Just a few minutes from La Corte di Marga, along the road that climbs towards Follina, there is a small 15th-century castle that for centuries was a resting place for travellers and horses. Today, at its feet, that same spirit of hospitality continues at Osteria Al Castelletto, which everyone round here simply calls “dalla Clemi”.
The official name is Osteria Al Castelletto, but it is impossible to find anyone in Pedeguarda di Follina who calls it that. Clemi is Clementina Viezzer, the chef and landlady who has kept this family-run osteria open since 1977, and who in almost fifty years has transformed a village pub into a landmark for those seeking authentic Venetian cuisine, made with ingredients from the vegetable garden and farm, cooked over a real fire. Today Clementina is joined by her grandson Nicolò Bof in running the establishment.
The name of the restaurant is not a fancy affectation: the osteria literally stands at the foot of a 15th-century small castle, a rustic structure that for centuries hosted travellers and horses passing through the hills between Follina and Miane. It is in this corner of history that Clementina Viezzer has built, almost by chance, one of the most beloved kitchens in the area.
Clemi has no training as a chef: she is self-taught, and her love for good food was born watching life as a child on the Brandolini family estate, where her father worked as a gardener. From that observation — more than from a recipe book — a simple philosophy was born: to cook what the land provides, without unnecessary complications, with the same care as one would cook for one's own family.
Since 1977 the osteria has been a fixture of Pedeguarda, and over the years it has become an almost mandatory stop for anyone visiting the Prosecco Hills.
Step into Clemi and you won't find a slick, upscale restaurant, but an authentic country osteria, imbued with the warmth of a family atmosphere from the very threshold. It's the kind of place where you sit down and stay longer than planned, because conversation with the front-of-house staff flows as naturally as between old friends.
The heart of the kitchen is the fireplace, where meats are still grilled over embers today according to tradition. Around it, simple and welcoming dining rooms tell a story of family continuity, not of flashy makeovers.
Clemi's kitchen is that of the most authentic Veneto region, built on seasonal produce from the local vegetable garden and farms.
The restaurant's true calling card is the tasting of starters, a journey of around 12 courses that is alone worth the trip: among the dishes that crop up most often in the tales of those who have been there are polenta with burrata and soppressa, veal meatballs, crostini with whipped salt cod, and Treviso radicchio rolls.
Next come first courses, such as seasonal risottos and homemade pastas, followed by the dish that represents the house philosophy more than any other: charcoal-grilled meat, cooked slowly in the large fireplace, often served with simple side dishes from the vegetable garden.
To accompany the food, the winery offers the best of Veneto production, including labels produced directly by the family-run business on the 7 hectares of organic vineyard surrounding the osteria: a Prosecco spumante, a still white and a Merlot-Cabernet red, home-made wine in the most literal sense of the term.
Guests staying at La Corte di Marga often look for two things together: the peace and quiet of the Prosecco Hills and the chance to sit down at a proper, no-nonsense table. At Clemi’s, you find both: home-cooked food, the estate's wine, and that now-rare feeling of being a guest in a family, rather than a customer in a restaurant.
It is an experience that goes well with our days of tastings and walks among the rows of vines: after exploring the Prosecco Hills UNESCO World Heritage Site, a stop at Clemi's is the most authentic way to end the day.
Is it necessary to book at the Osteria Al Castelletto?
Given the popularity of the restaurant and the compact dining room typical of a family-run osteria, booking well in advance by phone is recommended, especially at weekends and during high season.
Is the starter tasting menu suitable for people with allergies or intolerances?
As with any multi-course tasting menu, please notify us of any allergies or intolerances at the time of booking so that the kitchen can adapt the menu accordingly.
How far is Osteria Al Castelletto from La Corte di Marga?
Approximately 6 km, about a 10-minute drive along the road connecting Miane and Follina, easily reachable even for dinner during your stay.
Come and discover the Prosecco Hills at La Corte di Marga: book your stay and let our hosts recommend the best places to eat in the local area. Discover our food and wine experiences o book directly. You arrive as a guest, you leave as a friend.