Let’s get straight to the point: the food in this restaurant doesn’t taste like my Italian grandmother’s. But that doesn’t matter, because my family comes from the very south of Italy and pizzas have a different tradition there. At Nonna Nenetta 2.0 in Esch-sur-Alzette, it tastes good all the same.
Not least because it’s one of the few restaurants I know of that offers a vegan cheese option. After all, vegans get cravings too. Whether the preparation would stand up to my critical palate, however, remained to be seen. That’s precisely why this place had been on my list for a while, and on a busy Tuesday, the time had finally come.
Despite it being lunchtime, we opted for a beer and an Aperol Spritz. Well, almost. In fact, both were non-alcoholic: a chilled Diekirch 0.0 (€3.50) and a Crodino biondo (€6), which comes served so stylishly with an orange slice, ice cubes and a straw that you briefly forget there’s no alcohol in the glass.
Well then, cheers! © Photo credit: Jil Reale
Modern yet cosy © Photo credit: Jil Reale
There’s plenty of room for everyone here © Photo credit: Jil Reale
Lovingly crafted details © Photo credit: Jil Reale
My friend and I each opted for a pizza: he chose the Taggiasca with pitted olives and capers, and also ordered extra mushrooms on the side. I chose the Aubergine pizza. At €16 per pizza, the price is absolutely fair given the size and quality. They were served with an extra-sharp knife for cutting. A small detail that, for me as a self-proclaimed pizza expert, says a lot about this restaurant’s standards. Because these pizzas are really thin and need to be cut cleanly.
The restaurant has a modern yet cosy interior, with a touch of wood, yet it feels urban without coming across as cold. Small, typically Italian details and pictures round off the atmosphere. However, where many hungry people gather, the noise level inevitably rises. Lunch here isn’t exactly a relaxing affair, but it is certainly lively. I would therefore strongly recommend booking a table for lunch.
Vegan mozzarella, thin base, aromatic aubergine © Photo credit: Jil Reale
Zoomed in again © Photo credit: Jil Reale
They didn’t skimp on the extra mushrooms © Photo credit: Jil Reale
The pizzas themselves impress with a perfect balance of dough, sauce and toppings. Not overloaded, not greasy. We were particularly impressed by the vegan mozzarella – beautifully melted and creamy. This is no small feat, as plant-based cheese remains a sensitive topic with sometimes inconsistent results, believe me. It’s a similar story with the aubergine on my pizza, which is tricky to prepare. But at Nonna Nenetta, that’s no problem: the aubergine is cooked to perfection, soft and aromatic.
A little, almost endearing anecdote: if it’s your birthday here, you can apparently request a birthday song. My friend has witnessed this ritual several times during her lunch break. Then an Italian classic plays, the food is served, and somehow the moment suddenly feels very much like a short trip to the Adriatic, even if you’re actually just having a quick lunch.
By the way, if you’re not in the mood for pizza, you’ll find plenty of other options: the menu is varied, offering numerous pasta dishes and other variations.
Info
3 Avenue du Swing, L-4367 Esch-sur-Alzette
Monday to Saturday from 11:30 to 14:30 and from 18:30 to 22:00.
Open until 22:30 on Friday and Saturday evenings.
Closed on Sundays.
Restaurants reviewed in the Table Talk column are not informed that a reporter is visiting. Mediahuis Luxembourg pays a contribution towards the cost of the meal. The rest is paid by the reviewer.
(This story was first published by the Luxemburger Wort. Translated using AI, edited by Yannick Hansen)
Dining and Cooking