Lagalante is the Italian Restaurant of the Year at the True Italian Awards Berlin 2025

Berlin, November 11, 2025 – Lagalante, a fine dining restaurant led by Puglian chef Antonio Lagalante, has won the most prestigious title at the first edition of the True Italian Awards Berlin 2025: the Restaurant of the Year award. This recognition celebrates the restaurant's ability to blend gastronomic research, impeccable service, and a contemporary identity deeply rooted in Puglia, yet perfectly integrated into the Berlin culinary scene.

Lagalante, awarded last month among the TOP100 Italian restaurants in Germany by Schlemmer Atlas, now claims the highest honor alongside Antonio Di Santo, chef of Zum Heiligen Teufel, winner in the Premium Restaurant category.

The ceremony took place on Monday, November 10, at Magazin der Heeresbäckerei, in front of over 300 guests, preceded by the great Italian food fair La Dispensa della Mamma by the company Mammafiore, held at the same venue.

The categories at the True Italian Awards 2025

Among the most anticipated categories, the Pizzeria of the Year award went to Malafemmena, an iconic name for Neapolitan pizza in Germany, recognized for the consistent quality of its dough and fidelity to tradition.

The Pasta of the Year award was given to Bruderherz, while Cielo Winebar won the New Opening category. Gemello won the award for Most Innovative Menu, Mani in Pasta took the Best Street Food award, Domu Nosta was recognized for Regional Italian Cuisine, Giomecca was named Patisserie of the Year, and Cuore di Vetro won Gelateria of the Year.

In the mixology and Italian conviviality categories, Bar Milano was awarded Italian Cocktail Bar of the Year, while legendary Sorsi e Morsi took the Aperitivo of the Year recognition. Centro Italia won Italian Delicatessen of the Year, confirming its historic role in the dissemination of authentic Italian products in Berlin.

Career Award to Trattoria Muntagnola

One of the most emotional moments of the evening was the Career Award, presented to Angela Matarrese and Pino Bianco of the historic Trattoria A’ Muntagnola. For over forty years, they have represented a cultural and gastronomic stronghold of Basilicata in Berlin. Angela, known as Nonna Angela, continues to make fresh pasta at 90 years old, while Pino runs a place that has become a symbol of hospitality and authenticity for both the Italian and Berlin communities.

The True Italian Project

For more than ten years, True Italian has worked to promote authentic Italian cuisine in Germany through events, festivals, themed weeks, cultural campaigns, and activities that engage tens of thousands of people every year. The True Italian Awards represent the natural evolution of this journey, aiming to highlight venues that best interpret and preserve Italian culinary traditions abroad.

The Voting System

The jury consisted of 18 independent experts in Berlin's gastronomy – journalists, food writers, communicators, and professionals:

The voting process was anonymous and independent, with a weighted average system.

Organizers and Partners

The first edition of the True Italian Awards has been organized by Berlin Italian Communication within the project True Italian.

Partner of the event have been Mammafiore, Campari, Pasta Armando, Acqua San Benedetto, Disaronno, Latticini Orchidea, Vecchio Amaro del Capo and Coffee Mood.

Media partner was Berlino Magazine, the Italian magazine in Germany.

Winners and nominess in each category

Restaurant of the Year: Lagalante

Nominees of the same category: Gemello, Lisbeth, Malafemmena, Selecta, Talea

Pizzeria of the Year — Powered by Latticini Orchidea: Malafemmena

Nominees of the same category: Gemello, Lagalante, Lisbeth, Selecta, Talea

Pasta Restaurant of the Year — Powered by Pasta Armando: Bruderherz

Nominees of the same category: Let Enzo Out, Mani in Pasta, Mozzarella Bar, Talea, Vino e Cucina

Premium Restaurant of the Year: Zum Heiligen Teufel

Nominees of the same category: Bocca di Bacco, Caligari, Francucci, Lagalante, Mine

Cocktail Bar of the Year — Powered by Disaronno: Bar Milano

Nominees of the same category: Centopassi, Cuore di Vetro, Lisbeth, Sorsi e Morsi, Spazio Italian Bistrot

New Opening of the Year — Powered by Vecchio Amaro del Capo: Cielo Winebar

Nominees of the same category: Focacciando, Let Enzo Out, Lisbeth, Totti, Trattoria Senza

Aperitif Place of the Year — Powered by Campari: Sorsi e Morsi

Nominees of the same category: Bar Nonno, Centopassi, Cuore di Vetro, Lisbeth, Spazio Italian Bistrot

Cafè/Patisserie of the Year — Powered by Coffee Mood: Giomecca

Nominees of the same category: Dolci & Delizie, Sweet Italy, Café Aroma, Cornetteria Romana

Gelateria of the Year: Cuore di Vetro

Nominees of the same category: Artigiani, Duo, Early Bird, Peggy Bee, Zàgara

Innovative Menu of the Year — Powered by Acqua San Benedetto: Gemello

Nominees of the same category: Lagalante, Mamida, Sagrantino 136, Vino e Basilico, Zum Heiligen Teufel

Regional Cuisine of the Year: Domu Nosta (Sardinia)

Nominees of the same category: La Lupa, Modì – Salumeria e Bistrot, Mozzarella Bar, Enoteca L’Angolino, Sicula Bar

Delicatessen Shop of the Year: Centro Italia

Nominees of the same category: Amore Store, Modì – Salumeria e Bistrot, Olio Costa, Terra Verde Landkost aus Sizilien, Viani

Street Food of the Year: Mani in Pasta

Nominees of the same category: Focacceria San Francesco, Dolci e Salati, Sanpietrino, Sironi, Zerostress Pizza

Career Award: Angela Matarrese and Pino Bianco — Trattoria A’ Muntagnola

Press contact

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Office

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