Hi there! I'll be visiting Lake Como in 2 weeks time (I'm so excited... can't wait!!). Could someone recommend where to go for the best Italian/Milanese cuisines in Menaggio/Bellagio/Varenna? What are the specialities and what should I expect to pay for a good hearty meal?

Appreciate any feedback! Thanx!

I can't remember the name, but ate two out of four nights in Varenna at the inn/restaurant that is right in front of the ferry. Can't miss it in such a tiny village. Had cocktails our front & read & people-watched until the sun went down & they started setting up for dinner. We ate inside, and I don't even remember what.... except that we ate what the waiter reccommended and it was all delicious! Not expensive.

And there was another place at end of the walkway back towards the center of the town, where they have a little patio on the lake.....served the best bellinis I've ever had in Italy.

Sorry, not to be more help. We stayed in Varenna four days and only spent a few hours in the other towns.
Bama

We've also eaten at the hotel near the ferry dock in Varenna. I think it's the Hotel Olivedo, but, as BamaB says, you can't miss it. I would say our meal was very good not great, which is usually good enough for us. We're not the travelling gourmands that some posters here seem to be.

A better recommendation in my mind is Bilacus in Bellagio. We've eaten there several times and very much enjoyed everything we've ordered. In high season, they usually offer a fixed price menu that is an excellent value. Reservations are a must and should be made at least a few days in advance in high season.

A three-course meal for two with wine should cost $40-60 depending on what you order. The Hotel Olivedo may be cheaper overall, but the Bilacus fixed price menu would normally be the better deal.

Other posters here rave about Silvio's in Bellagio.

Thanks for the tips! I shall look out for Balicus when I'm there.. it sounds superb! Hope it's near the town centre as I will be going around by foot, hopping on and off the ferry.
And Hotel Olivedo and Silvio on my other nights there!
Gr8 help, both! Cheers!

Bilacus is almost to the top of the main staircase in Bellagio, on the right. It's a wonderful place with huge portions of good food and a warm staff. I ate there twice based on recommendations on this board and wasn't disappointed.

There's a resto almost directly across from Bilacus but avoid it. The food was so so. I ate there the night Bilacus was closed (Monday) and was disappointed.

Thanks Adrienne for the direction. That would be a great help. Btw, is English well spoken & understood in the restautants? I'm afraid my knowledge of the Italian language is nil altho I plan to learn a few phrases b4 leaving.
It would be ackward to be served by impatient waiters/waitresses if I take too long understanding the menus!
Cheers!

Places like the towns on Lake Como are used to visitors from lots of places. I had no problem and I only know a few words in Italian. Most people speak enough English to communicate with tourists.

At Bilacus I wanted a double decaf coffee after dinner and made myself understood by showing with my fingers that I wanted a large coffee (a large decaf wasn't on the menu). The second night the waitress remembered I wanted a large coffee which was really sweet considering all the people they have to dinner each evening.

If you're on your own you might want to avoid the Hotel Olivedo for dinner. The woman was very rude to me since I wasn't staying there and I was on my own. It's good for lunch since they have an outdoor terrace directly on the water and you can watch the ferries on the lake.

The tourist office in Bellagio is at the passenger ferry dock. They're very helpful with brochures on local sights. Get a ferry schedule from them.

You'll love the area.

Thanks again... you sure are a gr8 help!
I will be travelling alone and it's good to know of the 'dos' and 'don't dos' when travelling on your own.

I'm sure I'll enjoy the place as many have been. And I simply LOVE Italian food... and the gelatos!!! Less than 2 wks more to go and I can hardly wait!!

Bilacus ,Bilacus ,Bilacus and Bilacus !!

Hi chiqita - I agree with adrienne about the restaurant at Hotel Olivedo. We had dinner there one night, and the owner/hostess was one of the most unpleasant people I ever encountered in Italy. Brusque, abrupt, and in a great hurry for us to finish our meal and get out. If she had attempted a smile, her face would have splintered into 1,000 pieces. The food was so-so.

On the other hand, try Il Cavatappi (The Corkscrew), a tiny 5-table restaurant off a narrow alley in Varenna. It was recommended by the bartender at Hotel du Lac, where we spent 3 nights last May. Everything is run by 2 people, the very quirky, funny chef/owner, and the charming hostess/waitress. The risotto with red wine and smoked cheese was the best rice dish I've ever eaten. I can't remember the exact prices, but it was very reasonable. Reservations are a must!

Have a wonderful time!

