Ristorante in Sarnano and the local area of Le Marche

Sarnano, a short drive from the villa, is well served by numerous ristorante and pizzerias. You will probably notice different names for restaurants apart from ristorante, such as osteria, trattoria, agriturismo and pizzeria, but rest assured that all serve up a range of great Italian flavours to savour at about €15 a head or €7 at a pizzeria.

Some of our Sarnano favourites are listed below plus a few selected others. Please note that it is worth booking in advance as they will often prepare extra dishes. Also prepare yourselves for the ‘talking' menu as many of the restaurants will tell you the choices available rather than give you a menu.

Il Jolly/ Sarnano (€15)

(0733 657571) an agriturismo lying behind the villa,  a relaxed atmosphere, good antipasti, try the truffle tagliatelle, outdoor space which is useful if you have children who like to play while you eat.

Trattoria Ai Pini / Sarnano (€15)

(0733 657183) Reliable little trattoria in the centre, frequented by many locals. It has excellent pastas and meats and is very well priced. Closed Mon

Osteria Scherzi a Parte / Sarnano (€18)

(0733651 244) Very convivial atmosphere created by the owner Gabrielle, who speaks English and will translate the many lovely dishes.  Closed Wed

Ristorante La Marchigiana/ Sarnano (€18)

(0733 658 090); Impressive ristorante with varied antipasti, good first courses and meats cooked alle bracce/ flame grilled. Try the Cinghiale in Salmi (wild boar and olives in a robust sauce.  Take your proposed antipasti order and divide it by 2 if you want to make it to the sweet menu! Closed Friday

Bar Sassotetto / Sarnano (€10)

(0733 657192) Excellent pizza with very fresh ingredients. Try the Bresaola (cured beef, with fresh rocket and Parmesan) and the Super Piccantè (jalapeno Chilli). Take aways available. The green building opposite the park (closed Wed)

Il Pincio / Sarnano (€15)

Just out of Sarnano, 200 m towards Macerata, good pizzas/pasta and an excellent tiramisu.

Monastery San Liberato

(0733 694103) Good, robust seasonal menu and excellent wines and Belgian beer menu at this restored Franciscan monastery.

Pizzeria Da Marino / Sarnano (€10)

(0733657416) Buzzing bar with pool table, juke box and video games, serves up a mean pizza and is very reasonable. Take aways available.

Osteria Le Clarisse-  Centro Storico Sarnano (€13+)

(0733 658225 mob 3383845893)This is a new osteria in a wonderfully vaulted old building in the old town, they are very friendly and serve up simple but excellent food and we think they have the best house wine in the area (a choice of 7 wines- you can taste and choose your favourite for your meal)

Agriturismo Crispino: (€18)

Crispin is an English gent living in the hamlet above the villa and cooks up a mean 4 course meal using his own organically grown produce and locally reared meats. Booking by us essential.

Urbisaglia; Le Logge: (€25)

(0733 506788). In the town of Urbisaglia on the hill by the castle, they have a set menu of antipasta and pasta or just anti pasta which leaves space for their really amazing deserts. Do not miss the antipasta, it involves about 8 different dishes which vary each time. Most memorable have been an exquisite goose liver pate; seared roast breast of duck on a bed of roast red pepper and pesto, calves liver wrapped in proscuitto roasted on a bed of dressed fageolet beans, spinach frittata etc. etc. They do a chefs desert of 3 differing but complimenting puds. Watermelon and mint sorbet with campari, iced espresso mousse and semifreddo of vanilla and caramel is one example. Try the radicchio risotto (closed Wed)

Abbadia di Fiastra; Osteria La Selva

At the monastery there is a pizzeria and also an osteria La Selva that has an interesting menu with a good choice of game and a well stocked cellar at tremendous prices. (Open every day in Summer)

Ristorante Chiaroscuro, Belforte/Tolentino (c €25)

(0733 905499) If you fancy pushing the boat out and eating somewhere very stylish and ultra modern then this comes highly recommended. The food is only a euro or two more expensive per dish and the menu is split between meat and fish (brought fresh from the coast every day).
The antipasti is amazing, the first courses vary from Tagliatelle with a Hare Ragu to Radicchio and Sea Bass Risotto. The meats and fish and pannacottos are tremendous and it also has a very good wine cellar.  Closed Sunday night & Monday

