Vistaqua — Restaurant in Baveno

This restaurant was recommended by the lady at the hotel we stayed. They own the hotel and a few restaurants around. My partner and I visited two of them.

Here, we started with an appetizer comprised of various fish-based dishes. All cooked perfectly with great taste. The highlights were the grilled octopus - best cooked and tasting one I've every tried, and the tuna ragu that was full of flavour and fresh.

The "pizza" (as noted in the menu - with quotes) seems to be their own interpretation. I did not have high expectations because the slices of bread they provided to the table initially had a very strong and unpleasant taste and smell of commercial yeast. From this much yeast I would expect it to have risen well at least - but no, it was very dense.

The pizza as seen on the pictures has not risen at all either but no strong smell of commercial yeast at least. The dough was crunchy like a biscuit but had a good taste of flour - based on this I judge the ingredients are high quality. The toppings tasted amazing as well. Hence, the 4-star rating, otherwise I would have rated lower.

Overall, it seems like a good restaurant, well-priced considering the high-quality products and I would return again but would not order pizza. Based on my experience, I believe everything would be perfectly cooked apart from the flour-based...

We arrived on a rainy day around 9pm when all tables were taken. Many guests were about to finish we were happy to wait for an empty table. This gave us the opportunity to watch how the restaurant's staff was going about their duties. It was a delight to see how they gave their best to cater for the guests, no lazy standing and chatting, just ever attentive and quick moving around. Never empty handed they rush to and from the kitchen in order to most efficiently serve their guests. They communicate among themselves on a display of great teamwork. We were given a table at the fringe of the seating area, and when it started to rain again they very quickly reassigned us to a freshly made up table in the dry seating space. The food was excellent, the wine selection great. Throw in the mix reasonable pricing in a prime location and you have a...

I am not your difficult customer and understanding by nature. We arrived around 8.45. Staff was not welcoming in any sense from the start. We were rushed to order, got given dry bread without any plates or cutlery.

All the mannerisms of several staff members were unprofessional and impolite. First course was there in 2 minutes, drinks within 20 mins. Then we got pushed to start the main course, when we asked for a few more minutes to finish our starter, we got declined and got our main served. Twice the staff came wanting to take our still half full plates away. The second time I said it was impolite and got no reaction. Upon leaving no goodbye or thank you. If you are not Italian I recommend you to stay away. Overpriced and average quality.

The definition of a...