Lake Como, Italy

[PeteDelfino]

Anyone have recommendations for good local food in and around the town of Como???

Going there summer 2011 but making plans now.

Thanks!

[Irene65]

A totally reliable Slow Food recommendation for good local food is

CROTTO DEL SERGENTE
Via Crotto del Sergente, 13
22100 Como, località Lora
tel. [phone]
[e-mail]
www.crottodelsergente.it

It is not in Como walled town and it can be pretty difficult to find without a GPS but fully worth a visit.

As for Navedano, If I can respectfully express my opinion, a forty km trip to Milan will offer you many more valuable options - at the same price - or at much less ;-

)

Ciao
Irene

[erly]

I highly recommend
Ristarante Rino
In the Old Town
It is a true Gem.
Famiy run.
Had Dinner there tonight.
Have dinner there twice each trip
They specialize in Porcini, and Black Truffles.
Generous portions and served many ways
Very cheap for what you get.
We shared starters Escargot and a heaping plartter of Porcini in Garlic butter both excellent
We both chose the Pasta smothered in Black Truffles.
Wth 4 glasses of wine, and a large bottle of sparkling Water the bill totalled 120E

[masnole]

Head a short bit North to Cernobbio. Get a reservationa for Il Gato Nero which is in the hills above Cernobbio.

Amazing food. If you can get a seat on the patio - amazing views of Lake Como way down below, patio has only 3 tables.

Only downside is that the last time I was there out on the balcony, I had the extreme displeasure of having to listen to George Clooney run his mouth about what a great humanitarian he is.........seriously ;-(

Nevertheless, the ride to and from in the hills, the food, the view are all great.

[PeteDelfino]

thanks...it sounds like a place we would like and Ill be on the lookout for George...:)

[Irene65]

No doubt George Clooney's presence in Lallio positively affected the USA tourist flow to the entire area.
Sadly, tough, more and more restaurants propose "Americanized" Italian dishes. Of course, they were doing so even before GC's arrival, he's not the first USA to discover the lake of Como beauties, but the phenomenon worsened.
A lost chance for many tourists, to taste authentic - not necessarily better - Italian food.

[shekamoo]

do they have an Email address or any way of making reservation online?

[jen kalb]

Here is their website - dont see any email address - for many italian restaurants you simply need to call.
http://www.gattonerocernobbio.com/ind...

[shekamoo]

Thank you. I did indeed find their website online, but could not find any Email on there and was hoping for some luck on that front. More and more, for places in italy, I am getting reservations online with success, so I am becoming a bit presumptive on that!!

[jeffreycrowne]

excellent place just outside of the downtown area is Navedano, very upscale sophisticated menu and very expensive with the eur at 1.40 , but very good food, very good wine list, very good service and beautifully decorated, its worth it if you are prepared for the cost (lunch for 4 was 635 eur) http://www.ristorantenavedano.it/

[PeteDelfino]

Sounds good...will add it to our "special" list...

[barberinibee]

My husband recently returned from a night in the town of Como and reported he had a really very nice dinner, at the recommendation of his hotel, at La Cucina di Elsa

http://www.lacucinadielsa.com/

He said the restaurant was filled with romantic couples (in December!) but that he was treated extremely nicely as a solo diner. He added that, in addition to a delicious meal of seasonal foods (mushrooms, artichokes and well prepared lake fish), he appreciated he didn't have long waits between courses.

[PeteDelfino]

Thank you! I'm adding it to our list. Will let you know how it turns out :)

[rrems]

The thread referred to by DavidT above has some excellent recommendations(including my own). I'm wondering though, are you planning to stay in the town of Como? It's not the most interesting. Although Bellagio is a bit harder to get to, once you are there you are in a magnificent setting and accessible to other towns by car and/or ferry, and when you return in the evening you do not have to travel for great food. It's one of the most beautiful places I have stayed in Europe, and dining there was a real treat.

[PeteDelfino]

Thank you! We intend to visit Bellagio but not sure about staying there.

[DavidT]

Be sure to do a search for Como in the box at the upper right hand corner of this page. Here is one past thread:

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/5940...