Villa Pizzini

Absolutely magnificent dining experience. Each dish was more delicious than the last. We had the "Origins" menu and highly enjoyed the tastes of the season- mouth-watering saffron risotto, assorted pork, exquisite ravioli with truffles. The veal and cod were also impeccable. The desserts were cullinary heaven- tiramisu and pear with a white chocolate ball of deliciousness that can hardly be described. Perfection. I almost wept when the meal was done as it had been such a moving experience. Highly, highly recommended. Warning- the drive up the mountain may not be for the faint of heart, especially in rain and fog, but worth every hairpin curve and turn from Stresa. Wonderful and attentive host and staff, catering to every need and whim and whatsapping us to make it past road closures. My only regret was that it was dark and we could not see the presumably amazing view.

If your idea of a nice dinner is to drive extremely treacherous roads through a dense forest to arrive to the most condescending host imaginable, then this place is for you! The host/waiter is patronizing and snobbish; he did all he could to make us feel unwelcome - from criticizing our order to telling us how restaurants "normally work." Things you should know before going - you don't actually eat outside, where the view is - you eat in a stuffy dining room inside. Also, you have to walk an unlit, unpaved, kind of unsafe path from the parking lot to the villa - definitely leave your heels at home. Lastly, the menu strongly suggests (requires?) each person order at least two dishes, not including dessert, which is not only ridiculous, but also quite difficult given how limited the menu is. I would say unless you want to see just how bad service can get in a restaurant to stay away at all costs. UPDATE: All you need to do to understand what you're in for at this restaurant is to read the response from the owner below. That is exactly who he is. If you want that, you should go, by all means. If not, stay away. And for the record we ordered seven dishes, not two, some of which were actually very good, but his presence made them very difficult to enjoy.

Great food undermined by less great hospitality. The food is excellent and service is generally attentive. The views over the lake are nothing short of stellar. However they have a lot of rules for what and how you can order, and how you can eat it. They even went as far as denying my request of a fork instead acting in service of the guests and adapting. Quite expensive for what you get and my expectations for costs were not adequately managed. The cover and the antipasto were unexpected costs that amounted to roughly €40 extra per person, even for kids.

Stunning restaurant. We drove from Stresa which took just over 30 mins. Quite steep & winding roads leading you up to Villa Pizzini on top of the mountain with breathtaking views - easy to find on Google maps. The restaurant is a gorgeous property and the staff were great. Really delicious food with a great menu and you can’t beat the wine selection which offers by the glass and bottles. A true experience. Nice slow drive down the mountain after dinner! Must try restaurant if at all close by.

I made a reservation for a restaurant with my family, the road to the restaurant is very long and dangerous, about half an hour drive in a tangled forest. We arrived 5 people and from the first moment they made it clear to us that because we are over four we cannot order from the regular menu but only the tasting menu which starts at 72 euros per person, we were with an 11 year old girl who did not eat half of the dishes, in addition one of the dishes had hair in it and the other had eggshells, and we did not receive any apology. The dishes themselves are made with a high technique but are not suitable for everyone, they have strong flavors. In conclusion, we didn't enjoy it that much.