My friends and I are staying in Monticchiello (between Montepulciano and Pienza) for one night when on our way from Cinque Terre to Umbria in September. Our main reason in staying there was to eat at one of our favorite restaurants in Tuscany," La Porta". Lo and behold, it is closed on Thursdays, when we will be there. Daria, the owner, recommended that we instead go to her daughter's new restaurant, "The Cellar". Does anyone have any feedback on "The Cellar" or another restaurant called "La Taverna di Moranda" in Monticchiello?

Have eaten at the Taverna di Moranda twice, once years before La Porta ever existed, and it was a real find when we were very hungry. We had a marvelous pasts, and RED wine. (the proprietress would not allow us to have white wine with our pasta con funghi!)

Then a year ago, we tried for La Porta, where we were supposed to meet up with our joint-house-renting friends, but couldn't get in, so went back to Morandi, where the new young proprietress opined (when I told her the story) - "oh yes, that was my mother in law!!"
Once again we had a great pasta lunch. However, nice as they were, NO View!
It's a nice town, which I think you already know, but not many places to eat.

There is one other place, just opposite La Porta, which does have views, but is not strictly a restaurant, but our friends managed to get some drinks, and some bruschetta and other delicious appetizers. can't remember the name, sorry. Check to see if that is open, and if the weather is good, maybe preferably, depending on how hungry you are.

Funny you should ask. I just returned from two weeks in Monticchiello.
I don't think you can go wrong with Taverna di Moranda. The food was wonderful. The dining room is very unusual. They also have a bistro which has a smaller menu but I don't remember the hours. Also. They have a lovely gourmet shop.

Granted it does not have a patio but I wouldn't blink to return again. Someone agreed to split the Florentine steak with me. It is listed for two. It was huge and delicious easily could serve three people.

The area is lovely.

I have also eaten at Taverna di Moranda (3 times) and have had a great meal each time. It has a nice atmosphere and the food is wonderful. If the wild boar steak with a juniper berry sauce is on the menu, order it. It is one of the best steaks I've had in my life! (and not too large either- those Flintstone size steaks so are way too much for me)

You could also drive over to nearby Pienza for your meal. It's only 10 minutes away.

zoecat. The wild boar steak was not on the menu last week but doesn't mean it won't be again.
I really had a difficult time making up my mind.
There were ten of us so we were able to order several appetizers and pass them.

Sher and Zoecat, thanks for the feedback. We were disappointed because we arranged to stay in Monticchiello for the night in part so we could enjoy a nice meal at La Porta. It sounds like Taverna di Moranda will be equally enjoyable, though. I am not worried about a view as we are spending the night at Al di Fuori Del Tiempo in Monticchiello, which will allow us nice views to enjoy a bottle of wine before our dinner! I have realized that the actual name of Daria's daughter's new restaurant is La Cantina - Sher, did you by chance eat there or hear anything about it? I have read no reviews, but I think it is recently opened. Are there any recommendations that you have in the area?

Can you go to La Porta for lunch?

Sure, but call Daria for space on the terrace---here are some shots in May:
http://www.slowphotos.com/photo/show...at=4553&page=2

Unfortunately, we won't be able to stay for lunch the next day. We are spending the night only as a stopover after leaving Cinque Terre and on our way to Umbria. This trip was supposed to include a week in Tuscany (which we did last year), but all the recent trip reports persuaded us to try Umbria this time, a few days in Montone, where we'll visit Assisi and Gubbio, and several days further south at Locanda Rosati (on your recommendation Bob the Navigator), where we'll visit Orvieto and a few of the other towns (Norcia, Spello,Todi). So it sounds like Taverna di Moranda is our best bet for a nice evening meal on that Thursday, unless people have rave reviews on Daria's new place she now has with her daughter.

We stayed in Monticchiello during August 2008, and ate at both La Porta and Taverna di Moranda. The terrace at La Porta has a nice view, and the food was good, whereas Taverna di Moranda has no view, but the food was absolutely excellent - some of the best we have experienced anywhere in Italy. If you appreciate really good food, there's no need to consider Taverna di Moranda a disappointing second choice. On the other hand, if your primary criteria are a good view and great atmosphere, perhaps you should consider the other option.

Well, I made a reservation at Taverna di Moranda, and am looking forward to a delicious meal!