The Smallest Osteria in Italy
La Tana dei Brilli seats maybe twelve people, total, and that's being generous about the outdoor tables crammed into the alley next to it. It calls itself the smallest osteria in Italy. Nobody has seriously challenged the claim.
None of this is a design choice meant to feel exclusive. It's just a small restaurant in a medieval town that was built before anyone anticipated crowds.
A Short Menu, Done Right
The menu is short because the kitchen is smaller than the menu would need to be to justify a long one. Pappardelle with wild boar. Tortelli stuffed with whatever the region felt like producing that week. A wine list that leans hard into Maremma without apologizing for skipping the famous stuff.
You will wait. You will probably wait outside, in the alley, next to whoever is already eating. The food is better than the wait deserves, which is really all you can ask of a place like this.
Getting a Table
Fifteen minutes from the villa. Book ahead if you're capable of that kind of planning. If not, show up anyway and take your chances in the alley — the concierge can call ahead and try to save you the wait.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to book ahead?
Strongly recommended — the room seats around twelve. We can call ahead from the villa to try to secure a table, but walk-ins take their chances in the alley.
What should I order?
The pappardelle with wild boar and whatever tortelli they're stuffing that week. The wine list leans into the Maremma, so ask for a local pour.
How far is it from the villa?
About fifteen minutes by car, in the medieval town near Follonica.