Antica Corona Reale
Cervere, Italy
⭐2 Stars
The Experience
From Michelin Guide
Situated between the Langhe and Monviso, this long-established restaurant celebrated its 200th anniversary a few years ago. Run by the Vivalda family for five generations, the restaurant started out as a dairy farm before gaining a well-earned reputation for its cuisine. Owner-chef Gian Piero Vivalda (Passion Dessert Award 2024) creates top-quality menus featuring expertly prepared, colourful and aromatic dishes. Popular with food-lovers from Italy and abroad, Cervere is also a point of reference for many local businesses who supply the restaurant with capon, guinea fowl, veal, Carmagnola peppers, porcini mushrooms and much more besides. The menu offers an array of enticing flavours, with modern dishes featuring alongside classic favourites, including a delicate raviolo of bagna càuda served with legendary bouillabaisse, which has made a reappearance on the menu after guests’ insistent requests. In summer, dine alfresco in the shade of a beautiful pergola among colourful flowers and a small fountain. Two small private rooms are available for intimate dinners, one of which is in the wine cellar surrounded by legendary bottles of wine. There’s also a small shop selling cakes and biscuits.
Unique Things
From Visitor Experiences
Two Centuries of Family Heritage: Antica Corona Reale has been run by the same family, the Vivaldas, for five generations since its opening in 1815, preserving a deep-rooted culinary tradition in a homely philosophy while evolving contemporary dishes.
Local Piedmontese Ingredients with a Gourmet Twist: The restaurant uniquely emphasizes local specialties such as Alba white truffles, Piedmontese Fassone veal, Cherasco snails, capon, guinea fowl, and Carmagnola peppers, sourcing directly from local suppliers to create authentic yet refined dishes.
Rustic Contemporary Ambiance with Sommelier Service: It blends a rustic yet contemporary interior style with a sophisticated dining experience, including a dedicated sommelier, offering vegan and vegetarian options while maintaining a strong connection to its regional Italian roots.
Ingredient Stars
From Visitor Experiences
The most honored or signature ingredients at the Michelin-starred Antica Corona Reale in Cervere are:
Lamb from Valle Stura: This lamb is sourced from a high-standard, limited-animal farm. It is featured in a signature dish served with vegetables from the kitchen garden, castagnaccio (a traditional chestnut flour cake), and fresh currants. The lamb is prized for its exceptional quality and perfect cooking technique, highlighting the restaurant's focus on top-tier local produce.
Vegetables from the kitchen garden: Including chards, French beans, shallots, and other fresh garden vegetables. These are integral to many dishes, emphasizing freshness and seasonality, and often accompany main proteins like the lamb.
Snails from Cherasco: Used in a signature dish prepared by Chef Gian Piero Vivalda and his father, these snails are paired with aromatic garden herbs, showcasing local Piedmontese ingredients and culinary tradition.
Capon, guinea fowl, veal, Carmagnola: These meats are sourced from local suppliers and represent the restaurant's commitment to regional specialties and quality ingredients.
These ingredients reflect Antica Corona Reale’s philosophy of combining simple, high-quality local products with refined culinary techniques to create contemporary Italian dishes rooted in Piedmontese tradition.