By Catia Giorni
In Sansepolcro, there are places that are now part of the city’s identity and are intertwined with the collective memory. The Berghi Restaurant is one of these: with its outdoor area full of flowers and colors, it welcomes us in the historic center giving us a break in the name of conviviality and taste. We had a chat with the owner Andrea Berghi, who told us about the history and characteristics of this place.
Valley Life: Why is the place known as “Grigino”?
Andrea Berghi: “The restaurant was born over a century ago. The nickname “Grigino” comes from my family: my ancestors had precociously grey hair and were called “the Grisons”. The nickname has remained and has identified my grandfather, my father and today also me. The older ones continue to affectionately call me that, and with this name the place is known in the city”.
Valley Life: How long have you been running it and how did you grow up here?
Andrea Berghi: “I was practically born here: I was four or five years old when I came to rinse the cups for my grandfather. At the beginning it was not a restaurant but a bar, the classic village bar: wooden tables, bottles lined up behind the counter, the scent of coffee and the sound of cards mixing with the stories of the elderly. Over time, the place has changed to follow the tastes of the moment: until the year 2000 it was still a bar, then it became a small restaurant that over time has increased its offer more and more, also equipping itself with a wood-burning oven for the pizzeria”.
Valley Life: And here you introduce a very important point, that of the culinary offer of the restaurant, which is very vast.
Andrea Berghi: “Yes, we offer both land and sea dishes. The goal is to offer quality raw materials, traditional dishes and preparations revisited and studied internally. Our cuisine is based on seasonality: the menu is updated about every three months to follow the available raw materials. This is also because, working a lot with local people, we like to offer them always different dishes, even revisiting Tuscan cuisine in a lively, dynamic, never predictable way”.
“To give a few examples of our dishes: in this period, among the seafood dishes we offer a cod with Colonnata lard and black summer truffle, an octopus on gazpacho sauce with burrata and paprika and a Mediterranean-style stuffed sea bass with basil, Taggiasca olives, capers and oregano. Among the land dishes we have tagliatelle with porcini or truffle, spinach and ricotta tagliatelle with white Chianina meat sauce and pecorino cheese, and a spaghetti alla chitarra with blueberry dressing, sour cheese and cherry tomatoes. There is no shortage of tartare and other refined preparations”.
Valley Life: And let’s not forget pizza which, even for families with children or for faster dinners, is always a great solution.
Andrea Berghi: “Yes, we have a wood-fired oven and we offer pizzas prepared with quality raw materials. The slow leavening guarantees excellent digestibility, while the fillings range from the most classic ones to fish, seasonal vegetables, truffles and porcini mushrooms”.
Valley Life: Upon entering this place, you immediately feel a warm and welcoming atmosphere…
Andrea Berghi: “We are very keen to pamper the people who come to us and always make them feel at ease. The welcoming atmosphere is also due to the family management that characterizes us because, if it is true that in moments of greatest work we are also supported by employees, our management remains so. In this daily adventure, I am in fact supported by my large family: my son Giacomo with his partner Nicoleta, a very good cook who is growing more and more and never misses an opportunity to experiment with new recipes, and my partner Elisabetta. A good team that allows us to offer continuous and quality service”.
“Our venue is also the ideal place for special events. Every year, for Christmas and New Year’s Eve, we prepare dedicated menus that combine tradition with creativity, always with an eye to the affordable price. We want everyone to be able to experience the magic of the holidays without worries, enjoying genuine dishes and feeling at home. And Christmas lunches are all this with us: the full room, the scent of hot broth, the laughter of children and the panettone that passes from hand to hand. In these moments, the restaurant really turns into a big extended family, where every customer becomes part of our story.”
Valley Life: Moments of conviviality can only be accompanied by a good glass of wine.
Andrea Berghi: “I have always thought that a good glass of wine is the ideal companion for every dish and every conversation. Our wine list was born from a personal curiosity and a great attention to the tradition. There is no shortage of historic labels from Tuscany, but we also like to discover small local producers who know how to surprise with their quality. If a wine does not convince us, we simply do not propose it: the trust of those who are with us comes first. Thus, those who sit at our tables can choose from a wide and reasoned selection, which accompanies every dish, in every circumstance”.
A place that is more and more – we conclude – a point of reference both for tourists who come to Sansepolcro and for the locals, whether for a romantic dinner or for an evening with the family or even simply for a tasty lunch break: “Here, every day, among tables, scents and memories, we continue to write the history of a place that has become part of the identity of Sansepolcro, just like its ancient walls and its most cherished traditions”.
Info: Via XX Settembre, Via Giordano Bruno, 24 – Sansepolcro (Ar) / Tel. 328 4871361 / www.ristoranteenotecaberghi.it