Partly because of its charismatic owner, Mike Ingrosso, and partly because of the pasta — noodles with bite. “Al dente” is the magic word, the one that keeps guests’ teeth entertained too.
Anyone who visited Orsini in the last few weeks was met with some astonishing changes. The inside is new: dark wood, warmer light, walls you want to touch rather than just look at. Mike pitched in himself, working alongside handyman friends — picking out colours, swapping lamps, fussing over details only an owner notices, the kind who treats his restaurant like his own living room. Mike hesitated a long time over whether, and how, to change the restaurant he loves.
And it was worth it.
When the last tradesman packed up his tools, Mike stood in the doorway, looked around, and said only: “Basta cosi!” That’s it now. This way and no other. Done.
His creed: “I’m not worried about my future. I’m not going to change for anybody.”
One man. One sentence. One statement.
Pasta cosi. Pasta al dente.
