Assaporare is a little Italian gem in the 12th arrondissement in Paris. The owner could be a sailor with his white pants and a blue navy t-shirt, or just as well the descendant of Louis d’Amboise d’Aubijoux, a seigneur from the 17th century, with the little white goatee and mustache.

Giuseppe Lo Casale is none of the above, however; he is the happy owner of Assaporare where he opens his heart and shares his passion with us. Every dish is carefully and vividly explained to us.
The restaurant is quite small and the décor very contemporary, smart, laidback. The walls are bare stones that make us feel as if we are in a wine cellar. In the middle of the room, there is a big grey countertop – it looks like made of concrete – with the tables and chairs around it. At the back of the restaurant, there is a small open kitchen where the cook prepares all the delicious dishes. The atmosphere is welcoming and Giuseppe is a real gentleman!
We ordered all the appetizers that were on the menu, a true delight! Every dish was tasty and delicious!
Pizzaiola di provola, Incontri in Campagna (a date in country side), Viaggi a Capri (a journey to Capri), Antipasto vegetarian, Rotolo di mozzarella e Parma, and Mé dolce naufragar in questo mare (my shipwreck in the sea). Poetic, isn’t it?
This is what happens when the food is excellent!
For the main dish, we ordered the Carpaccio di tonno, pasta provola, pomodoro e grana, spaghetti con gamberetti (shrimp) e pesto di zucchini, and pasta con rana pescatrice (monkfish).
The pasta was cooked to perfection; we could taste the fresh products Giuseppe uses in his recipes. The pesto was very tasty. It was like eating at his home.
We chose a nice bottle of Appassimento to accompany our dinner.
Panna cotta and tiramisu are a must to finish this delicious Italian dinner. Chocolate-based, they were very good, but I still prefer the Panna cotta with red berries.
Assaporare is a great Italian experience in Paris! I recommend making a reservation, as the restaurant is quite small.
Assaporare
7 Rue Saint-Nicolas
75012 Paris, France
📞 +33 01 44 67 75 77
Price: $$
The average price for appetizers: €13.50, main dish: €17.
Set menu – a three-course meal – for €27
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