Villa Elena — Restaurant in Bergamo

This is our first Google review as we do not generally leave them. We thought to do so because this experience was so regrettable.

As for food, generally really quite poor. We have collected maybe 60 Michelin stars — perhaps 12 on this recent trip... this was far and away the worst food we have ever had (whether one star or three stars). Most dishes (with the exception of the snacks and first entree course) a morass of unpleasant over-salted, hyper bitter, or some other unbalanced disaster… the crescendo a medley of beautiful tomatoes that were smoked to the point of genuinely tasting like an ashtray. It’s such a shame as technically the cooking and plating was exceptional and obviously so careful… the flavours, though, were incomprehensible.

As for service, full marks for effort but perhaps a want of proper training. Highlights included a sommelier who suggested that there was “no need to worry about what food is coming as every wine will match” (i.e., very wrong advice) to a furious parade of course-after-course without any wine service and despite several requests to slow down… the assault was, at best, unpleasant and so far away from what one may fairly expect from a two star restaurant. Then, when complaint was finally registered about the experience, we were weirdly whisked away to a private dining room to “finish the rest of the meal”, which felt more like a prison including because our two glasses and another half a bottle were left behind (the sommelier seemed genuinely surprised when we observed we’d been left without the half a bottle of our wine). We’d already forgotten about the left over franciacorta from our bottle, that had to be left behind a couple of courses in because the food was progressing and we had to switch to still wine to keep up.

As for atmosphere, there were three tables including us—i.e., there was no atmosphere other than to observe the gentleman on the next table becoming increasingly frustrated waiting for wine to be poured time after time and when the couple on the other table exchanged commentary with us about the ashtray of tomatoes.

Perhaps the most galling part was, after registering complaint, being presented with the massive bill and told, when surprise was registered, that the most that could be done was the complimentary glass of dessert wine and taking the water off the bill. Then, after further a further tense exchange, 80 EUR was deducted from a 900 EUR bill.

… the preceding is but examples of what cumulatively was a...

Ho avuto la fortunata di essere invitata e scegliere il menù degustazione, sicuramente un'esperienza che lascia un ricordo decisamente positivo. Il parcheggio privato del ristorante è coperto, capiente, a pochi passi e gratuito. Entrare dal cancello e vedere la porta già aperta fa respirare un'atmosfera di eleganza e accoglienza insieme; è il miglior benvenuto. Un'ampia terrazza fa godere del giardino e della vista strepitosa sulla città. L'accoglienza prosegue con una breve presentazione della villa e di alcune sale, sicuramente uno dei ristoranti più belli in assoluto. I piatti sono molti, ognuno diverso pur mantenendo la coerenza di stagionalità e qualità delle materie prime, alcune provenienti dall'orto altre da piccole realtà di allevamento. Emerge la ricerca in ogni singola portata , pensata perché possa incontrare i gusti dei diversi avventori senza mai essere scontata. Dalla breve descrizione dei piatti si percepisce il tempo dedicato e si comprende che in ognuno ci sono diverse preparazioni. Ho tenuto di non riuscire a finire l'intero menù, non si esce con la fame. Il personale, molto giovane, è decisamente professionale ma non impettito, disponibile alla battuta e dal sorriso spontaneo. Decisamente preparatinel consigliare e presentare i vini. Mi complimento per la loro capacità di gestire un ristorante tanto impegnativo. Prezzo, sicuramente non economico, ma decisamente allineato con il contesto e quanto proposto. Ho apprezzato la scelta delle musiche di sottofondo. Ho scelto di non fare foto per godere dell'esperienza...

The restaurant with the worst quality-price ratio I've ever been to. Paying high prices for quality food is expected, but for food without any magic is a disappointment. We opted for the more expensive menu and the food had no connection, food combinations that didn't make sense. The worst gastronomic experience I have ever had, not at Michelin level at all. The space is beautiful and the service is kind, but I wouldn't recommend this...