Eating at Alla Luna feels like a delightful time travel into one of Gorizia’s most famous trattorias. It is like returning home for the weekend for a delicious nonna’s lunch. Rustic, traditional, kitchy and most of all delicious!
Already entering into Alla Luna feels magical. There are dozens of photos of the inn’s rich history everywhere. A broom hangs from the ceiling, dozens of old, rustic keys are attached to the wall, alongside porcelain sculptures, old kitchen utensils, corks, glasses of all shapes and colours and other paraphernalia, all connected to the rich history of the larger Goriška area.
This historic inn is run by ladies who attentively walk among the fully packed trattoria, dressed in traditional ethnic attire. The menu is handwritten and draws inspiration from the recipes of nonnas Ursula Primosic and Maria Pisk, who were born in towns near the border with Italy in what was then Yugoslavia. All of this means we could speak Slovene, and the menu combined traditional dishes from both countries, such as Frico or Kranjska sausage.
Castello di Spessa’s Sparkling Ribolla is their house sparkling wine, and it did a proper job as an aperitivo. Even though the winelist features a selection of great wines from the region and abroad, we decided to go easy and stick with their house white, a delicious Collio bianco many winemakers would envy.
A delightful primo
For starters, we had palačinke (crepes) filled with zucchini, served with foamed butter, popcorn, and stravecchio (extra-aged) Montasio cheese, as well as the off-the-menu parmigiana. The crepes blended texture and thinly sliced zucchini with butter sauce and crispiness of popcorn, with flavours complementing each other.
The parmigiana felt like a trip to our childhood, especially the taste of the tomato sauce reminded me of times when we were making passata di pomodoro with nonna. And boy, how nicely fried eggplants, layered with cheese and tomato sauce, combined into a mouthwatering experience.
Meaty secondo
For the main course, I couldn’t resist the temptation of a Lubianska steak – a deep-fried crumbed veal steak filled with Montasio and prosciutto cotto, served with potato salad and wasabi mayonnaise that added spiciness to the delicate flavours of the veal.
And the beef steak with arugula and homemade balsamic vinegar. The aroma of arugula filled the place, while the perfectly seared meat was so tender it melted in the mouth.
Sweet tradition
The desert featured Gibanica, a cake made with ricotta from the Soča river valleys, apple slices, and poppy seeds, all layered into a delicious treat.
And the Gubana – a traditional cake where risen pastry is filled with a rich filling of dried fruit, nuts, cocoa and other spices. Here, presented with a shot of Slivovitz (plum brandy), you had to pour it over the cake to enhance its flavour.
Conclusion
Alla Luna is a unique and traditional trattoria that will take you back in time. The ambience features a blend of historic gadgets, utensils, tools, and pictures, adding a nostalgic feel. If you want to feel like you’re at a Sunday lunch at nonna’s, this surely is the place.
The philosophy of Alla Luna focuses on the traditional dishes our nonnas used to cook and presents itself as a Mitteleuropean cuisine. You will find dishes like Orzotto, Salamp tal aŝet e civole, Čevapčiči and others.
The wine selection features a curated selection of local wines (Slovenia included), as well as other prominent wine regions and international wines, including Champagne.
Booking your stay is highly recommended.
Trattoria alla Luna
Via Guglielmo Oberdan 13, 34170 Gorizia (Gorica), Italija
Phone: +39 0481 530374