La Buca
Cesenatico, Italy
⭐1 Star
The Experience
From Michelin Guide
Choose a table on the outdoor summer terrace (right over the water!) at this restaurant in order to best appreciate its location overlooking the picturesque canal port and its period houses. The indoor dining room is also attractive, with its open-view kitchen and modern and elegant feel, while the menu focuses almost exclusively on fish, often served with vegetables, some of which are organic. Enjoy a wide selection of raw antipasti to start (some simple in their preparation, while others are more elaborate), then choose from an array of beautifully presented, modern dishes, such as stuffed mullet with pickled plums and lemon salad, perhaps accompanied by one of the many champagnes included on the wine list.
Unique Things
From Visitor Experiences
- Unique Design Concept: The restaurant's design and construction are the work of Andrea Bartolini, known as the "family architect," aiming to recreate the sensations of being on a fishing boat with elements like soft lights, iron, and rough metals.
- Local Sourcing: Ingredients are sourced locally, often directly from the fishermen of Cesenatico’s Porto Canale, ensuring exceptional freshness and authenticity.
- Raw Adriatic Preparations: La Buca offers a "Crudo di mare," a delicate selection of raw Adriatic fish and shellfish, highlighting the freshness of the Adriatic Sea's bounty.
Ingredient Stars
From Visitor Experiences
The most honored or signature ingredients at the Michelin-starred restaurant La Buca in Cesenatico are:
Raw Adriatic fish and shellfish: These are central to the restaurant's identity, featured in delicate raw preparations that highlight the freshness and purity of the Adriatic Sea's bounty.
Mantis shrimp (canocchie): Used in the signature dish "Tagliolini al ragu di canocchie," this ingredient reflects the local seafood tradition and is celebrated for its intense flavor.
Sea urchin: Featured in dishes like Ombrina stuffed with sea urchin, this ingredient adds a rich, briny depth typical of the Adriatic coast's marine flavors.
Local fish varieties such as Ombrina: Utilized in refined preparations, Ombrina showcases the restaurant's commitment to local, fresh seafood.
These ingredients are significant because they embody the restaurant’s philosophy of expressing the Adriatic Sea in its essentiality, using locally sourced, fresh seafood to create dishes that are both simple and elevated through modern culinary techniques. The focus on raw and minimally embellished seafood dishes allows the natural flavors to shine, honoring the maritime heritage of Romagna and Cesenatico.
Menu & Pricing
Current Offerings & Prices
Menu Options at La Buca, Cesenatico
Set Menus
- Fixed-Price Menu: €68 (no detailed description available).
- Tasting Menu: Details not specified, but available for exploring various flavors.
A La Carte Options
- Merluzzo con pomodoro (cod with tomato)
- Mozzarella di bufala (buffalo mozzarella)
- Spaghettino freddo con aneto, scampi e zenzero (cold noodles with dill, prawns, and ginger)
- Gnocchi fondenti di patate con burro e salvia (gnocchi with butter and sage)
- Tagliolini al ragu di canocchie (homemade tagliolini with mantis shrimp ragù)
- Crudo di mare (raw Adriatic fish and shellfish)
- Eel, pumpkin, grapefruit, and sage (no price specified).
Special Seasonal Menus
No specific seasonal menus detailed in the available information.
Prices
- A La Carte: Prices not specified.
- Fixed-Price Menu: €68.
Since specific prices for most menu items are not available, the detailed pricing information is incomplete. However, the fixed-price menu is €68.