There are restaurants that impress with technique, and there are restaurants that stay with you because they tell a story. Ricci Osteria belongs firmly to the latter category. In a city increasingly defined by international influences and ever-evolving culinary trends, this warm and welcoming Milan address offers something refreshingly genuine: a journey into the heart of Puglia. Here, recipes are rooted in family traditions, ingredients arrive from trusted producers in Southern Italy, and every dish reflects a philosophy that chefs Antonella Ricci and Vinod Sookar describe as “tasty simplicity.”
The concept is revealed in the restaurant's name itself. An osteria is, above all, a place of hospitality, conviviality, and honest cooking. At Ricci Osteria, guests are welcomed not as customers, but as friends invited to gather around a family table. The story begins with Antonella Ricci, whose family name is deeply woven into the history of Apulian gastronomy. She grew up in the kitchen of Al Fornello da Ricci, the celebrated family restaurant founded in 1966 and holder of Puglia's longest-standing Michelin Star. It was there that she developed an understanding of ingredients, tradition, and hospitality that would later shape her own culinary identity.
Her professional and personal life changed in 1998 when she met Mauritian chef Vinod Sookar during a seminar in Mauritius. Their shared passion for food quickly evolved into a partnership that extended beyond the kitchen. Together, they developed a culinary vision that combines Antonella's deep connection to Southern Italian traditions with Vinod's international perspective and creative flair.
Their dream was simple: bring the warmth, generosity, and unmistakable flavors of Puglia to Milan.The result is a restaurant that feels remarkably authentic. While many regional restaurants attempt to modernize traditional cuisine beyond recognition, Ricci Osteria remains committed to preserving its soul. Recipes are refined but never overcomplicated. Ingredients are carefully sourced, but always allowed to speak for themselves.
The menu reads like a love letter to Southern Italy. Homemade re-milled semolina orecchiette remains one of the restaurant's signatures, whether served with a vibrant three-tomato sauce and cacioricotta cheese or paired with peas, anchovies from Cetara, and sun-dried tomatoes. The ricotta pearls with pesto, zucchini chips, truffle oil, and crispy capocollo have become a house classic since Antonella first created the dish more than two decades ago.
Among the starters, the marinated beef tartare layered with creamy caciocavallo and Vinod's signature Pimà sauce perfectly illustrates the restaurant's balance between tradition and creativity. Elsewhere, burrata, capocollo from Martina Franca, and artisanal cheeses from the Itria Valley celebrate some of Puglia's most treasured products.
For those seeking a deeper immersion into the region's culinary culture, Sunday lunch is a particularly special occasion. Inspired by the ritual of family gatherings that define life across Southern Italy, the restaurant recreates the traditional Puglian Sunday table. The aroma of slow-cooked ragù fills the dining room while guests share antipasti, handmade pasta, braised meats, and local wines in an atmosphere that feels more like a family celebration than a restaurant service.
The wine selection naturally pays tribute to Southern Italy, with particular attention given to Puglia's outstanding producers. Primitivo di Manduria, one of the region's most celebrated wines, appears throughout the menu, including in the rich reduction accompanying the restaurant's slow-cooked beef.
The atmosphere itself reflects the philosophy of the cuisine. Elegant without being formal, contemporary without losing warmth, Ricci Osteria succeeds in creating something increasingly rare in modern dining: a genuine sense of belonging. At the heart of the restaurant is the partnership between Antonella Ricci and Vinod Sookar. Their story, built on shared values, cultural exchange, and mutual respect, is present in every detail. Together, they have created more than a restaurant; they have created a place where Puglia's traditions continue to thrive hundreds of kilometers from home.
In a city celebrated for innovation, Ricci Osteria reminds us that some of the most memorable dining experiences begin with something far simpler: exceptional ingredients, family traditions, and food prepared with sincerity.
https://www.instagram.com/ricciosteria/
Address: Via Pasquale Sottocorno, 27, 20129 Milano MI, Italy
Phone: +39 02 4970 5612