venacquaro and we'd been many times before and had such wonderful food and hospitality.. Today, sadly, we were not to repeat past experiences as something has changed in a drastic way. There was no menu and hence no prices, just the waitress telling us verbally what was available. I feel sure written menu's existed before. The antipasto of cured meats and cheese was uninspiring and very small for 4 persons, even though it was suggested to order for 3 as the portion would be large. It wasn't. Accompanying bread was industrial and not good. Primi of fettucine and gnocchi was just not up to par. The goat was as good as we remembered it previously, but the mixed grill consisted of only lamb, possibly castrata and some pork. Where was the pancetta, the local sausages or any other meats that you'd normally get in a grigliata mista in this area? The male waiter was surly, inattentive and really should not be working there. We are so sad for Lena, as this place was so wonderful in the past, but something has changed and not for the better. It seems the passion has gone and we'll not be going back any time soon.

Always great homemade food. A wonderful experience at the foot of Prato di Tivo in Gran Sasso. Family run bed and breakfast. Wonderful for hikers, hunters, skiers or just a family get away.

Dopo una passeggiata dai prati di Tivo all'alto rifugio, cosa c'è di meglio che fermarsi qui per pranzo? Si può gustare prodotti genuini provenienti dall'orto, tutto servito con grande ospitalità dal proprietario.

Con un gruppo di amici sciovinisti. Vieni qui perché sai che mangerai ottimi arrosti ma poi scoprirai che il primo (radicchio e guancia) e il manzo misto sono pazzi. Christian e il suo staff sono veloci e gentili. Eccellente anche la bomba di calore portato alla fine del pasto come dessert! Prezzo eccellente.

This was our second visit to Venacaquaro and the food was just as good as the first time. A family run business with a real passion for providing 100% home made wholesome food. It is a very rustic place and has a warm and cosy feel. There is nothing pretentious about this place. We started with a wonderful selection of antipasti, including some very flavoursome aged pecorino cheese and the best tasting ventricina spread on crunchy bruschetta I've ever had. We had a range of primo, 2 opting for radicchio and guanciale tagliatelle, 1 with porcino mushrooms and an abruzzo style cannelloni made with crepes, not pasta sheets. All delicious. Secondi, not that we needed it was a seection of grilled meats cooked to perfection served with a side order of oven roasted potatoes. One of us also had goat, Abruzzo style which I was told was great. We were too full for a dessert but were offered some really fantastic limoncello cream and without asking we had a pile of freshly roasted sweet chestnuts placed on our table which just about finished us off! All in a all a splendid way to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon with friends in the spectacular surroundings of the Gran Sasso. We'll be back for sure.