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Il Tempio - Taste the Heart of Italy in Barbados ...
By the time you leave you will have fallen in love or perhaps gone to heaven.
Anna Pirelli and Leo Valante have brought the best of Italian food and charm to Barbados.
The outcome?...A wonderful, Italian restaurant on a spectacular beach! Which combines two of my favourite things, or maybe three: dining with panoramic views of the sea, culture and exceptional tasting Italian cuisine.
Steeped in Roman mythology, separate from many of the other gourmet places on the west coast, lies this unforgettable Italian restaurant in Fitts Village St.James.
Il Tempio ( It means the temple) , once you arrive at this fine dining Italian restaurant and beach bar, there is no place you'll rather be.
From the minute you walk in, you just know you're going to have a great time!
It has the perfect spot for a day at the beach. The sea is calm ideal for swimming and on a sunny day, shimmers as if diamonds are floating on top. A narrow walk way leads you from the parking area to the beach bar and on to the beach... A step away from the bar's terrace or your favourite cocktail. In the evenings, the sunset appears to be an arm's throw away... A view too precious to imagine! You'll have to be there. For a scrumptious Italian lunch or dinner, the main entrance, lauded with white, whispers Roman grandeur, scaled to fit the location. This intrigue sets the mood for an artistic and poetic Italian ambiance to come. Immediate thoughts? ...this is somewhere very special ... for me! or her! or him! Whom ever you share this with, it is worth it!
Guarded by two statues of lions, appearing on either side, a ceramic tiled walkway, lined with Roman inspired columns, flaming torches and tropical plants, takes you by a wall, carved with half moon impressions, holding softly lit, semi-precious stones.
In front of these appears a statue of a headless woman, (ironically symbolizing, things aren't always good or "peachy" ), not knowing this, you admire it and continue merrily.
The wall of the reception is littered with restaurant awards which says everything is peachy.
The path continues into a large, fine dining area, that seems like a natural location for a wedding or reception of sorts.
An expanse of seating , offers all customers privacy, views of the sea and a little bit of Italian mythology.
You can have as little or as much of these three things depending on where you sit - beach side or central dining area.
The walls are warms hues of gold, the chairs are draped in navy blue cloth. Ceramic tiles and Roman columns with the tops and bottoms coated in real gold , continue throughout the restaurant, creating the ambiance of being in a temple. Leo, tells us, "to be true to Roman architecture, having the columns covered in real gold, this way, is very difficult to get done." There is a graceful statue of the head of Anna F., but how can you not notice the plaque of the "river god" .
At a glance, he looks like the face of a lion, with an open mouth. "In Italy, this is called, La Bocca della Verita (The Mouth of Truth) and is hung in the portico of the church in Santa Maria in Rome . If a liar put his hand in The Mouth of Truth, he would lose it." ( so if you're dying to find out the truth about something, from whomever you're with. Put them to the the test!... you never know what may play out). They'll have no need to fear as The Mouth of Truth doesn't work anymore, as it was once tricked - I can't go on without sharing this tale ( so I'll stray away just a bit)... 
A jealous husband decided to find out if his suspicions of his wife's unfaithfulness were true and had her put her hand in the open Mouth. This occasion attracted numerous spectators. As the wife was about to place her hand in the Mouth, a stranger jumped out of the crowd and started kissing and embracing her. The man was called crazy and he was let go. This crazy man was her lover. So when she put her hand in The Mouth of Truth and said she had never been touched by anyone apart from her husband and this crazy man, her hand was not bitten. The Mouth of Truth, upset by this trickery has ceased to work since... . The atmosphere at Il Tempio is friendly, a warm host greets you and if you choose to simply sit for a drink by the bar... It's easy to strike up conversation. That is, if you aren't quickly summoned for your opinion, by the bar's customers already having a chat.
You meet some really nice people, from all parts of the world and make great friendships, there. That is, where I met Graham and Andrea Reeves-Law , the environmentally friendly couple, featured on our lifestyle page. At Il Tempio, the service is personable and very professional. The bar has any beverage (cocktails, coffee or liqueur) you can imagine. And of course, an array of the finest wines Italy has to offer. Under the care of Italian bar tender Fabio and co- owner, Leo, you're wine is served at the perfect room temperature, as it would be coming straight from a cellar in Italy. And every drink is mixed with precision before it leaves the bar. While co-owner, Anna Pirelli, personally makes sure that you are spectacular at every point of your meal. Italian chef, Claudio, creates the most delectable tasting Italian cuisine. 
The menu is a list of one 'delish' Italian dish after the next. With endless options...it is difficult to decide which one to choose - the Zuppa del Giorno ( soup of the day) with a vegetarian option? The antipasti (appetizer) , sinfonia al profumo di mare: calamari, smoked salmon, avocado mousse, shrimp and red snapper with citrinette and chives. Or should it be the appetizer...?
The Primi Piatti ( Main Courses), Agnolotti Con Pere E Gorgonzola: Homemade pasta stuffed with pear and gorgonzola cheese?... How about the Tagliolini Dello Chef: Homemade noodles with shrimp, mushrooms, and pesto in a light cream sauce, brandy and fresh tomato? ... The Filetto Di Pesce Alla Mugnaia: Seared catch of the day in butter lemon and white wine sauce with grilled zucchini ?...
And what's for dessert... so many mouth-watering homemade treats. Why not try ... Il Classico Tiramisu : the classic Tiramisu? Or... The Cannelloni All Amaretto: Sweet Canelloni stuffed with Amaretto Cream in English sauce and chocolate?... or coffee or a shot of premium liqueur...? Whatever you decide to have, you will you go mmmmm... at many points, and be aware you are likely to exclaim! (I'm not joking). There was a sudden out-burst " OMG! I've died and gone to heaven!" Later it was found out, this person had tasted their Tiramisu. I definitely recommend you try this dessert. 
For the most part, the menu at Il Tempio doesn't change. So your favourite Italian dishes , are always there for you!
To spice things up for the regulars. The 'special' is something new each day. You can always rely on great tasting cuisine at Il Tempio Italian Restaurant and Beach Bar.
After all, it has been dubbed by opera singer Luciano Pavarotti as " The best Italian food in Barbados!". Sure, there are other Italian restaurants on the island but none at all like this!
The atmosphere is lovely and very down-to-earth. Plus it is the only Italian restaurant in Barbados on the beach.
Conde Naste Traveler and other travel and lifestyle magazines (to many to list) have also rated this Italian restaurant as one of the most amazing, this side of the world.
With a reputation like this and the fact that dinner was scrumptious! - We thank Anna and Leo for bringing the passions of Italy, to a platinum beach on Barbados. And for letting us feature it here on life-n-styles-barbados.com.
But when it does reopen, feel free to contact Il Tempio, directly to make your reservations, comments or inquiries by filling out the form below.
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