BORGO DEI CIPRESSI 12&2, Emma Villas

The portions are generous, and the prices, while a little elevated, seem fair for the ingredients and care that go into the food. Service was warm and attentive, and we felt well looked after. I only wished for some vegetables to balance a menu that leans so heavily on meat and carbs. The hazelnut semifreddo dessert, inspired by Ferrero Rocher and wrapped in a tempered chocolate shell, was fun, though a stronger hazelnut flavor would have improved it. Casale L’Aurora is well worth seeking out for dinner. The dining room feels cozy and nostalgic, with chandeliers, embroidered furniture, wood, and floral patterns, like your great-grandmother's living room in the best sense. The small menu focuses on meat, but the cooking is modern, refined, and beautifully presented. Dinner starts with warm homemade bread and their own olive oil. The bread's texture was just right, and we liked the oil enough to buy a bottle to take home. The wild boar pulled pork focaccia was a highlight, very tender and juicy, with its juices soaking into the focaccia, plus pepper and homemade truffle mayonnaise. The button pasta filled with rabbit was delicate, with crispy artichokes adding a great contrast. Carbonara was rich and tasty, though its boldness slightly overpowered the wild asparagus in it. Pork glazed with mushroom and marsala was tender, with a deep, glossy, earthy sauce.