EAT > Zirm, Ortisei Italy (16/20)

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Zirm sits up quite high above the busy streets of Ortisei, its only a ten minute walk (up a steep hill) but the view when you get there is quite lovely and is back across the river towards Mount Sëuc.

If you are a wine lover this is definitely a key destination for you, the food is great and the wine list quite extensive. Before you make a decision ask about the special list to see if there is a special bottle that is waiting in the cellar just for you.

AMBIANCE >

Walking up and out of the residential area, Zirm appears a glow with lights and outdoor seating that sets a wonderful warm tone, even if it was extremely cold the night we walked up.

Inside the restaurant is not large and the rooms maintain a level of intimacy, in our area there were four tables, that were not only very comfortable but were also perfect for people watching. In our case the neighbouring tables gave us lots of amusement with the variety of the guests.

EAT >

Our starter was Salmon Carpaccio with Caviar and red fruits which was delicious (clean and light fish with sweet and acid from fruit and salt from the caviar), there was some negotiation over who got the raspberries which were very sweet and tasty.

An excellent selection of breads with a very good olive oil, it is worth calling out that everywhere we have eaten in Italy they provide vast amounts of often wonderful bread and olive oil, but you never get offered free tap or filtered water… Its all about what you are used to I guess.

For mains I had a tagliatelle with black truffles (it seems that I just can’t get enough on this trip) which was exactly as I had hoped rich, but retaining the classic simplicity of flavours. Some grated Grana Padano was perfect to go with it.

Angie had an eye fillet with a beautiful baked potato and roasted eggplant. We shared a green salad, which was full of red radicchio.

The desert was an interpretation of an Apple Strudel which was nothing like a strudel but was outstanding, thinly sliced dried apple standing in rich apple mouse on a lovely super thin oblong pie crust, a highlight.

DRINK >

The wine list is excellent and was well represented with fine wines from around the world. We started with a glass of a lovely clean Chablis, the 2018 Premier Cru from William Fevre.

The for the red wine, it was a choice and give that I had never had any of the Sadrone Barolo’s and I knew by reputation that they are excellent, we chose the Le Vigne 2016 it was quite delicious.

CONCLUSION >

The food, wine and ambience at Zirm were all lovely and highly recommended. The service was a little variable, the young sommelier was excellent when he was serving our side of the restaurant but we often felt we were left waiting a while to get our wine topped up or order more water! First world problems for what is a very good option if you are eating in Ortisei but for us it did cut the rating by a point from 17 to 16/20.