Restaurant Itália (Coimbra), Hiking, Trekking, Walking Trails, Tracks, Pedestrian Routes, Portugal

Next to Mondego banks we find the Restaurant Italia, in the city of Coimbra, cradle of history and traditions. With a privileged location in the Dr. Manuel Braga Park, it has a clear view to Santa Clara and to the tranquility of the river waters born in Estrela and flowing in Figueira da Foz.

A little of Italy on the banks of the Mondego River.

It’s not always easy but we got a table on the covered terrace, literally “inside” the Mondego. We opted for Pasta and Pizza so that we could savor some of the diversity of the suggestions presented in the menu. The freshness of the ingredients is essential in the kitchen and the sauces made with fresh ingredients obviously stand out from the others, often disguised with excessive seasoning that adulterate the authentic taste of the products.
A “simple” tomato sauce can be fantastic if you feel the intensity of the tomatoes just picked in the garden. Obviously I know that it’s an exaggeration and an illusion to assume this freshness present at the table of all the restaurants but when the five senses are invaded by refreshing aromas, the sensations can only be the best.
Maria preferred Bolognese, more like almost all the children still discovering the immense flavors of a rich gastronomy.

In this restaurant it makes perfect sense the phrase “where the eyes also eat”. And I don’t mean just what they put on the table because with the breathtaking scenery on the other side of the window, the experience is really rewarding.
The price-quality ratio is good given the space, location and quality of the food. We can say that this little of Italy on the banks of the Mondego River is a restaurant to take into account for the next visit to the city of students.
After lunch and for dessert, we opted for a short walk through the green park where the smell of the wet land of the first rains carried through the air memories of the youth, stories of an ever present Mondego.