The story
L'Argaj takes its name from the Piedmontese word for the deep pleasure you feel after a good meal. That sense of contentment is what Valentina Travaglio and Andrea Scarzello set out to create when they opened their own place in Castiglione Falletto in 2015. The couple had spent the previous five years running the Locanda del Centro in the same village, learning the realities of restaurant management. But their vision had outgrown the traditional menu of vitello tonnato and tajarin. They wanted more freedom – for Andrea to cook with wider influences, for Valentina to build a wine list that truly reflected the territory.
Perched on the Montanello hill, L'Argaj sits on the road between Grinzane and Monforte. The dining room was recently redesigned: softer lighting, dark wool-covered tables (no tablecloths), comfortable chairs in yellow and petrol green, and a wood floor. Large windows face southwest, framing the Monprivato vineyard and the rolling hills of Barolo. On summer evenings, the sunset pours through the glass as courses arrive. A terrace with umbrellas offers outdoor seating with the same panorama.
Valentina leads the front of house with a style she describes as “simple, direct, and attentive.” The atmosphere is informal but measured – the kind of place where you can talk without raising your voice.
Andrea Scarzello’s cooking starts with the Piedmontese larder – hazelnuts, wild herbs, the region’s famous beef and game. But he doesn’t stop there. “The base is the territory,” he says. “From there I feel free to move, adding ingredients and suggestions that come from further away.” The menu changes with the seasons, and the balance he aims for is as much about lightness as flavour: he wants guests to leave satisfied but not heavy.
The current carte includes antipasti like carne cruda all’albese with sweet potato chips, smoked curd, liquorice, and chamomile; and tataki di fassona with almond ricotta and marinated cherries. First courses range from a fusillone cooked in tomato extract with raw meat polpette to reginette stuffed with oxtail in a walnut sauce. Secondi feature piccione with figs and finferli, and capretto alla brace with nettles, wild garlic, and lemon.
For those who prefer a curated journey, there are three tasting menus: the Piccolo Menu (45€), the Menu Tradizione (60€), and the My Way menu (75€), a five-course surprise plus dessert.
Valentina has assembled a wine list that pairs naturally with the food – strong on Barolo and other Piedmontese reds, but also including Italian whites and a selection served by the glass via Coravin. The list is updated regularly as new discoveries are made.
L'Argaj’s thoughtful approach to Piedmontese cuisine has earned it a Michelin Recommended badge for 2026. It’s a recognition that aligns with the restaurant’s own philosophy: not an endpoint, but a point of departure for continued exploration.
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