Delicato

The story

Delicato – Michelin Recommended Country Cooking in Contigliano, Italy

In the quiet hilltop village of Contigliano, between Rieti and Terni, an ancient palazzo holds a restaurant that defies expectation. Ristorante Delicato is the realization of Chef Carlotta Delicato’s vision: a place where the traditions of Lazio’s countryside are treated with precision and respect.

The dining room is described as “affascinante” – charming and atmospheric, ideal for a romantic dinner or a family lunch. An outdoor terrace extends the experience into the mild Italian seasons. The setting feels unhurried, personal, and deeply tied to its surroundings.

Chef Carlotta Delicato, born in 1994, trained in some of Italy’s best restaurants before working in JW Marriott kitchens from Venice to Costa Rica, Budapest to Barcelona, where she served as Executive Chef at Fire. She is also a winner of Hell’s Kitchen Italia 2016. In 2025 she opened her own restaurant, dedicating it to her surname and her philosophy. “Being a woman and a chef is an important daily challenge,” she says, proud of the recognition women are finally receiving in gastronomy.

The cooking here is country cuisine – but not rustic in a careless way. Delicato calls it “gastronomia autentica”: sustainable, built on a love for the territory, using traditional ingredients worked through contemporary techniques. There is no stylistic excess, only proximity and memory. All produce follows seasonality, sourced from local farmers and small growers.

This honest approach earned Delicato a Michelin Recommended distinction, placing it on a short list of restaurants in the region worth seeking out. For those who make the journey, the reward is a meal that feels grounded, sincere, and quietly remarkable.