A lunch at Palazzo Castri: when taste becomes experience

There are places, in the world, that are remembered for a particular detail, an unmistakable smell, the color of the walls, a painting hung slightly on the bias, an ancestral reminder of something already heard or imagined...and then there are places you had never entered, places we would never expect, places we would never have crossed, on our trajectory, if some opportunity or chance of fate had not chosen to take us by the arm.

And Palazzo Castri was just one of those places there. Strolling around Piazza Indipendenza one late winter Sunday morning, we came across this hotel of generous proportions and soft colors. We were struck by its elegant structure, but without excessive frills, and the welcoming feeling we felt as soon as we chose to step into the hotel lobby.

The Sunday lunch experience at Florentia Café in Palazzo Castri: how it began

We were unfamiliar with the interior part of the building, which houses a cozy and charming bistro, we would like to call it, a small gastronomic boutique-which can also be accessed by guests from outside the hotel-and which overlooks through large, bright windows the Palace's excellently manicured garden, adorned with fruit trees, fragrant flowers and pretty little tables at which to sit-perhaps on warm spring days-to sip a drink or tea in good company.

Well impressed by the intimate and friendly atmosphere, with the background of soft lounge music and a few smiling guests coming and going ready to enjoy the experience of a Sunday out and about in the cradle of the Renaissance, we then chose to stop for lunch, once we ascertained the availability of a table for two.

From that moment on, Martina-the waitress in the dining room-was our discreet and knowledgeable janitor, accompanying us throughout the meal with grace, excellent standing and unfailing genuine sympathy that really never hurts.

Lunch: the menu and our choices

As a true professional of the trade, the very kind Martina made arrangements for us to give us a small table with a good view and sheltered enough to be able to converse undisturbed--although the acoustics of the room are very good, and this is confirmed by the fact that although a table of 6 people then arrived next to us, we were able to continue chatting amiably without echo or annoyance--.

Immediately after serving us room temperature water as requested, we were offered the menu, which we carefully considered before choosing.

What struck us positively was the combination of traditional local flavors and dishes with more contemporary and international contaminations, also excellent for those who experience a Sunday lunch as a quick (but still tasty and well-kept) moment before embarking, perhaps, on a rich city tour.

In this sense, then, the decision to go for different possible needs-the family table expecting a lucrative and generous Italian-style lunch, as well as the solo traveler who stops only for a few minutes and wants to nibble on a platter of local cured meats and cheeses-seemed strategic and apt.

The quality of the products, not only of those we tasted personally but also of the serving dishes we saw passing between the tables, is first-rate. And that is what makes the difference at Palazzo Castri: the authentic flavor of what is served, the certified provenance, the right balance between simple proposals and more elaborate options, dishes rich in vegetables, color and character.

Precisely in order to "taste" this duality and to also maintain a more local and traditional spirit along with a cosmopolitan soul, we chose a classic Italian lasagnetta, enriched with a basil leaf, and a club sandwich that turned out to be...a superb explosion of flavor.

Well-balanced and tasty lasagnetta, in which the authenticity of homemade pulled pasta was felt to perfection, the sandwich - an international symbol of the quick meal but capable, if one has the right means and a good dose of creativity - of being revisited in a gourmet key, the Castri Club Sandwich has generous portions, the freshest ingredients and a tastiness that is truly unparalleled (the word of certified Club Sandwich tasters, ed.).

To accompany this we enjoyed two excellent glasses of wine: a rosé from Fattoria Sardi with the lasagnetta, and a Woftal pinot grigio with the Club Sandwich.

The choice of wines seemed more than appropriate to us: the fragrance of the drinks never went to cover or alter the flavor of the dishes but rather enhanced their characteristics.

A very sweet conclusion. Lunch at the Florentia Café in Palazzo Castri is truly...approved

There is no self-respecting Sunday lunch if it does not end with a nice homemade dessert. Advised by Martina, whose gentle manner and impeccable promptness guided us through the courses and menu choices, we opted for a panna cotta enhanced with ice cream (strawberry and cream) and a chocolate cookie crumble.

The cake was very delicate, with obviously small portions, cheerful and bright colors and a tender heart shape.

This is a great course to share with company, so you can leave yourself with a fresh and sweet taste as the end of the meal.

Our Sunday experience at Palazzo Castri then ended while drinking coffee outdoors, seated at a small table overlooking the structure's striking Limonaia. It can truly be said that it was a lunch that took us by surprise, as unexpected as it was unrepeatable.

The friendliness of the staff, the hospitality of the premises, and the freshness of the products and raw materials used in the dishes are the added values of this little restaurant. If you have not yet tried the experience of lunch at Florentia Café in Palazzo Castri, whether for a midweek business meeting or a slow lunch on the weekend, perhaps with your whole family, this experience is highly recommended.