Cantina della Vetra — Restaurant in Milan

Very pushing wait staff and microwaved food.

We were recommended this place by our hotel because I wanted traditional Milanese cuisine for our first time in Italy.

Here are the issues.

#1 - Our risotto was out in less than 15 minutes. Odd for a dish that takes more than 20 minutes to cook, you can't rush it. Maybe they had some on anticipating people to order it? No big deal we thought.

#2 - The veal cutlet was very dry and was tough to eat.

#3 - The dessert, Tarta Tan, tasted like straight freezer burn. The puff pastry, apples, ice cream, all of it.

#4 - Our waiter dropped the check, went to walk away, came back with a pen and said "oh, in case you want to tip" with the word "tip" already underlined.

I know that tipping in Italy and Europe isn't really a thing compared to America. We don't mind tipping. However, when he brought the card reader he insisted that I leave one. I questioned why, the explanation is a shoulder shrug while leaning over me and nothing else. It was very pushy and very uncomfortable. A 0 Euro option wasn't even on his card reader.

My wife and I felt targeted for clearly being American and used to tipping when we go out.

Again, tipping isn't the issue. Being uncomfortably "forced" to do so is.

Oh and... the bread was crusty and stale with gnats...

I have been to Cantina della Vetra about 10 times with my Italian colleagues and generally enjoyed the experience. However, my recent visits have been quite disappointing.

During a dinner at Cantina della Vetra last Thursday, a Japanese colleague mentioned that he was asked to pay tips twice at this place when he visited with large Japanese groups, while never being asked for tips with Italians. Given the insistence from the waiters, he reluctantly paid. Tipping is unusual in Milan, and it's especially concerning when customers are pressured into doing so. We were not sure if this is due to racial discrimination or if there is a valid reason for pushing tips on large groups.

Coincidentally, I went back last night and booked a table for two. Neither of us spoke Italian, and magically, the waiter insisted we pay tips. When I refused two or three times, he complained and made us feel uncomfortable. Now we know that it is probably just discrimination. This practice is unprofessional and not in line with the usual dining experience in Milan. I hope the management addresses this...

We celebrated a birthday at Cantina della Vetra and had an absolutely wonderful evening. The restaurant is a hidden gem in the heart of Milan, with a beautiful garden that adds so much charm to the atmosphere.

From the warm welcome by Sophia, who let us choose our table, to the thoughtful service by Michele, everything felt special. We started with delicious bread and Italian crackers, followed by anchovies with toasted brown bread and chef’s butter, a great cold cuts platter, and melted Brie with rucola.

The mains were incredible—osso buco, pig’s cheeks with saffron risotto, and paccheri pasta with octopus in tomato sauce. All perfectly prepared and full of flavor. Michele kept our glasses filled with a beautifully chilled Chardonnay from Lombardia, served in a classy ice bucket with perfectly formed cubes (a small detail, but we loved it).

To top it all off, a creamy tiramisu arrived with a birthday candle—such a sweet touch to end a perfect meal.

Highly recommended for anyone looking for authentic Italian cuisine in a relaxed and elegant setting. Thank you, Sophia...