Osteria del Gambero (Ubu Re)

Behind the Duomo Cuisines: Seafood, Italian

About

Ubu Re feels a bit like a private club, with modern art prints, soft jazz, and soft sconce lighting. Once a newcomer to a stodgy restaurant scene, in a city where institutions seem to have been around forever, this has become the best restaurant in Perugia, and it's pretty cheap to boot. The unique breads, pasta, and desserts are made on-site, and whatever else you do, be sure to order the mousse tepida di piccione (pigeon soufflé in black truffle sauce). They offer a "typical cuisine" fixed-price menu, a fish menu, and (in season) a show-stealing degustazione (tasting) menu of dishes prepared with Norcia's black truffles -- perhaps the cheapest way in town to taste how Umbria's elusive and most prized tuber goes with each course. The wine list represents the entire Italian peninsula well, but is a bit weighty on price.