Thanks for the info Larry. Hmm, shall look out for the hostess of Hotel Olivedo and perhaps get her to crack a smile for me! Ha.. Ha..
II Cavatapi sounds interesting too! If I happen to be extremely hungry when I'm in Varenna, I shall look out for this place.. prolly for lunch.
I'm planning to make a quick trip over to Mendrisio (my friends have heard of the Factory Outlet and sent me to exlore the shops... so thought I 'd give this a half day visit). Being an non-EU, do I need to get a special pass to enter Switzerland from Italy? Will there be an immigration counter at the border and do I need to reserve my train ticket in advance?

If you're American you only need your passport to enter Switzerland from Italy. They may not even check.

I doubt you'll need to reserve the train ahead of time. It's not peak season yet.

I always bought the daily ferry pass since I loved hopping on and off them at different towns. Last October the day pass was 7.5E and a single ticket was 3.5E so the pass was a good deal. Also you could take rides at night and watch the lights in the towns from the ferry. Many towns are only a 10 minute ride from each other. Just be sure when the last ferry leaves so you're not stuck.

In Mennagio the Hotel du Lac has outdoor seating right when you get off the ferry. I had a wonderful tomato and mozzarella salad there sitting outside in the sun - delicious! Also, there's a nice promenade in Mennagio.

I looked up my meal prices at Bilacus:
mixed salad (5E)
green salad (3E)
veal milanese w/fresh veggies (10E)
pasta bolognaise (9E)

The portions are huge. Notice I didn't have room for dessert. The mixed salad was a work of art. I was reading a book and the waiter slipped it in front of me and I exclained out loud "how beautiful!"

Where are you staying on Como?

Hey, thanks Adrienne for taking the trouble to dig out your old bills! That's sweet of you!
So I shan't trouble myself with the train booking to Mendrisio, then. Will buy it on the day of travel.
I'll be staying at Hotel Bellavista.

You're very welcome but I didn't have to dig very far since I put the prices in my trip report and it only took me seconds to pull it up. I feel guilty taking any more credit than that.

The lunch at Hotel Olivedo was 15.50E for eggplant with bel paese cheese, wine, and cappucino. Since it wasn't busy and the terrace was open I was treated ok - didn't see that snarly signora. Not that I want others to be treated rudely but I'm kind of glad it wasn't only me she was rude to. I have a hangup about how middle age women on their own are treated in restaurants. The eggplant was very good but pricey for the quantity. I only had a small pitcher of wine. So, if you're looking for an inexpensive lunch and want to eat outside I'd recommend Mennagio or Bellagio.

There's also a tiny town, Lenno, that was charming. There were several restos that had outside seating. It was too cold and rainy the day I was there for the outside places to be open.

I believe there are some chapels about 1 or 1.5 km from Lenno, up the hill, that you can hike to. I didn't get to do this because of the weather and because I came down with a cold but it sounded interesting. Ask at the TI about this.

chigita, I hope you have a great trip. We stayed at the Bellavista a couple of years ago. The Bellavista has a serviceable restaurant -- the food is quite average, but the view from the terrace is great. You could have a few drinks and soak in the view, then go elsewhere for dinner.

Our top recommendation for Menaggio -- on the low key, inexpensive side, there is a great pizzeria about five minues walking up the hill on the main road, called Pizzeria Lugano. Ambience is zero, but frequented by locals and the pizza was excellent.

If you get a chance, look into the meals served at the Isola Comacina(down a few stops down the lake on the ferry). We wandered around the island but wish we had stayed for the meal. They serve both lunch and dinner. The meal lasts several hours and is accompanied by storytelling about the history of the island. The island, itself, is fascinating -- highly recommended, even if you don't go there for the meal.

Have fun!

Hmmm ! Is that MS. Go ?

Thanks again Adrienne. I shall attempt to do at least one hiking besides visiting the villas. I hope for a sunny weather the week that I'm there! When I last checked the weather forecast last week, it was raining so I'm hoping for the best. I've also read that there's a beach (Lido) where one can go for a swim. Frankly, I find that amazing.. a beach on a lake!

Ms_Go, thanks for the tip on Isola Comacino. Could I take the ferry there?

In Varenna, the small hotel, Albergo Milano, is a delight. The owner host serves meals to any comers 5 evenings a week. You simply walk into the hotel and check that evening's offerings and make a reservation by 6 if you would like to dine there. It was one of the best meals we had in Italy and the poeple there could not be nicer. Check out the website (BTW, excellent English)http://www.varenna.net/index.htm