Locanda I Piceni

Asked by our friends two days ago where we had the best meal during our last trip, our answer was ..... it is difficult to decide on a single one because of different dishes, regional specialities, whether it is fine dining or casual etc. etc. However, the extraordinary thing is that at Locanda i Piceni we had two dinners on consecutive nights, tasting different specialities of the chef, drinking local wines or artisanal beer, and it was all excellent. The food is flavoursome, well cooked and well presented, served in an intimate dining room with discrete service. The young waiter is not very talkative but once engaged was friendly and attentive. He recommended the lasagne with vegetables and baccala` (stockfish), which we had to have a repeat serving before the main arrived! That's how good it was. We also tried artichoke salad with parmigiano, sauteed greens, ravioli with black truffle, braised beef in Barolo wine with mash, venison, and the desserts are also yummy. For such a small place, and we were here in winter (low season), the menu contains 8 entrees, 8 primi, 8 mains, 7 desserts and cheese selection. We drank an organic local red wine the first dinner (value 18 Euro) and the Kurni 32 Beer the second evening. The bill for the two meals was 82 and 80 Euro. We slept at the Locanda for both nights. Rooms are smallish, simple but comfortable, and reasonably spacious shower. Our window overlooked the lovely Marche countryside which is not the usual stereotypical Tuscan cypress one, but we think after driving around (and having been to Marche before), it is a very relaxing destination, free of bus loads of tourists. Just delightful. Breakfast was a good standard. Of particular note of merit to Giampiero (owner and chef) is the freshly squeezed orange juice and the offer of a savoury breakfast on the second morning (cheeses, prosciutto or ciauscolo), as he noticed we did not partake of all the sweets on the first morning. That's service for you. Also something you don't get very often in Italian breakfasts - toast. Giampiero and Mauro also kindly helped carry our suitcases on arrival and departure. We will definitely come back here and dream of having a lovely meal on their terrace in the summertime. If the Locanda is only rated the third place in Ortezzano and it is excellent, then a traveller may consider skipping the famous and expensive restaurants in Senigallia and visiting this small town instead.