Cravero - Osteria Contemporanea

The story

Cravero - Osteria Contemporanea: Michelin-Recognized Piemontese Dining in Novara

Cravero - Osteria Contemporanea

Eight kilometres from Novara, in the small town of Caltignaga, chef Gianpiero Cravero runs an Osteria Contemporanea that has drawn the attention of the Michelin guide. The recognition comes for the high quality of a cuisine rooted in Piemontese tradition but reimagined with a contemporary touch.

Cravero’s story begins in the family business – the Osteria del Leone, opened by his grandparents in 1955. After studying at the hotel school in Stresa and gaining experience abroad in Switzerland, he opened his own restaurant at age 24. That restaurant, originally called simply “Cravero”, underwent a thorough renovation in autumn 2019 and was reborn as Cravero - Osteria Contemporanea. The new name signals a shift: a return to the honest, ingredient-focused cooking of the old osteria, updated for today’s palate.

The menu celebrates the products of the Novara region. Cravero works closely with local consortia – for Gorgonzola DOP, Grana Padano, and other Piemontese specialties – and draws on the bounty of the surrounding rice paddies and farms. Classic dishes like paniscia, tapulone, and rusticida di lonza e salsiccia appear alongside house-made pasta and risotti. The kitchen also offers a “Tradizione Novarese” menu that is always available, paying homage to local heritage.

The dining room, designed by Giuse Donati, evokes 1950s elegance with warm ochre and ottanio tones, velvet accents, wood panelling, and geometric wallpaper by Fornasetti. Vintage Italian design pieces – including a lacquered bar with brass stools – add character. The main room and a smaller private salon seat up to one hundred guests, both opening onto the garden used for al fresco events during the warmer months.

The wine list focuses on local labels from the Novara hills, with the only foreign concession being champagne. A notable touch is the “Diritto di Tappo” (corkage fee), one of the few in Italy, allowing guests to bring their own bottle for a fixed charge of €10, provided the same wine is not already in the cellar.

At Cravero - Osteria Contemporanea, the philosophy is simple: cook to satisfy, not to impress. The Michelin nod confirms that approach is working.