Before we’ve even sat down in Caffè Boboli, we know we’ve come to the right place – there’s the animated singsong of the Italian language, and it’s always reassuring to come across Italians in an Italian restaurant.
We start with a dish of burrata (gooey Italian cheese made from mozzarella and cream) with grilled vegetables, alongside a plate of octopus carpaccio with tomatoes and steamed potatoes. Helpings are generous and quite pricey, with each around €12. But we’re essentially paying for a two-hour holiday in Naples, so it feels worth it.
It’s the beautiful carbonara, however, which reigns supreme. No messing around, no unnecessary crème fraiche. Nothing but egg, guanciale (Italian cured meat) and pasta. At €15, this could be the best pasta carbonara in Paris. But if you fancy trying something else, give in to the pasta with gorgonzola, courgettes and roast ham - equally simple and absolutely scrumptious. The tiramisu is less heavenly but still has the same transportative effect, perfect washed down with a glass of Bianco di Sardegna (€6).
As we leave there’s only one thing on our minds: when are we booking our flights to Puglia?