Following the succuss of their first eatery on the rue Louvigny, the opening of their third restaurant Bastacosi on Avenue Pasteur in Limpertsberg has piqued the interest of many Luxembourg residents and workers.
The owner, Alexandre, explained to us that, since its opening in 2004 on ue Louvigny and the subquent expansion to Brussels where they opened their second restaurant in 2008, the third one opened its doors at the end of last year. Their successful formula is based on combining the best of Italian cuisine (à la Mama), particularly from the Puglia region - also from Milan, Rome and Florence - and being cost-conscious towards diners, providing quality, atmosphere and Italian passion.
The menu is extensive and comines far more that just pizza and pasta, with plenty of fish and meat dishes so trypical of the south of Italy, with a wide array of salads also available. The trendy interior is brightly lit, helped by the covered conservatory are towards the rear, and the tables are not placed too close to one another, offering intimate and discreet conversations; it is also suited to large groups are the tables can be rearranged accordingly. Around 110 diners can be seated at any one time.
The weekly menu offers a 2-course meal for €17.90 and a 3-course meal for €21.50, with a Plat du Jour just €13.90.
As well as its homemade condiments, the delicious bread is baked daily on the premises - we were offered a taste of Italian "sandwiches" made with their own focaccia. The Ministrone soup was refreshing, served with flat-leaved parsley. We managed a taste of a number of main dishes - the Linguini Scampi had a real seafood taste; the Broccoli Risotto was served with crispy pancetta and prawns; the Fusilli was perfectly cooked al dente and served with ham and mushrooms; the Penne Al Arribiata was made with fresh chillies and tomatoes and perfectly cooked and presented; and the Spaghetti with olive oil and chillies presented the palate with another distinguished taste.
With the kitchen offering a strong Puglia influence, the wine card offers a wide range of wines, with discerning diners delighting in an interesting range of Grappa.
With pleasant piped music not too loud that it could spoil diners' enjoyment, subtle lighting and great taste and presentation, Bastacosi in Léimpertsberg is definitely woth checking out, either at lunchtime or for an evening dinner.
Bastacosi is located at 18 Avenue Pasteur, L-2310 Luxembourg-Limpertsberg, just 100m from the Glacis open-air car-park. For reservations, e-mail: glacis@bastacosi.lu or tel: 2628-8555 or online at www.convivoo.com/fr.
Photos by Geoff Thompson
