Piazza Duomo: Minimalist Yet Luxurious Flavors of Alba

One of these restaurants -my reviews of all of which will be posted in days to come- is Pizza Duomo. Italian Chef Enrico Crippa is at the helm of this minimalist venue.

Piazza Duomo was opened in 2005 in a street with same name near the ancient square in Alba, and became one of the classic names in the area. Walking past its humble entrance, its visitors are welcomed by a somewhat cold and minimalist setting with a slightly dome-shaped ceiling and pink walls.

Unlike in other restaurants in this boot-shaped country, the Italian habit of “loud-talking,” which is explained as a form of sincerity that comes with Mediterranean genes, leaves its place to a silent and peaceful ambiance at this tiny restaurant with a capacity of 7-8 tables.

Piazza Duomos’s style can be defined as minimal modern Italian cuisine. At the start of tasting menu, the first arrival was a selection of amuse bouche flavors. Similar to Turkish meze serving style, milk-fed veal filled “fake olives” came in small dishes; a presentation that reflected well the Mediterranean spirit. Although it was an attempt at outmoded molecular cuisine, the taste it offers cannot be denied. Despite its small size, salad bowl took our minds to endless lush green fields thanks to a rich variety of seeds and aromas it had.

My other favorite dishes were Piedmont risotto -despite its looks-, melt-in-your-mouth cod and pumpkin which was cooked with sous-vide technique, and lastly, lamb and camomile. I should not also forget to mention the selection of local wines from the restaurant’s high-quality wine cellar that successfully complimented the dishes.

This was my third visit to Piazza Duomo. In comparison with my previous visit, it can be said that Piazza Duomo performed poorly this time. Although I left the place satisfied at the end of the night, I should say the restaurant barely deserves 3 Michelin stars. Of course, two stars would be an underestimation too. However, while the restaurants that I recently visited even including Steirereck -whose review is up on the website- have all been chained to two-star bar for years now, this three-star award is a bit eyebrow-raising.

In keeping with the recommendations by my Italian friends, Piazza Duomo’s performance was up to scratch with the pleasant atmosphere and menu it offers. It ensured its place in my list of refined restaurants I’d like to visit when I go to this sweet region again --while I would not travel to Alba only for this restaurant.

Bon appétit and enjoy the taste of life…

Piazza Risorgimento, 4, 12051 Alba CN, Italy
+39 0173 366167