Wednesday, December 24, 2014

La Cucina della Marianna @ Griante, Como, Italy

Cuisine: Italian
Price: EUR30 per person (what we paid for)
Visited: 4 October 2014
Food: 7/10
Atmosphere: 6/10
Value for money: 5/10
Services: 6/10
Scale: [1=poor ---- 5=average/standard ---- 10=outstanding/exceptional]

Visiting Lake Como can be a really good vacation with those beautiful view and landscape. However, it can be tedious sometimes to find proper non-tourist type restaurants. Here is one for you. La Cucina della Marianna, which is a part of Alberghetto della Marianna, is a local joint in Griante with good local food and friendliness. The alberghetto part is a kind of decent place to stay in which Paola, the owner, manages almost everything. On the other hand, the restaurant part is run by Chef Ty who is Paola's husband. It sounds more interesting when it comes to family run kind of place, right? By the way, both Paola and Ty are so lovely, friendly, funny, and helpful.

The place is not big but cosy and comfortable. There are probably around 10 tables only and during the night of our visit there were around 4 or 5 tables. Ty only serves 1 set of dish per day, meaning a choice of starter, first course, second course, and dessert per day. So you won't stand a chance to repeat the dish you may have on a previous day of the same week. Basically, there is no need to choose what to try and let Ty improvises for you. All you need to think is how full you would like to be.

La Cucina della Marianna @ Griante, Como, Italy

the family run hotel and restaurant

local and warmly welcome atmosphere

small dining room but with comfort

As mentioned, there is only one set of menu a day. However, you do not have to eat the all 4 courses. For us, we went for medium menu (EUR35) which comprised of first course and second course. Pricing seems high but if you are a guest of the alberghetto, you do get 25% off. As for the wine, there are a selection of decent list as well as wine by glass (all Italian of course). You may just tell Ty your preference and he can make suggestion. For me, Ty recommended La Brugherata Rosso di Alberico Merlot 2013 (88/100) which is a local wine in the Lombardy region. It has fruity character of Merlot but rather lively acidity and medium body. Good table wine to enjoy young.

bread basket

amuse bouche

La Brugherata Rosso di Alberico Merlot 2013

For the night of our meal, the first course was Chestnut Spatzli (7/10). This egg based soft pasta was so simple, so local, but so delicious. There are always some kinds of magic in good pasta dishes and this one was no exception. The soft and tender texture of pasta blended so well with natural sweetness of chestnut. With an addition of good grated cheese on top, this was delicious. For the second course, it was Mushrooms Pork Cheek (7/10). Ok, it was tender, it was juicy, and it was yummy. We liked the strong mushroom flavour of the sauce. The mash alongside was smooth and nice too. We were not disappointed at all.

Well, let me tell you one thing. If you are thinking to visit Lake Como during the next few years and would happen to be in Griante area, do not miss this place. There is a high chance that both Paola and Ty might retire in the next few years after their decades of services. Why not at all stay Alberghetto della Marianna and have a meal there if you really have a chance. Thank god we found this place.

Chestnut Spatzli

Mushrooms Pork Cheek

La Cucina della Marianna @ Griante, Como, Italy
57 Via Regina
Griante
Como, 22011
Italy

Open Hours: Sat to Sun for lunch 12:30pm - 02:00pm and Tue - Sun dinner 07:30pm - 09:30pm

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