The oldest osteria in Cervignano del Friuli has been transformed into the gastronomic kingdom of Kiara and Marco, boasting refined furnishings in the decor style of Gustav III of Sweden and a cuisine that combines Central European flavors with the great Italian classics.
The story of 1883 Restaurant & Rooms starts from the friendship between Kiara, of Trieste origin, and Marco, from Pordenone, who, after having met at the cooking school, decide to start working together. A culinary partnership that resulted in 2016 in the shared dream of creating a restaurant that could make them feel “at home”, where they could invite their friends and customers.
Thus, taking the opportunity to take over the premises that housed the oldest tavern in the small town of Cervignano del Friuli, Kiara and Marco begin to “build” their food and wine refuge, literally by hand, repainting walls and restoring antique furniture.
We care a lot about the art of hospitality, and just like in a “home” kitchen we prepare everything fresh by hand every day, from filled pasta to desserts.
(Kiara Nemaz, chef)
The name “1883” is a tribute, in fact, to the origins of the place, and refers to the year in which the old tavern took the first license for serving drinks. The restoration wanted to keep intact the charm of its history starting from the beautiful wooden counter of the early twentieth century that welcomes guests as soon as they enter. The tables are also those of the old tavern, set up with a runner with the local logo inlaid precisely to give the opportunity to admire the beautiful veins of the ancient wood.
The original furnishings have been combined with a refined “Gustavian” style; an interior design trend born in Sweden at the end of the eighteenth century at the court of Gustav III. It simplifies the forms made famous in France by Louis XVI with natural colors and materials to match with mirrors, chandeliers and details in bleached wood able to give light to the rooms.
Sideboards, pewters, prints and old clocks were sought by Kiara in the most famous antique markets of Friuli Venezia Giulia to create an environment that recalls the ancient nineteenth-century residences with a Central European charm.
In the kitchen Kiara, together with sous chef Raffaele, experiments with dishes that start from the great Italian recipes, learned from her mother’s skilled cook, to have fun with the techniques learned at the haute cuisine school. The result is an explosion of unprecedented flavors, thanks also to the passion for researching traditional ingredients at risk of disappearing, such as the Blu di Capra artisan cheese or the sea buckthorn berries from Mortegliano.
On the menu, we find dishes with skillful and decisive flavors such as Cjarsons, the typical Friulian white tortelli based on water and flour that the chef revisits with a turbot filling, sheep ricotta cream and wild garlic, or the Rabbit roll filled with livers and prunes with cinnamon bone sauce, sautéed cow salad and rennet apple puree.
Honorable mention for desserts, Kiara’s great passion, such as the extraordinary Scotland trip based on Whiskey, Shortbread biscuits, goat’s milk cream and cocoa beans.
The old kitchen of the tavern has been transformed into a charming wine cellar. All the labels have been carefully selected by Marco, who takes care of the wine list, in particular choosing among the small producers from Collio, Carso and Colli Orientali del Friuli.
A passion for the territory that is also reflected in the choice of the excellent aperitifs and digestives proposed, such as Vermouth Santòn, based on Pinot bianco, Friulano and Istrian Malvasia and spontaneous medicinal herbs, including sea absinthe from the Grado Lagoon, and different varieties of bitters which, just like in the past, are produced for 1883 Restaurant & Rooms by various pharmacists in the area.
Despite the contemporary and cosmopolitan soul of the restaurant, the spirit of the ancient tavern is still happily alive: follow its social networks to not miss the events in which Kiara and Marco become hosts for an evening pampering guests with tastings based on appetizers and gourmet snacks.
The Secret
1883 Restaurant & Rooms is also an inn. The relationship between Kiara and Marco and their guests is so close that some of the 6 rooms, located on the first floor of the building, have been furnished with antiques donated by their loyal clientele.
(Ph. of the dishes tks Fabrice Gallina)
Useful Info
1883 Restaurant & Rooms
Via del Mercato 3
33052 Cervignano del Friuli, Udine
Tel. +39 0431 33217
Tasting menu: from 62 euro, wine pairing from 15 euro
Starters: from 17 euro
First courses: 16 — 18 euro
Second courses: 24 — 29 euro
