We finally followed Simone's advice and we went to Lombardo. We loved it!

Lombardo is not easy to find. From Lucca, you have to take the road to Camaiore, and as soon as you pass the bridge over the Serchio, turn left towards Sant'Alessio. After maybe a mile, at the end of the curve after the sign for Sant'Alessio, take the road on the right towards Pieve Santo Stefano. Follow the road for 2 or 3 miles, following the signs for Chiesa Terza. In a curve to the right, you will see a restaurant on the left named Il Vipero. Lombardo is close! It is the second building on the left, less than half a mile after Il Vipero. You can't really see the sign on the restaurant, but there should be cars parked in the small parking lot and by the side of the road. You're there!

The restaurant is in a an old house, with a big room and a small terrace overlooking the hills. The view from the terrace is great.

The food was very good: hearty pasta "Lombardo style" (with ground pork and ground chicken cooked in chicken broth, with a little cream, peperoncino and probably some white truffle oil), delicate crespelle (egg crepes) stuffed with porcini mushroom, batter dipped fried veggies, oven-grilled chicken and a great steak. Simple but very well done. Add a delicious ice-cream sundae... and we had a perfect Sunday lunch.

The staff was also extremely friendly, they had no problem with our son sleeping through half of the meal in his car seat by the table, then asking for a ham and cheese platter.

At 55 euros, the check was very reasonable for 2 adults and a child.

This is definitely a great place, either for a small wedding or a reherseal dinner for those who seek an authentic Tuscan meal.

posted by michel, 2005-08-31