Farina 23 is the eighth restaurant by the GMI Group (Gusto Made in Italy). I got to know them when they opened their first restaurant L’Oca Giuliva across the street from my previous home in Barrio Santa Cruz back in 2009. Since then they have expanded with both Italian and Mediterranean-style restaurants throughout the city centre. Run by husband & wife team Franco Rostini and Fabrizia Innocenzi, along with brother Massimiliano Innocenzi and sevillano Rafael Machuca, they have maintained a longtime collaboration with Maestro Pizzero Antonio Silvestri from Caserta (Napoli), who heads the kitchen team at Farina 23.
Located in a lovely corner building on the south-west corner of the Alameda with two dining areas as well as outdoor seating. I love the elegant wrought-iron fence surrounding the terrace, making you feel a bit away from the usual Alameda bustle. Décor by Fabrizia Innocenzi is, as in all their locations, exquisite. Her trademark eye for detail is in evidence everywhere you look and the result is a cosy and eclectic ambiance.
The menu includes a varied selection of antipasti and Italian charcuterie and cheeses, as well as pizzas and calzones, and pasta dishes. A must-try is the buffalo carpaccio starter, absolutely gorgeous with parmesan shavings and a bottle of organic eevo left at the table. Favourite pizzas include the diávolo, capricciosa and, surprising for me, a pizza bianca with Ungherse salami and provolone cheese (I usually prefer pizzas with tomato sauce). If you tend to over order on the pizzas, like us, don’t worry because you can always take what’s leftover home with you.
What’s unique at Farina 23 is that they offer different regional styles of pizzas: Napoletana (la clásica), Al Romato (soft & charred), Tonda Romana (thin & crispy), Pinsa Romana (soft & chewy) and their house Contemporanea gourmet pizza. The menu also suggests drink pairings to accompany your food choices. Italian wines and beer are available with a nice selection of cocktails.
Alameda de Hércules 15
Tel 954 865 991
Open 13.30 – 16.30 / 20.00 – 23.30 Sunday – Thursday
13.30 – 16.30 / 20.00 – midnight Friday – Saturday
€ € € €
Food 8| Wine 8 | Service 8 | Ambiance 8
What kind of pizza are you?
black olives with orange peel
selection of fried cheeses
fried meatballs with cheese sauce
buffalo carpaccio with parmesan shavings and organic evoo
Diávola – napoletana
Capricciosa – napoletana
4 Estaciones – tonda romana
Vegetariana – pinsa romana
Salame Ungherse – contemporanea
cannolo siciliano
Rafael Machuca, Massimiliano Innocenzi, Fabrizia Innocenzi, Franco Roscini
