Excellent Italian restaurant… in San Remo
Among the good news, one truly stands out: the discovery of a small restaurant with dazzling cuisine. A detail that matters—Ossi di Seppia is located in Italy.
Imagine you’re planning your next Italian getaway and, in the San Remo area, looking for a place to eat far from the crowds. Tastet has uncovered a gem called Ossi di Seppia (“cuttlefish bone” in English).
Perched in the hills above San Remo, seemingly in the middle of nowhere, the chef and his partner have created a beautiful, intimate dining room—delicately decorated and very comfortable. There are about fifteen seats inside and another fifteen on the terrace, where guests can also enjoy a magnificent view over the town and the Mediterranean.
Chef Cosimo Corsa crafts cuisine of remarkable finesse. On the day of our visit—brought there by Racha Bassoul, the Lebanese chef who had dazzled Montreal with her restaurant Anise before relocating to sunny Italy—several dishes on the menu were simply stunning.
As a convivial welcome aperitif, three bite-sized treats, each as delicious as the next:
- Warm house-made focaccia with chickpea hummus
- Fried anchovies and red mullet with parsley mayonnaise
- Pumpkin crème brûlée with prescinseua (a local fresh cheese) and toasted seeds—topped with tender wild asparagus picked that very morning by the chef’s mother, a saint!
For the “first course,” as Italians say, violet artichoke ravioli with pecorino fondue, followed by a main of oil-poached bluefin tuna with seasonal vegetables, white shrimp, and marjoram.
For dessert, a caramelized apple and cinnamon soufflé served with a small green apple and calvados sorbet.
Service is delivered with grace and professionalism by Matilda Bianchi, the chef’s partner. She suggests thoughtful and precise wine pairings from a well-curated list.
The restaurant offers exclusively a tasting menu, though they are happy to accommodate any dietary requirements if mentioned in advance. Reservations are highly recommended.
The restaurant’s full name is Ossi di Seppia – Cucina sostenibile, meaning “sustainable cuisine.” The wonderful memory you’ll take away from this place will be just as enduring.
Buonissimo appetito!
Written by Jean-Philippe Tastet
Photography by Alison Slattery
