La Piola

La Piola is the casual sister restaurant to Enrico Crippa's three-star Piazza Duomo, sharing the same building on Alba's central Piazza Risorgimento. Where its illustrious neighbour offers garden-driven haute cuisine, La Piola, whose name is Piedmontese dialect for a simple neighbourhood trattoria, serves honest, traditional Langhe cooking from a daily blackboard at far more approachable prices. The appeal is that it pairs the Crippa team's exacting sourcing with the comforting classics of the region: hand-cut carne cruda of local fassona veal, agnolotti del plin, vitello tonnato and seasonal dishes that change with the market and the truffle calendar. The mood is relaxed and convivial, a proper everyday trattoria with bistro tables, paper menus and a buzzing atmosphere, often full of locals as well as visitors who cannot secure or do not want the full Piazza Duomo experience. The wine list draws on the same cellar strengths, rich in Langhe and Roero growers, with plenty by the glass to suit the informal food. Prices are moderate, a notable contrast to the upstairs restaurant, which is much of the draw. Because it is well known and the dining room is not large, reservations are recommended, particularly for weekend meals and the autumn truffle weeks; lunch is generally easier than dinner. Its location on Alba's main square makes it an ideal base for exploring the town and the surrounding wine villages.