Il Calandrino

The story

Il Calandrino in Padova – Informal Italian Dining by the Alajmo Family

Il Calandrino

In the small town of Sarmeola di Rubano, just outside Padova, Il Calandrino offers something rare: the culinary precision of the Alajmo family in an utterly informal setting. The restaurant’s own motto — “L’informalità a tavola” — captures the spirit. From breakfast to late dinner, the space welcomes guests without ceremony, yet the cooking is unmistakably anchored in the same kitchen that powers the three-Michelin-starred Le Calandre, next door.

The menu draws on the same high-quality ingredients as its sibling, with seasonal dishes rotating alongside signatures like tagliolini all’aneto with seafood and pistachio sauce, or the tartara di Erminio. The pastry department, led by Max Alajmo, is a highlight: here, butter is replaced with extra-virgin olive oil, and dairy sensations are recreated using only water. The result is a lightness and purity of flavour that makes each pastry unique. Among the sweets, the Pazientina — a classic Padovan cake — appears in the original version by mamma Rita.

The team reflects the same family warmth. Laura Alajmo greets guests in the morning, while Elena Brussa Toi coordinates the service, elevating simplicity to excellence. This is contemporary Italian cuisine at its most approachable, and the Michelin Recommended distinction recognises the consistency and care behind every dish.