ekscrunchy

I have read the recent post asking about lunch stops between CT and Bellagio. Advice there was that the route through Genoa may be the most desirable. Scenic routes (the driver has a penchant for those marked green on Michelin maps) are desirable but not willing to forfeit hours of driving time..

We will be departing from SML on a Friday morning, heading for Menaggio. I am looking for a great lunch en route. Must be easy to find; no within-city driving. Is there a wonderful, close-to-the-main- route, country place that we could keep in our sights? We will not leave SML much before 9am, possibly a bit later. I will plot out a route with Via Michelin and would love to hear some recommendations for lunch spots... Food is more important than atmosphere; budget is flexible.

Many thanks!

vincenzod

If you will be late and leave from SML not earlier than 11am, I strongly reccomend you this not yet well known valley in Piemonte: Val Borbera. And, of course, you're on the road.
The restaurant is part of the D&B IL FIORILE and it is really a very sweet and good experience.
You will tell me !!
Look at its website: www.ilfiorile.com .

Have a lovely trip, ciao.

Vincenzo

bobthenavigator

That route is not long. I would keep truckin and eat on the shores of Lago Como.

zeppole

Why don't you plot out the route and then tell us what it is --

or

What don't you tell us what you like to eat and then we'll suggest a route?

Depending on how long you are willing to be on the road, there are quite a few regions you can go to for lunch, with different cuisines.

Vincenzo proposes Piemonte, Lombardia is logical, and Emilia-Romagna is just over the hill. And of course, there are famed restaurants just above Genova if you haven't had enough Ligurian food.

I would be concerned that by the time you got all the way to Mennagio and checked in, restaurants would be closing, although I've never clocked the route.

vincenzod

Sorry, but the magic moment of a trip is . . .the trip rather than the planned destination.
And, this part of Italy, between the east coast of Liguria and the lake of Como is full of very beautiful and hidden places.
Why, I apologize, but why the suggestion should be to become blind and run, run, run until Bellagio ?
The charm of Italy is also, IMO, in the way you can discover its small hidden treasures and Val Borbera, believe me, is one of these.

Vincenzo

JulieVikmanis

I suggest that you plot your route to take you to the Certosa di Pavia with a beautiful church and an even more beautiful cloister and then have lunch at Locanda Vecchia Pavia Al Mulino just a few blocks from the Certosa. It has one star and 3 forks and spoons in the Michelin guide and it's lovely, positioned at an old time mill.

It will take you a bit out of the direct route, but not into a major city where you'd have to hunt for the location. Mileage direct from SML to Menaggio is 246 km, and 3 hours 40 min. Mileage from SML to the Certosa is 146 km, 2 hrs, 31 min, and from Certosa to Menaggio 2 hours, 105 km. I submit that the additional mileage for the look at the Certosa is well worth it and so is the Al Mulino. You are traveling on Friday so the Certosa will be open (it's closed on Tuesday, we learned the hard way) but you'd best check on the opening hours as they may close over the lunch hour and if you're not leaving until 9 and it takes 2 and a half hours to get there, you might be pushing it.
Via Michelin has info on the restaurant and also maps showing the route to it from the Certosa.

I have to say that the Certosa was a very memorable stop. Enjoy.

JulieVikmanis

Oops. Correction. The time from SML to Certosa is 2 hours 30 min, not 3 hours 30 min. Sorry. At any rate, I think the rest of the info is correct.

JulieVikmanis

Forget my correction. I'm watching the convention and having too much wine. First post was correct as typed.

bobthenavigator

I was thinking Cernobbio or Lenno on the west shore BEFORE you get to Menaggio. You can be there in less than 4 hours.

ekscrunchy

Thanks, all. I would rather stop en route before Lake Como. We will have four nights on the Lake (probably in Menaggio) and I am not holding out all that much hope for fabulous local food while there.

Julie, my first thought was Pavia since apparently it is well known for very good food. But my friend, who will be driving, is not going to want to deal with entering an actual city center..too much driving pressure. I was thinking someplace just off the main roads, which looks to be the route via Genoa and the Milano ring road.. I do not think he-they will want to take the detour through ER.

