Osteria 20 — Restaurant in Carate Urio

Though it has taken me quite some time to settle back into a routine after exploring Europe, I wanted to be sure that I prioritized sharing our experience with Osteria 20.

My husband and I began our second extended vacation in Italy with a stay in Laglio on Lake Como. On our first night, we walked to Osteria 20, as we were a bit earlier for the tourist season in early June, it was one of the few places open for dinner. We opted for their local selections and ended our meal with their decadent desserts, including a delightful apple pie. From the moment we arrived, it was clear that the staff was exceptionally attentive, pleasant, and eager to share their knowledge of Italian cuisine with us.

Our wonderful experience on the first night compelled us to return to Osteria 20 for our final dinner in Laglio. To our delight, we were offered a table on the terrace—a feature we hadn’t seen the previous night due to the weather. Dining along the shores of Lake Como, we enjoyed the same outstanding service and were reunited with our favorite Italian dishes, including tartufo and Ligurian pizza, once again finishing with the irresistible apple pie.

The evening took an extraordinary turn as we walked home. Just five minutes away from the restaurant, one of the staff members caught up with us on a scooter, returning my purse—my lifeline, containing our passports and essential medication. This act of kindness went above and beyond and truly exemplified the communal and supportive spirit that we fell in love with, in Italy years ago.

Our experience with Osteria 20 not only showcased incredible food but also reaffirmed the genuine warmth and care that define Italian hospitality. This restaurant has earned our heartfelt recommendation and appreciation, making it a highlight...

Dear Osteria Team,

I recently visited your restaurant in Carate Urio, Como, and unfortunately, I feel compelled to share some feedback regarding our experience.

From the moment we arrived, we felt unwelcome. It took over 20 minutes for anyone to bring us the menu, and throughout that time, we were completely ignored by the staff. When the owner eventually approached us to take our order, we were hopeful things would improve, but sadly, that wasn’t the case.

After placing our order, we had to wait another 30 minutes for our food and drinks to arrive. When it finally did, the dishes were brought to the table with a loud and abrupt shout – “Margherita! Napoli!” – which felt unnecessarily aggressive and made us feel uncomfortable. The overall atmosphere was tense, and the staff’s attitude throughout the visit was cold and unfriendly.

We were really looking forward to dining at Osteria, but the lack of hospitality and professionalism made it a disappointing experience. I hope you take this feedback seriously, as it could help improve your service for future...

Must be one of the most disappointing experiences we had. Recommended by our host but we arrived at 17:30 so there was no option to sit at the lake (disappointment #1). Only from 20:00 it was possible… the waitress was extremely unfriendly. We ordered pizza for the kids but that meant we had to wait because pizza is only served from 18:00…. in italy….

So waited more than one hour for our food. Meanwhile we asked for the WiFi password but the unfriendly waitress told us the WiFi was not working.

I think around 10 persons were working there but mostly were smoking outside so all in all a very weird and unpleasent experience.

The pizza was good, the pasta was nothing special. The price was still high though… and you need to pay 14 euros for “glasses, knives and forks”, that was a first for us…

A lot of potential and I can imagine eating at the lake is a great experience but if you cone early… be ready to be treated...