Osteria le Logge (Siena in Tuscany)

May 2009

Via del Porrione, 33, 1-53100 Siena

Tel: +39 577 48013
http://www.giannibrunelli.it/

Osteria le Logge is a lovely restaurant just off the famous il Campo in the centre of old Siena. It is the restaurant of the late Gianni Brunelli, a connoisseur of art, food and wines, and the walls are adorned with pictures of him and his exploits. He is also famous for his fabulous wines, namely his Brunellos and his Amor Costante (we had a bottle of his lovely 05 Amor Costante).

The restaurant has both indoor and outdoor seating but in the heat of summer, we chose to sit indoors in the dining room which is not air-conditioned but a welcome shade from the scorching sun. Le Logge is ostensibly a trattoria, although the service standards and food are more in line with a much higher end fine dining restaurant. It has a decent winelist, but we could have done worse than to order the wines under the label of the founder.

We ordered ala carte, and started with a pasta each, a spaghetti carbonara and duck ragout penne. Both were excellent, the carbonara in particular, simple and common a dish as it is, was very good (I suspect the freshness of the egg, onion and chives played a big part in it).

Our main courses was duck breast and a pork loin steak. The caramelised cherries were a good complement with the otherwise gamey taste of the duck (though the duck breast could have been cooked more tender - duck is very difficult to cook well). The pork loin was excellent (the restaurant rears its own pigs) and was both juicy and succulent.

We were in a rush and hence could not stay for dessert, but otherwise, it was a very enjoyable lunch, in a beautiful city in wonderful weather in summer. This is must-visit when in Siena (though Siena in itself needs no excuse to visit).

Food: Very good food and value for money

Wines: Good wine list although one need not look beyond the wines of Gianni Brunelli

Ambience: Relaxed and casual
Service: Reasonably friendly, no complaints