Cantina Foresi

Cantina Foresi: Umbria facing the Duomo

Here, you eat in Orvieto, right there, on the Piazza del Duomo. It's not an address trying to wow you with frills, but one that sets you down in front of a monument and serves you what it takes to go with the spectacle. It's the kind of place where location comes first, and that's a fact.

What goes on the plate

The house is known for simple, no-fuss cuisine that gets straight to the point. You'll find classics like Crostini con paté casereccio orvietano, Bruschetta all'olio, or Caponata al forno. It's a cuisine that relies on simplicity, that of local products, without seeking complexity.

If you're looking for a big gastronomic thrill, you've come to the wrong address. But if you want a platter of cold cuts and cheeses, a porchetta, or a paté della nonna, you're in the right place. Their house wine is often mentioned, which is no small thing when you're in Italy. As for the setting, it is inseparable from the Piazza del Duomo. You're in an old cellar, a building anchored in a tufa cave, with outdoor tables that look directly onto the cathedral. It's historic Umbria revealing itself, with no artifice.

Why this table rather than another

You come here for the location, for the cordial welcome and the attentive service that many highlight. You come for a drink, for a break, and to eat something simple and honest in front of one of the most beautiful cathedrals in Italy. It's not a chef's table, it's a town-square table, and that's a reality you have to accept to appreciate what Cantina Foresi offers.