La Veranda is the signature restaurant of the luxury hotel Villa d’Este that is located on the shores of Lake Como just 45 minutes drive from Milan. The main house, the Cardinal’s Building, was built already in 1568 and a second building, the Queen’s Pavilion, was added later on to the property that became Villa D’Este in 1873. All surrounded by a very impressive 25 acres park together with impeccable service that makes Villa d’Este one of the elite addresses in Europe.

Even if the La Veranda restaurant can seat around 300 guests it still is formal and elegant so jacket and tie required. The restaurant overlooks the beautiful Lake Como so you will have some breathtaking views while you have your traditional Italian haute cuisine. The big windows are automated and can be lowered into the ground during warm evenings for outside dining that can be held directly at the terrace as well.

Executive Chef Luciano Parolari was working for Villa d’Este for an impressive 45 years and held the top chef position since 1978 before he retired and the Sous Chef Michele Zambanini became the new Executive Chef.

It is classic Italian luxury and that reflects well in the cuisine as well, with veal carpaccio with artichokes and mustard sauce, with a selection of sea fish and its tartar with pink grapefruit sorbet, with quail stuffed with aromatic bread with farmhouse polenta and with Milanese style veal cutlet with asparagus in Mimosa style to just mention a few. Lake fish can also be ordered in addition to the traditional seafood. A must try is the dessert Zabagliome Al Marsala with yolk, sugar and wine from Sicily, a good sting in that one and a perfect way to conclude an evening at La Veranda.

La Veranda delivers more than the typical luxury hotel restaurant and with an average of around 100 dinner guests per evening that is impressive. The service is impeccable, the wine selections work well and the food tastes good or even better than good on most occasions. Villa D’Este is one of Europe’s best hotels and has certainly nothing to be ashamed of when it comes to the quality haute cuisine of La Veranda.

Written by Andy