Ristorante L'Acquario

Ristorante L'Acquario is one of the oldest and most respected restaurants in Castiglione del Lago, the walled town on the western shore of Lake Trasimeno, family-run since 1992 and a holder of a Michelin Bib Gourmand for its dedication to the lake's freshwater fish. On Via Vittorio Emanuele in the historic centre, it has built its name on a cuisine that few places outside the Trasimeno do well: the cooking of the lake itself. The signature is regina in porchetta - the queen carp roasted in the style of porchetta, boned and rolled with herbs, fennel and garlic - a dish emblematic of Trasimeno tradition. Tegamaccio, the local fisherman's stew of mixed lake fish, here enriched with crayfish, is another highlight, as are involtini di pesce persico, perch fillets rolled and cooked simply. Eel, tench and other lake species feature according to the catch. Cooking is rooted in place, honouring ingredients many visitors will not have tasted elsewhere. The dining room is comfortable and welcoming, with a relaxed atmosphere and a moderate noise level; dress is smart-casual. The wine list favours Umbrian whites - crisp Grechetto and Trasimeno-area labels that suit the freshwater fish - at fair prices. L'Acquario serves lunch, roughly 12:30PM to 2:30PM, and dinner from about 7:30PM to 10PM, and closes Wednesday. Prices sit in the upper-mid bracket, with the Bib Gourmand marking it out as good value for the quality. Booking ahead is advisable for dinner, weekends and the summer season, when Lake Trasimeno draws holidaymakers. First-time visitors should order the regina in porchetta and the tegamaccio to understand the distinctive lake cuisine that has earned the restaurant its reputation.