Caldarola; Ristorante da Sandro: (€15)

(0733 905183). Situated in a small Piazza just beyond the main one in Caldarola, this is a lovely spot and serves up very robust food at amazing prices

Macerata; Da Rosa (€30-35)

(0733260124) Great Trattoria at 17 Via Armaroli described by an Observer critic as his favourite restaurant in the world! Modern twists on local dishes adding culinary surprises here and there- good wines. Closed Sundays

Macerata; Osteria Pigliapochi (€20)

(0733506788): Vicolo della Rota 8 off Corso Republica nr Teatro Rossi- Cosy old Osteria with well priced sumptuous local food. Closed weekends at lunchtime

Isola San Bagio, Monte Monaco; Il Tiglio (€25-30)

(0736 856168 mobile 03358006190) Pure theatre, fantastic 8 course lunches with wine in a lovely mountain setting. Booking essential

La Rimessa, Amandola (c€12)

(0736.847915) Tasty pizzas and pastas watching the world go by on the historic, main Piazza at Amandola

Osteria Al Lago, Lake San Ruffino, Amandola,  (€15)

(0733 660477). Run by a non-profit cooperative, this is a great spot serving up fantastic local food on the banks of a lake; they also run the local riding stables, a museum of rural life and a deer park

La Cantinella, San Ginesio (c€10)

(0733 656517) A real gem, this is an eating club (your party will have to join the club- annual subscription of €2) with a limited but tasty choice of local dishes at ridiculously low prices.

Il Casolare Agriturismo, Amandola (€20-€25)

(0736 848755) Drive 15mins to Amandola and down the hill towards Communanza, take the right fork for Montefortino, the ristorante is 1km on your right. Quite a sophisticated feel about this restaurant that cooks regional cuisine to a very high standard.

Agriturismo Tennacola, Via Romani 446, Sarnano, MC, Marche Italy (€20)Tel  0733 657844 or  cell 338 1569627

You need to book this little Gem a day in advance, but its worth the wait as all ingredients are from Marias own garden and farmyard including wines honies fruit and vegetables, most of the poultry , the wild boar is hunted around the ancient village of Sarnano. A visit to Tennacola is like being invited into an Italians home and being treated to the most amazing rustic fayre- A 4 course meal with wine costs about €20.

Agriturismo Ponte degli Schiavi, Via Fornaci 4, Belforte del Chienti, MC, Marche, Italy €20) Tel 0733 906117

Situated on the road between Belforte and Sarnano, this lovely restored farm serves up succulent meals in a lovely garden setting. Most of the food is grown by the owners or sourced locally and the menu always includes something a bit different, our dishes ranged from a delicious Papardelle with Goose Ragu and a Stinging nettle risotto. The antipasti included the best Ciauscolo, a local spreadable salami, meats were tender and tasty and the house wine well sourced and a bargain price. 3 Courses with wine was €20

Rifugio Il Tribio, Via Monte Coglia, Fiastra, MC, Marche Tel0737 52702743° 2' 9.5352" N, 13° 9' 16.6284" E

A superb mountain restaurant with great views and a lovely terrace for al fresco eating- right near the wonderful aquamarine lake Fiastra in Le Marche's Sibillin Montains. The hearty mountain food is wonderful and includes superb prosciutto, cinghiale in Vernaccia with pappardelle, Stringhozzi with wild herbs and roast vegetables, a wonderful stew with olives and shallots and plates of roast onions with our lamb kebabs. 2 Courses €20, 3 courses €25 . Beware pasta portions are enormous, share them ans hold out for the next course.

Hotel Terme, Piazza della Libertà, Sarnano, MC, Marche, Italy

http://www.hoteltermesarnano.it/index-en.php Tel +39 0733 657166-

Set in one of the oldest buildings outside the medieval Centro Storico of Sarnano, the hotel, positioned in a prime position in the main square, has been lovingly restored with an art Nouveaux frontage and lavishly styled bar and ristorante. Food ranges from superb pizzas to home made egg pasta, accompanied by a fine wine list and a very naughty gelateria. Prices for a pasta or pizza dish are a very reasonable  €7.