Da Costa

Somerset’s raved-about town is a magnet for gourmets, and this impressive Italian eatery rooted in tradition is a key crowd-puller.

Da Costa is part of Artfarm, a collective comprising unique destinations that draw together art, nature and community. Other notable additions include fellow Bruton business Roth Bar and The Groucho Club in Soho.

The restaurant is inspired by Artfarm co-founder Iwan Wirth’s maternal grandfather, who originated from a small mountainous village in the Veneto region of northern Italy. He later emigrated to Switzerland, where he opened a restaurant heralded for its simple, honest fare.

A century later (and 800 miles, give or take, from that first restaurant), Da Costa is carrying on his legacy. Yet it also marks the start of an exciting new chapter in the culinary story.

Head chef Robert Smart remains true to northern Italian recipes but gives them a Somerset spin through the use of freshly grown, seasonal ingredients from the restaurant’s walled garden and surrounding area.

This fusion results in antipasti dishes such as Durslade Farm beef carpaccio with mustard, canederli with spinach and cheddar fondue, and gnocchi fritto with mortadella and fresh cheese.

Of course, homemade pastas and risottos are big hitters on the menu, as are the wood-fired specials (the Durslade Farm lamb with creamy polenta and Da Costa sauce is a firm fave).

Trencherman’s tip

The tiramisu is so good it should be illegal. The classic pud is also available to share between three rule-breaking chums.