Tucked away in a sleepy residential pocket of Sabae, we found ourselves at *Regalo*—an Italian restaurant whose very name means “gift.” And oh, what a gift it turned out to be. Just when I thought I’d conquered every Italian spot in town, Sabae surprises me yet again. How many trattorias *can* one small city hold?
We walked in on a whim—no reservations, no expectations. Turns out, that was a bold move. The place typically requires bookings. Luckily, fate (and a few empty tables) smiled upon us, and we were seated at a cozy table in the back.
It’s a one-person operation—chef, host, and server all rolled into one. Respect. No wonder reservations are the norm.
We opted for Course A—the lighter lunch course, no main dish, just a curated experience of starters, pasta, and dessert.
The gray-toned room was soothing, almost meditative. Gentle light spilled in through the windows, like a Tuscan morning in miniature.
The appetizer plate was a work of art: mini tartlets you could pop with your fingers, a savory quiche, salad crowned with a refined jelly, delicate white fish carpaccio, and chicken ham. The jelly, in particular, tied everything together like a well-composed overture.
My main dish was a scallop risotto, dusted with bottarga (salted fish roe). Generously loaded with plump scallops, it was a dream for this shellfish fan.
My wife went for the Aglio e Olio with roasted eggplant. The noodles had a surprising twist—they reminded us of instant ramen. But hey, dried pasta is dried pasta, and the texture worked.
Tōru-kun chose the fettuccine with porcini mushrooms—and we could smell its earthy aroma wafting across the table. Wild. Foresty. Fabulous.
The homemade bread was warm, crusty, and devoured far too quickly. A beautiful supporting actor in this Italian drama.
My dessert? Semifreddo with walnuts and dried fruit. Creamy, nutty, and decadently chilled. A luxurious end note.
Tōru-kun and my wife both opted for the chocolate panna cotta—an elegant, understated finale.
All in all, a delightful hidden gem. Next time, we’ll call ahead. Because some gifts—*regali*—are worth unwrapping properly.
—THE END—
“Discovery consists not in seeking new lands but in seeing with new eyes.” —Marcel Proust
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