Most oftenly I ask the hotel reception to recommend me restaurants, but most of the time they are restaurants that are popular on Tripadvisor and recommended by the masses and therefore not my style.
However I have a new way of asking recommendations nowadays and that's if there are any newly opened restaurants by young passionate chefs. Not always does it work but recently I have had a better chance in finding something good. This time I was quite lucky. The lady at the reception knew exactly what I was looking for and gave me a few recommendations.
I headed into town close to the harbour and had a walk. I walked past a newly opened restaurant Osteria Kobuta, which drew my attention. I decided to try it one of the evenings but now I really had my mind set up on another one. I walked and walked and seemed to always walk past the restaurant that I had been recommended. Finally, after probably one hour or more I found it...I had been so close but always managed to miss it. I asked for a table but unfortunately they were fully booked. The only table they could offer me was a table for lunch the next day(which I booked).
By now I was famished and headed back all the way towards the small streets close to the harbour to try out the restaurant i had passed earlier.
I chose to eat the 5 course seafood menu.
As a starter I had marinated mullet with pickled cucumber, fermented plum and iced cheese. This was good and refreshing but nothing that really wowed me.
Next came a zucchini soup with some mussels, bread, candied bell pepper and salad.
I didn't quite understand the salad on top of the soup, but otherwise the soup was really good and the mussels were really plump and tasty.
Following the soup was homemade gnocchi with slices of bottarga, parsley jus, aubergine and again mussels. This was probably my favourite dish.
The gnocchi was really rich of the flavour of the sea due to the local bottarga which I really like.
Halfway through the third course I was already really full and I still had the main course and dessert to go.
As a main I had slow cooked crusted Ombrina swordfish with a garlic puree, beans, mini aubergine and leek.
I was so full at this point so I honestly didn't enjoy the dish too much. Also I really didn't feel like the slow cooking had done anything in justice to the swordfish...it was really dry. This was my least favourite dish.
Even though I was too full I had to try the dessert. The dessert was good but way too big and heavy unless you really enjoy a big bowl of whipping cream.
The staff was nice and I liked the overall experience, but I really think they should make the portions a lot smaller in the set menu.
Also watching the young enthusiastic chef was a joy. He worked very professionally but he still needs to practice on his quenelles :)
I would still come back to this place as my overall experience was really good.
Next day I had lunch at I sarti del gusto. There weren't so many people at lunchtime but I didn't mind.
The waiter (Whom I later found out was one of the owners) was super friendly and charming. Although they had a recommended set menu for lunch he let me choose out of the whole menu. I was struggling to decide on which dishes to choose as all sounded super delicious. He suggested that the chef can make smaller portions and therefore I can try more. This was the best suggestion ever and I was super happy.
First I got a small snack plate with a portion of salmon and cured dried tuna. The Tuna had been made by the owners father (if I remember correctly) and it was amazing. I've had dried tuna once before and that was years ago also in Sardegna. I really wish to have more of this.
Next I had a portion of perfectly cooked cuttlefish. It was extremely tender and not too overpowered with flavours letting the star ingredient shine through.
After the cuttlefish I had Tortellini with a creamy potato puree inside. I honestly don't think I have ever had tortellini with potato filling but it was amazing. It was so buttery and creamy with a super silky texture. On top of the tortellini was bottarga and sea asparagus which are some of my favourite ingredients.
Next I had a pasta with lobster. The pasta was cooked perfectly and the lobster was very succulent. This was a very comforting dish full of flavour of the sea.
Following was a plate of pan fried wish. Unfortunately I can't remember the fish it was but similar to sea bass if I remember correctly. Also the fish was excellently prepared and beautiful, served with charred cauliflower.
Although I was full I couldn't leave without trying the dessert. I was recommended a liquorice and mint dessert. I love liquorice but normally I hate the combination of liquorice and mint or menthol. However I was positively surprised. This dessert was one of the best I have had in a long time. I loved it. The mint was very subtle and only added a wee bit of fresh minty taste that complemented the liquorice making it more refreshing.
The staff was excellent. Young and passionate and really professional.
I had asked the story behind all the needles and yarn rolls on the tables and sewing machines on the shelves. The waiters (owner) grandfather was a tailor and I was told that the name I Sarti del Gusto meant "the tailor of taste". The waiter had been working in Munich and had invited his friend from his village to come and work there too. The friend used to be a lawyer but loved cooking and had a blog called del gusto (the taste). Later on they had realised that they were related and that even the chef's grandmother had been a tailor. As both young guys had always aspired to work with what they loved they saw this as a sign. How could they not. With this kind of talent and all the signs leading them to open I sarti del gusto.
What a lovely story, a perfect lunch and perfect food. The service was beyond perfect too. I highly recommend this restaurant. And would love to go back any time.
That same evening I headed to Josto, which had been recommended to me during my lunch. It was a newly opened restaurant and it looked really good. I liked the interior a lot :)
First came the amuse bouche. A biscuit with butter of tuna and also a terrine of pork with white prat.
As a starter I had a cold vegetable minestrone soup with sheeps cheese on the bottom, topped with zucchini, celery and carrot. They called it a summer soup which to me resembled the taste of a Greek feta salad. It was really good and so full of flavour.
As soon as I arrived in the restaurant I set my eyes on the Big Green Egg (Barbecue grill) in the kitchen and was hoping to get some food prepared in it. To my luck, following the soup, I got an Octopus dish that had been grilled in the Big Green Egg. As soon as the plate hit the table my mouth was salivating. The charry smell was to die for. The tentacles were really soft and tender with a perfect taste of charred flavour served with a ginger and broth. I would definitely want to eat this again and again.
Next up was a portion of Risotto. They had used carnaroli cooked in Vernaccia wine from the region, and also local cheese. The risotto had a very creamy texture and the rice was perfectly al dente.
Next up was some super tender baby pork which obviously had been slow cooked like pulled pork and pressed together. It was really yummy.
Accompanying the piglet was some super crispy mouthwatering pork rind made into a sandwich. Who doesn't love crispy skin? Oh yum....so greasy and perfect for a hangover morning :D (not that I had one now)
The dessert was something typical from the region Torrone e pane saba...rye ice-cream and candied orange and rye crisp. It was something I had never tasted but yet it felt so familiar due to the rye. It even had a taste that took me back to Mämmi, a malt pudding that we eat in Finland for Easter.
The dessert was good and not so sweet. I'm not sure it goes on the top list of desserts but I am really glad to have tried something new for me :) I always like new experiences.
The dinner and service was great at Josto and would definitely recommend it.
My evening ended at an amazing hidden bar Biffi which I had been told about earlier. The bar was not the easiest to find but being used to finding my way to hidden bars I found the right door on the quiet streets. I didn't hesitate to ring the doorbell. However, for a split second the feeling rushes through the body with anticipation and excitement mixed with nervosity....will the door be opened by a welcoming smile of a bartender or will it be some old angry Sardinian whom doesn't want to be disturbed in the middle of the night.
I'm so happy it was the happy bartender whom opened the door to reveal the cosy interior of the bar. It was like a door was opened and I went back in time to the early 1930s with a feel of Moulin Rouge.
Unlike the trendy hidden bars of today this American bar had always been here and was at it's original state. This bar definately is one not to miss when in Cagliari.
There were so many bottles that I was even wondering if there would be a bottle left from the early 1900s hiding somewhere.
Time for the bartender to call me a taxi
Outside on a plaza close to the bar they had a terrace with some quirky seating taking you almost to Alice in Wonderland. But now it was time for me to head back and go to sleep :)
