Calpe (Alicante), September 22, 2025. The Italian restaurant ‘Rusticana’ has just revolutionized Calpe. The reason is that, after the summer, they have included several gastronomic innovations. The first of these, the ‘Tagliatelle al Grana Padano’, a dish recently added to the menu that, in addition to incorporating ingredients of Italian origin, it is a visual spectacle on a table, as it is prepared live on an authentic wheel of cheese. Secondly, Rusticana is launching a promotion for every Thursday of the month, which consists of a 2 for 1 on pasta. “Now that summer is ending, we want to offer something different to the locals and tourists who continue to choose Calpe,” says Gonzalo Mariconde, one of the owners of the establishment. The menu, which was completely renovated several months at the same time as the interior design, it remains purely Italian. “Bringing the best of Italy to the Costa Blanca is our main goal and objective,” he adds.
The news
It is not the first time that Gonzalo Mariconde prepares the tagliatelle with Grana Padano. He started this practice when he ran the Santa Pasta from Denia (Alicante), but after observing that in Calpe there are few places that do so offer, decided to add it to the menu. The pasta is prepares normally, but ends inside a wheel of Grana Padano cheese DOP and a touch of freshly ground pepper is added.
On the other hand, Rusticana starts a new Promotion: Thursdays, 2×1 on all pasta dishes. In this restaurant they don’t do precooked, so it comes out al dente and, In addition, they also serve it al forno. Among its best-known recipes: original spaghetti carbonara with guanciale, Oxtail ravioli with its sauce and pear sacchetini with Roquefort sauce. Dishes include pizzas, risottos, and various other dishes including meat and fish options.
Since last May, the restaurant designs its own pizza month. September’s –and here’s another new release– is La Porteña, with tomato, fior di late mozzarella, ham, peppers and crispy onion.
All their pizzas are homemade and prepared at the moment by Massimo, the Sicilian pizzaiolo that they have in the kitchen. They are baked in a forno a gas in view of everyone and with capacity for nine pizzas, which makes it the only oven of its kind in the municipality. Its golden dome can reach 400°C, so the pizzas are ready in just two minutes.
About Rusticana
This year, Rusticana celebrates 20 years since its opening, an occasion that has celebrated by unfolding the doors again with an image and a completely renovated menu. Currently, the property is owned by four Italian-Argentines who have been living in Calpe for several years: Gonzalo Mariconde, Marisa De Cesaris, Christian Idda and Yamila De Cesaris.
Gonzalo also lived in Italy for several years, which allowed him to know firsthand what works best there.
Its image has been completely transformed, both in the graphic and branding as well as in terms of design. In its interior design, priority is given to colours like red, green and white, very present in the Italian imagination. With simple furniture, divided into low and high tables, and a capacity for 120 people, the restaurant has three spaces differentiated: the inner room, decorated with posters, brands, recipes and messages in Italian; a double outdoor terrace divided between the part front and side of the premises, with renovated ceilings and which can be covered depending on the weather; and the kitchen is open and visible to all diners.
Their menu is extensive and also new from beginning to end. They continue preparing pizzas and pastas, although with different processes. They are made with natural flours and long fermentations, up to 48 hours. An experience that can be enjoyed from Wednesday to Monday, from 18:00h until 00:00h on C/ Pintor Sorolla, 5. For the moment, and with these new developments, Rusticana continues to consolidate itself as a reference in Italian gastronomy in Calpe, betting on quality, tradition and innovation.
Report by ‘24/7 Valencia’ team
Article copyright ‘24/7 Valencia’
@rusticana_calpe
RUSTICANA RISTORANTE
03710
Calpe, Alicante
Tel: 965 87 45 20
Open every day from 18.00h – 23.20h
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