Ristorante Dal Tato — Restaurant in Menaggio

We booked in advance but were advised that the rear terrace, with the lake view, was full. No concern, the inside restaurant looked ok and you could still see the lake.

We didn't know that being inside meant we would be second class customers. The man pouring our water literally left our table after pouring two out of four glasses to take a drink to the terrace and then came back later to finish serving us.

This man was pouring our water 25 minutes after we were seated. We had nothing until that point except the view of napkins and the toilet door. During that time, other customers arrived for the lake terrace and were served drinks. They arrived after us and got served first.

It took 20 minutes for our server to take our order. We bailed on the pre-dinner cocktails and went straight to the wine. The food arrived before the wine. Never before have I waited half an hour in Italy to get served an alcoholic drink.

We can't fault the food. The fries were cooked in clean oil and were crispy perfect. The beef slices cooked rare to perfection, although not medium rare as ordered. All lovely, including the desserts and the wine I chose exceeded my expectations.

This review is all about service.

I can cook good food at home. I can buy good wine anywhere. The reason you go out is service. I got none of that here. Just terrible terrible frustrating service because, seemingly, I was sat in the wrong part of a restaurant.

If you can get a table with a view, this place is worth a look and the food - whilst not Michelin star level - should not disappoint.

If you can't get in the nice part, walk past. Go somewhere else. Ignore the reviews about the nice owner who might shake your hand as you're trying to pay your bill. Where was he when I wanted a drink?

Hopefully this review will make the restaurant realise that eating out is not all about the food, service is everything.

Photos attached of bill, for verification and view of...

We had a terrible experienced here at Ristorante Dal Tato. We dined in for dinner a few days ago around 6PM. We ordered Pizza, Gnocchi, burrata, sparkling water, and huge beer. The food was delicious. The service was very terrible!!! The waitress, and waiter were Rude!. We had our food around 6:30pm, at 7:00pm, the waitress came and pulling my plate away eventhough I was still eating. She asked "Finished?"while her hand was already on my plate of gnocchi and pulling it away from me, so I said, "Oh not yet". So she left it. After 5 mins, to our surprised, she came back again in our table asking if we are finish eating although there was still food on our plate that we are finishing, and we have drinks! So, the second time she came back, I finished my food and gave her my plate, however my husband still finishing his pizza, and drinks. After 3 mins, the waitress came back to our table asking again if we are finish?! So we said we haven't yet, so I asked her, "are we on a rush?!" Then she pretended that she didn't understand, so I asked again if we are on a rush? She left us alone after I asked that . Keep in mind this was only between 25 minutes that we sat down and got our food, and she came back asking if we are finish 3 times in within 10 minutes! They didn't even ask us if we would like some desserts or what? We felt rushed here and very uncomfortable. The customers in the other tables was already there before us and they never rush thrm. It was a tourist trap for us! They lured us to eat here and after we ordered they rushed us because there are more tourists that are coming and they needed our table!!! They flexed their view of the lake so much but they only have 2 tables by the lake view! It wasn't a good experienced for us here. We felt unwelcomed, rushed, and mistreated. I cannot recommend this place. There are more good restaurants in the area, good wide view and...

Come at 21.30 and they said that there is only pizza in the kitchen. We did not enter because we wanted to eat Pasta. Then we came back at 22:00 and this time they said the kitchen is closed. The time information they have given is 23.00. Due to the wrong working hours they gave, our little girl and my wife got wet in the torrential rain. They have a great host. I would never suggest you go.

Based on the response given;

The facility states on google that it provides service between 9:00 and 23:00. This area is a touristic area and since Comgli, we have chosen not to serve our tourist customers who come by car. When he said it as summer rain, it started at an air temperature of 23-24 degrees, not 40 degrees in air temperature. Also, we're not the simple people to blame you for a 5-year-old girl getting wet. The reason for our reaction is to express our grievances because of the wrong information that has come a long way and only given on google. When I searched on google in this region, many restaurants have already reported that they are closed at 22:00, only dal tato has stated on google that it serves until 23:00. That's why he went to Dal tato. I don't understand since when this situation is considered disrespectful to an employee. But it is unfoundedly disturbing that the working person is completely indifferent and indifferent to the tourist family with a...