A TERRACE NEAR YOU: ITALIAN FEAST IN CAROUGE
Vicolo39
by Chené Koscielny
Enjoying a delicious Italian meal bursting with summer flavours on a beautiful, shady terrace is one of life’s little pleasures we are rediscovering post-lockdown in Geneva.
We were tempted to try Italian restaurant Vicolo39 at the Auberge Communale de Carouge in Rue Ancienne, Carouge, which has a lovely hidden terrace with big trees and plenty of shade. The food is excellent and the menu interesting and creative with fresh flavours and a lot of Mediterranean inspiration. It is set to become one of our new favourite places to enjoy a leisurely family lunch or lunch with friends over a few glasses of vino.
A SPACIOUS TERRACE – IDEAL FOR SOCIAL DISTANCING
The restaurant reopened in January under new management and with a new team in the kitchen before being forced to down kitchen tools a couple of months later during the lockdown.
(There is also a cute little playground for kids next to the terrace, ideal for keeping an eye on your little ones while sipping your wine).
As restrictions continue to be lifted, the restaurant has now opened again – this time with social distancing measures in place. The huge terrace is ideal for enjoying a meal without getting too close to anyone else. The restaurant also offers a selection of dishes from their menu as take-away options from 12h till 22h.
TWO TOP ITALIAN CHEFS
The new head chef Gianluigi Alla (pictured top left), is a celebrated Italian chef with more than 25 years of experience both in Italy and around the world. He prioritises ‘art de vivre’ in the preparation and presentation of his simple, yet super stylish dishes. He is assisted in the kitchen by Gilbert Vallet, who has worked in several of Geneva’s top hotels and restaurants, adding a distinct modern ‘transalpine’ touch to the menu.
THE MENU – BE PREPARED TO BE SURPRISED
ANTIPASTI WITH CREATIVE FLAIR
At first glance the menu may appear not that unusual, but trust us, the combination of flavours and presentation is very original.
We start with a seabass ceviche served with a surprising and very tasty sorbet of green apples and celery.
Equally refreshing is the beef tartare served with a tomato sorbet.
Next up the crunchy panzanella Toscana – a bread, cucumber, olive, basil and tomato salad, which usually is served with calamari and grilled prawns, but my partner is allergic to shellfish, so we opted for the veggie version, which is lovely.
PRIMI
From this menu we enjoy Tortelli alla Parmigiana di buffalo – which is a real highlight – homemade tortelli pasta stuffed with aubergine and ricotta and served with a satisfying warm parmesan foam. Delicioso!
The main course was a tender roasted guinea fowl stuffed with foie gras and apricot and served on a bed of pok choi, glazed carrots and with an espresso coffee sauce! Very, very tasty.
DESSERT – NOT TO MISS
As dessert we tested the millefeuille with strawberries and served with an unctuous vanilla cream. We also tried the Amaretto-marinated peach melba served with a pistachio crunch and raspberry sauce – both are highly recommended.
THE VERDICT
We love this beautiful terrace and the food was a lovely surprise. So refreshing and different. The service was excellent and we never felt on top of anyone else.
It is a very relaxing culinary experience – which we’ll be repeating a few times this summer.
NOTE: Our meal was sponsored by Vicolo39. We only review restaurants we like and we tell it like it is.
OPENING TIMES:
Monday to Sunday from 12h-14h and from 19h-22h
Takeaways available Monday to Sunday from 12h till 14h and from 19h to 22h.
Terrace open from Monday to Sunday – 12h till 22h.
ADDRESS
39 Rue Ancienne, Carouge
Tram stop Ancienne (10 minutes from Geneva centre)
Nearest parking –
