IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR AN ‘AUTHENTICO’ ITALIAN MEAL ON THE TRANQUILLITY COAST LOOK NO FUTHER THAN VERO TRATTORIA AND WINE BAR ON NAI THON BEACH. AFTERALL, ‘VERO’ IS THE ITALIAN WORD FOR ‘GENUINE’, AND THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU GET AT VERO
By: Andrew MacKenzie
Vero Italian Trattoria and Wine Bar, located within the Pullman Phuket Arcadia Naithon Beach Resort, offers an authentic Italian dining experience set against the stunning backdrop of the Andaman Sea. It definitely has a fine dining location, but the menu and service style is more a relaxed trattoria, bistro style.
Ambience and Setting
The restaurant’s design embodies the essence of a traditional Italian trattoria, featuring warm wooden floors, ambient lighting, and rustic elegance that create a cozy and inviting atmosphere. The open show kitchen adds a dynamic element to the dining experience, allowing guests to observe the culinary team as they craft and plate each dish. Whether seated indoors amidst the stylish décor or outdoors on the patio with the sea breeze, diners are treated to a setting that enhances the enjoyment of their meal.
Culinary Offerings
Chef Luca Spanu, who grew up on the gastronomy-rich island of Sardinia, takes his guests on a culinaria journey through Italy, showcasing a variety of regional specialties made from fresh, high-quality ingredients.
He is very proud of his pizzas, and despite deciding not to fill-up with pizza he insisted we try a sample. A small Pizza Diavola duly arrived and it was both crisp and succulent, with a pleasant spicy kick from the ventricina salami.
For my starter Luca steered me towards the Bruschetta Sarda from his home island, it consisted of three slices of toasted bread loaded with gorgonzola, artichoke pesto and the roe from a White Mullet. My guest opted for the Tatare di Manzo, an Italian version of beef tartare, which received very high marks.
In addition to the menu, the helpful service staff positioned a large blackboard right next to our table. Luca goes to great lengths to bring diners a selection of ‘dishes of the day’, depending on what fresh premium ingredients he can lay his hands on. The blackboard provided a main course for both of us. Keeping on a spice trajectory I enjoyed a pasta dish of Paccheri I.G.P. spicy n’duja with prawns and burrata. My guest, also guided by the blackboard, had a beautifully coloured plate of Risotto Beetroot with Gorgonzola.
In addition to the regular Italian menu and the daily blackboard, Vero does a great impersonation of being a ‘steakhouse’. In fact its grill offerings have become famous locally, with the ‘Vero Steak Knife Club’, where regulars are awarded a personalised steak knife. The menu features all the classic meat cuts such as Tenderloins, Hanging Tenders, Lamb Cutlets and Italian inspired “Fiorentina” T-Bones.
Wine and Beverage Selection
Complementing its culinary delights, Vero boasts an extensive wine list curated to pair seamlessly with its menu offerings. In addition to the House Wine selection, the list features a wider choice of wines from the main list which can be ordered by the glass.
In addition to wines, the Vero serves a range of expertly mixed cocktails, signature martinis, and a selection of beers. We kicked off our evening with two refreshing glasses of Aperol Spritz.
Conclusion
Vero Italian Trattoria and Wine Bar offers a dining experience that seamlessly blends authentic Italian cuisine with the natural beauty of Phuket’s Tranquillity Coast. From its spectacular perch overlooking the Andaman Sea sunset, Chef Luca and his team provide a relaxed culinary journey, from an ever-changing menu, that delights the senses.
+66 (0) 76 303 299