Many of my articles include the cultural and historical background of the spot and I have to mention that it is not the first time that I talk about Italian cuisine in Tirana. We basically love everything about Italy in Albania, as long as it is not occupation. But if it is occupation by food, however, we can probably negotiate. In this context, Pagus is the best steakhouse in town and I am really convinced when I say that. When it comes to cooking, Italians know how to do it and we’re very lucky to have their expertise in Tirana.

Pagus has an excellent location, a wide and welcoming space that even includes a small mezzanine-like area where you can have a more private and quiet lunch/dinner, and very well-educated staff (honestly, we make jokes in Tirana because of this, as we have an “inflation” of jurists/lawyers who cannot penetrate the job market and choose to work on something else instead. Ironically, the law faculty is just steps away. In this context though, I mean that they speak different foreign languages).

As with any Italian restaurant, pasta is on the menu and the house makes delicious homemade pasta dishes. However, Pagus’s reputation has been built from one thing: meat. It is a heaven for meat lovers; the steaks are fresh and local, the signature Italian, and the wine blood red. Why would someone wish for more?