One-table restaurant was born because of the boss's frustration

Italy Solo per due has only one table for two, fulfilling the restaurant owner's wish to pamper and treat diners like royalty.

Solo per due, which means "for two" in Italian, is nearly 46 square meters in size and is located in a 20th-century stone house about 60 kilometers from Rome.

The three local food entrepreneurs who have run Solo per due together for 33 years keep their names secret from outsiders, except for dinner reservations. They say this adds to the restaurant’s charm and mystery, and told CNN it’s the smallest fine dining establishment in the country and the world.

Inside the restaurant. Photo: CNN — Inside the restaurant. Photo: *CNN*

Remo, one of the three owners, said the idea for the quiet, two-person eatery came to him after he was frustrated by crowded restaurants with long lines and the way customers were treated.

“It became unbearable every time my son and I went out for dinner. We were always taken to a small table near the bathroom or the kitchen, with all sorts of unpleasant smells. That was the worst table because there were only two of us,” Remo said.

Therefore, Remo thought of creating a special experience where couples could be pampered and treated like royalty during meals. Couples and spouses often choose the restaurant to celebrate anniversaries, birthdays, and proposals. The atmosphere in the restaurant is described as "as poetic as in a fairy tale".

Heart-shaped ravioli, oysters, and tiramisu are the dishes that many guests order. The tablecloths are red and gold, and the cutlery is silver. The decorations are busts of famous people, wine bottles, mirrors with luxurious gold-plated frames, and fresh flowers everywhere.

The restaurant serves meals in a romantic atmosphere, open all year round for lunch and dinner, but there is no set menu. Dishes are served according to guests' needs.

Solo per due has many rules. Guests make reservations by phone in the evening, confirmed 10 days in advance. On the day of the reservation, guests must provide detailed information about the dishes they want to enjoy.

Guests are not allowed to come and see the restaurant before the day of the meal. Last minute cancellations are not allowed. On the day of the meal, guests must call 30 minutes before arriving. If they arrive too early, they cannot wait inside the restaurant because the gate is still closed and there is no one to greet them. Because of the small scale and large number of guests, people often have to wait months for their turn.

“The people who come here are not just customers. They are people we care about. We make sure that this special moment happens exactly as they want it to. Everything is on demand,” Remo said.

Front of the restaurant. Photo: CNN — Front of the restaurant. Photo: *CNN*

There is always a person on duty to serve the guests. But this person will stand in a hidden place and only appear when the guests ring the small silver bell to call.

The restaurant is surrounded by a palm garden. The ruins of an ancient Roman villa with colorful mosaic floors and stone columns are also available for visitors to explore.

On the day of the meal, the entrance and the entire garden are lit up with candles to welcome guests. "After successfully booking, guests will choose a menu with many dishes, which can be fish or meat, dessert, wine, background music and fresh flowers," said the restaurant owner.

A dish served in a restaurant. Photo: CNN — A dish served in a restaurant. Photo: *CNN*

The room has a piano and a stone fireplace, perfect for those cold winter nights. In the summer, guests can choose to dine al fresco, enjoying food under the olive groves and vineyards that lie far out in the valley.

Guests can book additional services such as shuttle service, fireworks display in the garden. For those who want to stay overnight, the owner is happy to advise on nearby accommodation options.

Anh Minh (According to CNN )

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