Osteria da Santo Bern – An Italian Hidden Gem in a Bümpliz Wooden Chalet

Atmosphere: A wooden chalet behind the Bienzgut

Osteria da Santo is off the beaten track. You turn off the main road onto a gravel path and then see a wooden building with a sign telling you that this is the Osteria da Santo. On one side is the logo, next to it a window. If you walk around to the right, you reach the entrance.

Inside, the place feels like a cosy wooden chalet. The tables are simply laid and covered with red-and-white checked tablecloths. We took a seat there – in a wooden chalet like this you would not expect an Italian restaurant.

The Kitchen: A seasonal menu with Italian classics

Starter: Bruschetta – almost like a focaccia

For the starter I chose from the seasonal menu and ordered a bruschetta. It was huge – almost like a focaccia. It was generously topped with tomatoes, oil, garlic and rocket, cut into six pieces and tasted excellent. As a starter, though, the portion was almost too big: even after my colleague had eaten a piece, so much was left that I had to leave the rest. Really, the focaccia could be shared between two or three people.

Main course: Spaghetti alla Chitarra

For the main course I ordered the spaghetti alla chitarra – essentially a cacio e pepe, refined with figs and honey according to the menu. Here too the portion was huge. Taste-wise I generally liked the dish, precisely because cacio e pepe with its pecorino and pepper brings that typical, pleasant flavour. One small shortcoming: the pasta arrived a little dry on the plate and was no longer quite hot – a bit more sauce would have done it good. The figs were visible at the edge of the plate, while the honey only made itself mildly felt for me. Halfway through I was full – so full that we skipped dessert.

Service

In my view the service was good and was handled personally by the boss – I think it was the hostess. In the kitchen there was a kitchen helper and presumably the host. My colleagues were not quite as happy with the service, but for me it fitted perfectly: the hostess took the order promptly and served the food.

Verdict

All in all, the trip to Bümpliz “Bienzgut” is still worth it, because the restaurant is a true hidden gem. Should you travel to Bümpliz just for this restaurant? You can certainly give it a try, but it is not an absolute must. If you are looking for generous portions, a cosy wooden-chalet atmosphere and a hostess with a personal touch, you will be well looked after – the pasta, however, could have been a little juicier.

Details

Address: Bernstrasse 79, 3018 Bern (behind the Bienzgut)
Phone: +41 31 992 33 11
Website: osteriadasanto.ch
Opening hours: Tue–Sat 9.00–14.00 and 17.30–22.00, Sun 9.00–23.00, closed Mondays
Public transport: From Bern main station by S-Bahn (S1/S2/S3/S31) to Bümpliz Nord or tram 7 to Bümpliz
Cuisine: Italian – pizza, pasta and classic dishes