Sarnano Restaurants: Where to Eat

Where to eat in Sarnano: where to go

Local cooking in town. Le Clarisse is an osteria housed in a historic building in the historic center of Sarnano. La Marchigiana is a hotel with a restaurant and wine shop. The Compagnucci family has been selecting its meats for more than sixty years. The menu features regional appetizers, first courses with wild boar or truffle sauce, and mixed grilled meats, the signature dish. The desserts are homemade, from family recipes.

Osterie and restaurants in the countryside. Outside the center, in contrada Margani, are the osteria Scherzi a Parte and the restaurant La Patata Bollente, which also has outdoor tables. In contrada Romani there is another restaurant with outdoor seating. The Trattoria Da Porverò, on Via della Fonte, also falls into this category of slightly out-of-the-way places.

Agriturismo. The Agriturismo Le Querce stands on the slopes of the Sibillini Mountains. Besides the restaurant serving traditional food, it has a riding stable, playground, garden, farm and five-a-side soccer field, so it also suits families with children. The menu is not fixed and changes with seasonal produce.

Pizza and casual dining. The Ristorante Pizzeria Il Colle has outdoor tables. The Bar Pizzeria Da Marino also makes pizza to take out and has outdoor tables too. The Pizzeria Jolly Blu sells pizza by the slice. The Sticky Fingers Pub is a pub and pizzeria. For an aperitif or a glass of wine there is the Memphis Belle Bar, a wine bar, and the choice of bars also includes the Bar Centrale and the Bar my dream.

Other options. Ai Pini is a guesthouse with a restaurant. The Quattro Stagioni Ristorante & Cocktail Bar combines Italian cooking and a bar.

In Sassotetto. The ski resort of Sassotetto, in the municipality of Sarnano, has its own places to eat. La Baita Solaria in Sassotetto, formerly the La Capannina mountain hut, is at about 1,400 m on the slopes of Santa Maria Maddalena, which are linked to those of Sassotetto, and has rooms, a restaurant, self-service and a bar. It can also be reached from the slopes. In the Sassotetto area there are also mountain huts and a hotel with a restaurant. More about the area is on the page dedicated to Sassotetto.

Sarnano restaurants: the map

The map shows at a glance how the places are spread out. One group is concentrated in the historic center, which can be explored on foot. Others are scattered across the contrade (rural districts) around the town, such as Margani and Romani, and usually require a car. A third group is up in the mountains, at Sassotetto, where the restaurants and huts mainly serve those who come up to ski or hike.

Sarnano is about 30 km southwest of Macerata. Those staying in the area can also check the where to stay in Sarnano page to choose a convenient base for the restaurants.

Sarnano restaurants: what to try

Ciauscolo. This is Sarnano's signature cured meat. It is made with pork belly, shoulder and trimmings of prosciutto and loin, finely ground and seasoned with salt, black pepper, wine and crushed garlic. The mixture is stuffed into natural casing and aged for at least 15 days. It is soft and is spread on fresh bread, which here is made without salt, together with pecorino or ricotta. Every year at the end of May the Festa del ciauscolo e del salame spalmabile (festival of ciauscolo and spreadable salami) takes place.

Polentone and first courses. Polentone is a firm polenta cut into thin layers and baked with fatty and lean meat and a dusting of pecorino. It can also be found with tomato sauce, and it is a dish for the first cold days of fall. The quintessential dish of the Macerata area is vincisgrassi, the local lasagna. Then there are tagliatelle and pappardelle with mushrooms and truffles, or with wild boar, hare or duck sauces.

Main courses and sides. Menus often feature coratella d'agnello (lamb offal), rabbit cacciatore with garden herbs, beans with pork rind and erbe strascinate (sautéed greens). Before the hot dishes, a board of local cured meats and cheeses is worth trying.

Crostata al torrone. This tart is a specialty of Sarnano. It is made with candied fruit and nuts, especially almonds and hazelnuts, with spices. It is baked in a wood-fired oven, which gives it its characteristic crunch, and is made by hand. It goes well with a small glass of long-aged vino cotto ("cooked wine"). For where to buy local products, see the Sarnano local products page.