Il Primo Bacio, the go-to Italian dining spot in Fontainebleau (77)

It's the tale of a passion—the love of Italian cuisine—served daily for more than 20 years on the plates of Bellifontains who come to savor authentic, homemade fare. This story belongs to Il Primo Bacio, a benchmark of good cooking in Fontainebleau.

The idea for this Italian restaurant was born from a first kiss. Il Primo Bacio tells the story of Gabrielle and Enrico, two people in love with life—and with each other. He’s Italian, she’s French. "I married an Italian. He lived for food, and I followed him into that passion," Gabrielle recalls. Together they set off on a honeymoon across Italy, where she discovers the joy of good eating, fine ingredients, and producers devoted to traditional know-how. "He made me tour Italy before opening the restaurant, so I’d understand where the ingredients come from," she says. The restaurant opened shortly thereafter: for more than twenty years now, Il Primo Bacio has been delighting diners of all ages with Italian cooking that feels like mamma’s — simple, generous, and truly indulgent.

On the menu, you’ll find the classics of Italian cooking, fresh homemade pasta, the Neapolitan pizzas piled high, and decadent salads or meat and fish dishes. Here, carbonara isn’t made with cream, the bolognese lasagna has a generations-old recipe, and the veal cutlets are Milanaise-style breaded, just as tradition dictates. Expect €12 to €19.50 for an starter, €17.50 to €21 for a complete salad, €15.50 to €23.50 for a house-made pasta dish, and €15 to €18.50 for a pizza. The portions are genuinely generous—simple cooking, but with good ingredients and plenty of flavor that shines on the plate.

The youngest diners (up to 12) won’t be left out, as a children’s menu is also available: for €15, they can choose between pasta or a child-sized pizza, with a drink and a scoop of ice cream (their pick), included. If you’ve still got room for something sweet, the dessert menu is worth a look, with specialties such as the coffee tiramisu (a splash of amaretto), the vanilla panna cotta and its red berry coulis, and the café affogato... All desserts are homemade, except the ice creams. Expect €5.50 to €11 for a dessert.

A charming Italian spot to treat yourself just a stone's throw from the Château de Fontainebleau!

This test was conducted as part of a professional invitation. If your experience differs from ours, please let us know.