August 2024
Dining Review: Restaurant Ariston Bar – Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy
When I was looking for places to enjoy dinner during our stay in Cortina d’Ampezzo, I was surprised by how few places have a very good rating. One place stood out and I knew if we were able to, we had to eat at Restaurant Ariston Bar. They do not have reservations and I read that during peak season the line to dining can start well before opening. Unfortunately, we did not have that kind of time but when we arrived around 740PM, we were placed on a list and told to return in a half hour. And when we returned, we were escorted into the restaurant as promised – I was so excited for this meal.
The interior of the restaurant has apres ski vibes with natural wood from top to bottom and nods to skiing everywhere. There is a small bar at the entrance and a basement level where the kitchen was where the food arrives to the main floor via a dumb waiter – brilliant. The menus all featured different artwork and we all enjoyed that touch.
Speaking of menus, the menu is quite simple but this is a good thing – it focuses attention on what they do best and there is still something for everyone to enjoy. The menu is also seasonal so it rotates based on what is fresh and in season.
Bruschetta with homemade duck prosciutto and mushrooms
Quite a tasty snack! A great portion size to share and we loved the umami flavors of the mushrooms and the homemade duck prosciutto was a home run.
Homemade ricotta gnocchi with speck, mushrooms, and smoked ricotta cheese
My favorite pasta dish of the trip. The gnocchi were so soft and light and the sauce was savory with tons of speck (meat) and mushrooms. The smoked ricotta was shredded on top and it added such great smokiness to the dish. Absolutely loved everything about it.
Homemade tagliolini with white meat sauce and black truffles
Kevin ordered this dish and it was another knock out pasta plate. We were not sure what the meat was but we were surprised to find it in a white sauce instead of a red sauce but that with the truffles was a great match.
Inverted Cappuccino
Basically a tiramisu but we loved the creative presentation as a cappuccino and the dessert was delicious.
When visiting Cortina d’Ampezza, a dinner at Restaurant Ariston Bar is a must. In my opinion, there is no better place to get dinner. There is a great combination of Italian and German fare on the menu to please any appetite, the service is great, and the food is delicious.
Continue reading about our week in Dolomites here!
Read all blog posts for the Dolomites here!
Packing in a carry on? Read the full packing list here!
See our complete itinerary here!
Planning your trip? Check out the Perfect One Week Itinerary to the Dolomites here!
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