Pagnanelli — Restaurant in Castel Gandolfo

RACIST STAFF AND SUBPAR FOOD

This place is a scam. A group of us went for dinner here, thinking we'd get a delicious experience. Unfortunately, what we got was subpar food and unprofessional service.

First of all they didn't even give us the English menu. They expected us to figure out the Italian one. They were so dismissive when we placed our orders, we waited so so long to get our food, and they got our orders wrong a couple of times.

The restaurant is decorated with photos of dead people. Very creepy. The saving grace about the ambiance was the view of the lake, but that was not enough to overlook how dreadful the food is:

The seabass I ordered was chopped up into square inch pieces and drowning in a bland cream sauce. It was not described in the menu that it would be served that way. It was a wasteful way to prepare fish, it looked and tasted like it was made by an amateur cook, but the price they charged for it was criminal.

The ravioli was very basic, and the pasta didn't taste fresh.

Calamari was overly salty.

They have a dish with shredded buffalo balls that had a weird texture and tastet we ordered affogato and they gave us vanilla ice cream with freezer burn topped with haphazardly poured coffee. This was €8 each

We were charged for two spaghetti, when only one was ordered.

We were charged for bottles of tap water and bread, and when I inquired about why we were being charged for bread, the waiter said it was a cover charge because we had a group of 7.

Skip this restaurant! If you want to have dinner with a gorgeous view of the lake, just go to the restaurant next door,...

So disappointed... We came all the way from Rome to Castel Gandolfo just for this restaurant, based on the Google reviews. Big mistake. We were four people, and all four of us were completely disappointed from start to finish.

From the appetizers to the main courses, everything was a disaster. We ordered octopus but were served squid — and of course, charged for the more expensive octopus. The beef dish tasted like it had been boiled in plain water — zero flavor, no seasoning, nothing. The fish was basic. The chicory was so bitter it was inedible. Not a single thing we ordered was enjoyable.

We ended up paying more than €200 (included only two bottles of water and a glass of wine).

The only nice thing about this place is the view of the lake — but that’s where the positives end. Everything else was a letdown.

We all left incredibly disappointed. This place is a tourist trap, and I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone.

To make things even worse, after bringing the bill, one of the waitresses stood by our table and watched us like a hawk, as if we were criminals about to run off without paying. She counted the money not once, not twice, but three times. Totally disrespectful and unacceptable!

Avoid this place at all costs. It’s a rip-off with bad food, high prices, and a deeply unpleasant...

PAGNANELLI restaurant A Beautiful Setting, but Disappointing Cuisine

This family-run restaurant, open for decades, is undeniably charming and impeccably maintained. Set against the breathtaking backdrop of Lake Castel Gandolfo, the location is truly extraordinary. The view from the small balcony, though limited in space, is simply stunning and offers a peaceful, serene atmosphere that feels worlds away from the bustle of daily life.

The ambiance is delightful—quiet, elegant, and immersed in natural beauty. Dining here feels special, with the lake just at your feet and a panoramic view that is second to none.

Regrettably, the culinary experience does not live up to the setting. While the pasta may be homemade, it lacked flavor and inspiration. One dish in particular, combining melon and cheese in a gooey preparation, was puzzling and unappetizing. In a country like Italy, where even the simplest trattoria delivers extraordinary meals, this was a major letdown.

Despite its glamorous reputation—perhaps fueled by its scenic locale and storied past—the restaurant unfortunately does not live up to its acclaim. A missed opportunity in an otherwise...