Agriturismo Lidia in Sardinara is perfect for those looking to experience traditional and excellent Teramo-style food, and only a short drive from Villa Vomano.
Bright & breezy, Lidia’s reminded me of sitting in an English mustard pot, but there is a reasonable excuse for some of these less garish yellows that you will find in Abruzzo, namely that there are four definite seasons and a warm cheery glow is much appreciated in the depths of Winter.
Back to Lidia’s; although there is a menu on the wall when you enter, like so many agriturismi here this is a legal requirement for displaying prices, rather than what was on offer which is instead based on seasonal produce, quite rightly. Due to one of us being a little ill we didn’t go crazy, but shared an antipasti – quite wonderful prosciutti & salami, and some of the best preserved aubergine I have had in Abruzzo, beautifully firm without a hint of the sliminess that I have been presented with in some places. These were served on top of a light pancake which was a wonderful change. For those who have a hankering after fried bread with your cold cuts served in addition to the pancake there is fried bread and some knotted Crescentina.
For our pasta dish we shared chitarra with polpettine, and I would have to say this was the tastiest polpettine that were interwoven through every layer of the silky noodle-like laces that are known as chitarra in Abruzzo – quite superb! For those that don’t know what polpettine are – they are tiny meatballs almost strand like, served generally in the Teramo area in a fruity tomato sauce but you may encounter lamb ones served in a herby green sauce.
As said this is a restaurant serving traditional Teramo dishes, so for the meat course it was a choice of grilled lamb or a mixed grill; we had the lamb that came deliciously pink and was fell apart succulently on the tongue. Accompanying it a great chunky fennel & lettuce salad perfect to aid digestion.
The house Montepulciano d’Abruzzo wine comes already decanted; I guess it’s from a stock room and initially when still cold it’s almost grassy in flavour but as it warms up familiar smells of plum and liquorice, again very very good.
Service is diligent and more than friendly; it was lovely that questions were asked by the waiters about where we were from, how we had arrived there rather, than being frightened off by the sound of two British twats twittering…
Price – 3 Course Meal, €30 for two people including wine & coffee.
Value for money – 10/10
Quality of food – 9.5/10
Contact Details
Societa Agricola Lidia
di Marcozzi Maurizio & Davide S.S
Frazione Sardinara 64100 Teramo
Telephone: 0861 329215
No email or website
Closed: Mondays