Grazie Fabrì
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Grazie Fabrì
Palau · Gallura · Sardinia
From the heart of Gallura — true flavours that stay with you
Fabrizio
...Ciau Fabrì e Grazie!
Since 2011 · Palau, Sardinia
Set in the Gallurese countryside along the Strada Statale 125 that winds through one of Sardinia's most beautiful territories, Cucumiao has been for over fifteen years the place where Sardinian cuisine reveals its true soul. A reserved, meticulously curated setting, away from the bustle: only authentic ingredients, genuine local products, and a respectful reinterpretation of ancient Gallurese recipes.
Gallura is a generous land — its Sardinian suckling pig, Vermentino wine, aged pecorino, pane carasau — and Cucumiao is its faithful custodian, recognised by Gambero Rosso, Vanity Fair, and the Costa Smeralda Consortium as a centre of excellence in Sardinian dining.
Press & Recognition
Gambero Rosso
Restaurant Guide
Vanity Fair
Magazine
La Nuova
Sardegna
Newspaper
Costa
Smeralda
Consortium
Ristorante
Tipico
Sardinian Cert.
"A place to surround yourself with beauty, to feel part of a unique special harmony with the environment, flavours, and people. The chef's proposals and the restaurant concept must start from these very premises: no sophisticated interpretation, but authentic ingredients, genuine products, and a sensitive, respectful reworking of ancient recipes."
— Gambero Rosso · Italy Restaurant Guide
Opening Hours
| Monday | Lunch Closed | 19:00–23:00 | |
| Tuesday | 12:00–14:45 | 19:00–23:00 | |
| Wednesday | Lunch Closed | 19:00–23:00 | |
| Thursday | 12:00–14:45 | 19:00–23:00 | |
| Friday | 12:00–14:45 | 19:00–23:00 | |
| Saturday | 12:00–14:45 | 19:00–23:00 | |
| Sunday | 12:00–14:45 | 19:00–23:00 |
Open May to October. Reservations strongly recommended, especially in peak season.
Reserve Your Table
Reservations are strongly advised. During peak season tables fill quickly. Call us directly to secure your ideal spot.
Frequently Asked Questions
Cucumiao is set in the countryside of Palau, Sardinia, about a 5-minute drive from Palau harbour and just minutes from the main tourist areas of the La Maddalena Archipelago and Costa Smeralda.
Reservations are strongly recommended, especially from June through August. Call us on +39 0789 707064 or +39 342 133 1456 to secure your table.
Gallurese cuisine is among Sardinia's richest: roasted suckling pig, baked bread soup, culurgiones pasta, Catalan-style lobster, grey mullet bottarga, aged pecorino and Vermentino di Gallura wines.
Yes, our menu includes vegetarian options and dishes adaptable for gluten intolerance. Please let us know at the time of reservation.
Cucumiao is a mid-to-high-end restaurant, with tasting menus and à la carte options. Average spend per person is approximately €45–65, excluding drinks.
Our Story · Since 2011
Our Story
Cucumiao was born in 2011 in the countryside of Palau, in Gallura, along the Strada Statale 125 that runs through one of Sardinia's most beautiful territories. From the very start, our kitchen adopted a simple and radical philosophy: to bring the real Sardinia to the table — seasonal produce, recipes passed down through generations, genuine hospitality.
Over fifteen years on, that commitment has not changed. Recognition from Gambero Rosso, features in Vanity Fair, La Nuova Sardegna, and the esteem of the Costa Smeralda Consortium all confirm that authenticity matters more than any sophistication.
Culinary Philosophy
We work with local Gallurese farmers, fishermen and producers. Every dish reflects the land and the season.
Gallurese soup, suckling pig, seadas: we preserve ancient techniques with deep respect for tradition.
Our cellar celebrates Vermentino di Gallura DOCG, Cannonau, and the finest Sardinian wines from independent producers.
Specialities · Authentic Gallurese Cuisine in Palau
From the land: suckling pig, lamb, game. From the sea: lobster, bottarga, octopus, fresh fish from the Archipelago. The flavours of a cuisine that needs no artifice.
The emblematic dish of Sardinian cuisine. Slow-cooked with myrtle, rosemary and lardo di Colonnata. Golden crust, incredibly tender meat.
Layered pane carasau with meat broth, fresh Gallurese cheese and spices. Pure comfort from the land.
Fresh lobster from the La Maddalena Archipelago, served with red onion, tomatoes and Sardinian extra-virgin olive oil.
Fresh pasta filled with potato, mint and Sardinian cheese, paired with a slow-cooked wild boar ragù from the Mediterranean scrubland.
Artisan bottarga, garlic, extra-virgin olive oil and fresh parsley. Simplicity at its finest.
Traditional Sardinian sweet: thin fried pastry filled with fresh cheese, drizzled with the bitter strawberry tree honey of Gallura.
The Atmosphere
Cucumiao's dining room reflects the landscape that surrounds it: local stone, aged wood, Sardinian textiles, warm Mediterranean light filtering into every corner. A space refined in every detail, where elegance never excludes warmth.
A setting meticulously curated in every detail, quiet and reserved, surrounded by the Gallurese countryside. The outdoor terrace is the ideal place for dinner in a relaxed atmosphere, away from the noise, where what matters is the food on the plate and the pleasure of sharing a table.
How to Find Us
Phone
+39 0789 707064Address
S.S. 125, Km 353Hours
Monday & Wednesday: 19:00–23:00 (dinner only)
Tuesday, Thu–Sun: 12:00–14:45 · 19:00–23:00
Social
Reserve your table
We recommend booking in advance, especially during the summer season. Call us directly to let us know about any dietary requirements or special needs.
Getting to Cucumiao
Palau is about a 30-minute drive from Olbia international airport and a 20-minute ferry from La Maddalena island. The restaurant is set in the countryside of Palau, about a 5-minute drive from the harbour.
Palau · Sardinia · Contemporary Cuisine
Contemporary Sardinia. A natural evolution of Cucumiao: same values, a new language.
The Second Restaurant
Cuppulata shares the same DNA as Cucumiao — respect for Sardinian raw ingredients, a bond with Gallurese territory — but looks further: a menu that reinterprets tradition with contemporary technique, a refined interior design, a selection of natural and biodynamic wines.
"Cuppulata" evokes the Gallurese landscape, its rounded slopes, the soft forms of Mediterranean scrubland. A distinct visual and culinary identity, in permanent dialogue with Cucumiao.
Same family, new vision
Two restaurants, one vision. Cucumiao guards tradition; Cuppulata explores the future of Sardinian cuisine. Both in Palau, both in love with Gallura.