The SW corner of Piemonte might be the area to zero in on. I apologize for being so vague, as I am not at my own computer this week and do not have my guidebooks at hand...

I did try to access Via Michelin yesterday and was not successful on this computer..might have to wait until I return home next week to ask more meaningful questions.

I will investigate Vicenzo's selection; sounds like the right time frame..

Anyway, thanks again to everyone...let me know if you have more ideas..

zeppole

The Certosa di Pavia is not in the city of Pavia (which is very small anyway). It is about 10 km outside of it.

If you have a copy of the Italian Touring Club guide they might have a good recommendation for lunch just off the road in the vicinity of Pavia.

Since it wouldn't take you very long to get to the Certosa, I would do that first, lunch after.

Why don't you get in touch with this guy and ask him?

http://mangez.blogspot.com/2008/08/p...ado-salad.html

zeppole

You might be interested in reading this:

http://www.theamericanmag.com/articl...le=367&p=1

There are no doubt many pleasant country restaurants off the road in Lombardia, or whatever longer route you pick (through Emilia Romagna or Piemonte).

But should the driver come to think that maybe Pavia isn't all the difficult, it might make sense to simply head for the train station and pay for parking there while going to an in-town restaurant destination. If you can get Michelin to work for you online, you can locate the route ahead of time.

zeppole

Or how about touring the Certosa, and then heading to nearby Vigevano for lunch?

http://tinyurl.com/68lzvq

http://tinyurl.com/5kjabd

JulieVikmanis

Not to beat a dead horse, but Yes, the Certosa is outside and away from the city and the Vecchia Mulino is pracially walking distance from the certosa. my only concern would be whether you can time your visit not to be impeded by any mid-day closing. My husband hates city driving and he was fine with this. It's not the city. There's also plenty of drive up parking there.

zeppole

I don't think it was dead. I missed the first reference you made to the proximity of the restaurant to the Certosa.

here's a useful link:

http://www.comune.certosa.pv.it/index_file/turismo.htm



In September, the monuments reopen at 2:30pm, so it might work best to eat first.

ekscrunchy

Great! I did not realize that the Certosa was outside Pavia. I will check it (Vecchia Pavia) out. The restaurant that Vicenzo mentions looks very tempting, too. It looks as if there is an abundance of options!

I did take a look at the Via Michelin suggested route and both of these would be convenient. Many many thanks..the departure date is drawing near and I am very excited!

SeaUrchin

Eks, I can certainly vouch for Vincenzo's recommendations, he knows all the wonderful places that are hidden gems. He studies and knows excellent food and wine and usually the owners and staff of the establishments too.

vincenzod

I thank you SeaUrchin, you're very kind to me.
Anyway I was there on last October, ten months, ago and I really enjoyed that place very much and, it is a 6 legs D&B meaning that dogs not only are allowed, better, they are welcome and the difference is not a small difference.
The food was excellent and, first of all, it is the area, Val Borbero, which is really magical, maybe (I am sorry for ekscrunchy) in October even better than in September because in those places October is the true king of the fall.
Anyway, if ekscrunchy is still reading these posts before her departure, I remind her to call me if she wants, when she is in Italy.

Ciao a tutti e Buona Domenica.

ekscrunchy

Vicenzo: Yes, I am still reading! I have not posted as often as usual these days because I am away from my computer until later this week.

When I get home I will plot out the route to Il Fiorile on my map; I am hoping to convince my friends to stop there en route to Lake Como. Can you estimate how far removed it is from the main highway from Genoa-Milano? (I apologize for not checkign this myself; I am "away from my desk" at the moment and do not have my books and guides with me.)

We will leave arrive in Camogli on the 20th, so there is still time to "chat" here...

vincenzod

IL FIORILE is closed on Monday, so that I suggested a different solution, very lovely, too, not far from Fiorile.
The small town is GARBAGNA and the restaurant wine bar is CAFFE' DELLA PIAZZA and, gess what ?!?, its location is in the main square (piazza) of the town.
Sip Timorasso, the local excellent red wine and you discover a small hidden gem among those red wines.

Ciao, have a lovely trip.

Vincenzo