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Editorial Meaux
Published on
Dec 8 2024 at 12:00 p.m.
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Located in the heart of the village, the La Locanda restaurant has been offering its specialties from the Italian regions for twenty-one years.
The Location
Located around thirty kilometers from Paris, in the center of the rural town of Jablines, La Locanda (which could be translated from Italian by the words “relais” or “inn”) can accommodate up to 40 place settings. During the summer, the terrace is open and the service can be done outdoors.
Inside, the tables are set up in two beautiful rooms, far enough away from each other for customers to have enough privacy. Finally, Jablines is a quiet village and connoisseurs come knowing that they can taste their dishes in complete quietude.
The mind
Francesco Bisignano, at the helm of the restaurant since its opening 21 years agogives primary importance to the family spirit of its establishment. He likes to point out: “Customers come back, they feel comfortable, some have become friends. Many people know how important service is to us.”
The menu is renewed almost daily, depending on seasonal products. The chef only works with fresh products, which he himself purchased in Rungis or from historical suppliers. “The product inspires. I want to see my goods before cooking them”assures Francesco Bisignano. He makes seven different pastas himself, which he makes with his “Monferrina”, his pasta machine. Restaurant regulars, especially for lunch, can come three or four times a week and the chef must question himself every day.
La Locanda also offers takeaway salesmainly pizzas. A large reception room, at the rear of the restaurant, can be privatized and accommodate more than forty guests for a family or professional event. The chef notes that his restaurant welcomes a lot of families and that pizzas are most often the choice of children while adults tend to turn to his specialties.
The team
Francesco Bisignano is chef in the kitchen. He did thehotel school in Italy. He first worked in the gastronomic restaurant “Il Piacere” in Paris in the 17th arrondissement. Then, he joined the kitchens of the Piccola Italia restaurant for ten years in Perreux. Then, he opened La Stationne in Noisy-le-Grand. But the lack of rurality of the place pushed him to Jablines where he renovated the old village grocery store to inaugurate the Locanda in 2003.
It is his wife, Véronique, who manages the room. They have been helped by the young Raphaël Pafundi for six years. The trio is well established. They are used to working together and, depending on the crowd, are totally versatile. They are aware of the importance of a smile, of knowing how to welcome and have made it one of their assets.
The plate
La Locanda is much more than a pizzeria, it's a Italian restaurant, typical and traditional. Francesco Bisignano is uncompromising: “We only serve processed things”. On its plate you will find all the classic specialties of the Italian regions, cooked according to the seasons, such as the chops Neapolitan, the zuccoto Tuscan or eggnog calabrais.
The flagship dish of Locanda is the Scamorzaa specialty of Calabrian Sila. Vegetarians will find something on the menu to create a meal that respects their diet: vegetables are always ready to be served.
The wine list has around ten references which cover all wine regions of the Boot. The dishes are generously served and customers can go home with what they didn't drink or eat.
L’addition
Despite the inflationary period, the increase in prices on the card remained moderate. The average ticket is around €25/30. La Locanda does not offer a standard menu, but prefers, every day, to submit the chef's suggestion to its customers.
Where and when?
La Locanda is open Tuesday to Friday for lunch and dinner, Saturday for dinner and Monday for lunch. The establishment is located at 2, rue de la mairie. There is parking near the community hall, 50 meters from the restaurant. Reservations are recommended and possible by telephone (preferable) or on the restaurant's website.
Tel: 01 60 43 81 00. Website (to consult the menu): www.restaurant-la-locanda.fr
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