President
Pompei, Italy
⭐1 Star
The Experience
From Michelin Guide
The menu at this restaurant features traditional dishes from Campania with updated twists, some of which (such as the “sigilinium” bread) even date back to Ancient Roman times. The cuisine, which is always delicious and beautifully presented, is showcased on various tasting menus from which individual dishes can also be chosen à la carte style and swapped from one menu to another. Although we chose to order fish (we particularly enjoyed the “Mediterraneo da scoprire” grouper dish), there is also a vegetable-based option. The front of house is overseen by the chef’s friendly and efficient wife, who is happy to offer wine recommendations and willing to open bottles of finer wines even if you only want one glass.
Unique Things
From Visitor Experiences
Intimate Dining Setting with Only Five Tables
The President restaurant in Pompei is uniquely small and intimate, comprising just five tables within 150 square meters, creating an exclusive and personalized dining experience rarely found in Michelin-starred establishments.Chef Paolo Gramaglia’s Philosophy: Tradition Without Nostalgia
Chef Paolo Gramaglia leads the kitchen with a focus on traditional Campanian cuisine, emphasizing seasonality and local raw materials. His approach is to reinterpret these traditions creatively but without clinging to nostalgia, offering a modern yet deeply rooted gastronomic experience.Close Chef-Guest Interaction and Commitment
Chef Gramaglia is notably present and accessible, staying at the restaurant except during weekly rest days, ensuring guests can meet him and experience dishes crafted personally with great attention to detail and customer connection.
Ingredient Stars
From Visitor Experiences
The most honored or signature ingredients at the Michelin-starred restaurant President in Pompei include:
Traditional Campanian ingredients: The cuisine is deeply rooted in Campanian tradition, with a focus on local and historical elements reinterpreted innovatively by chef Paolo Gramaglia.
Sigilinium bread: A traditional bread from the region, featured on the menu as a nod to ancient culinary heritage, updated with a modern twist.
White chocolate and pomegranate: Used notably in a signature dessert that concludes the tasting menu, combining soft white chocolate with pomegranate to create a refined and elegant flavor finale.
Fruit of Dubai: A less honeyed and sugary fruit used in the final course, symbolizing a geographical and flavor journey that reflects the restaurant's concept.
These ingredients highlight the restaurant's philosophy of blending tradition with innovation, offering diners a culinary journey through Campania with creative and elegant presentations.