La Piola — Restaurant in Milan

I just spotted the restaurant on my way to one of the museums and decided to have lunch. I was seated immediately, ordering process was smooth. I was brought drinks along with bread in a basket and olive oil, however no small plate to be able to enjoy the bread with olive oil. The first time the waiter showed up after taking my order was when my main dish - medium rare beef with asparagus (delicious and made to perfection with small exception with fermented cabbage as it was burned) was ready. I asked for a small plate in Italian, even though it was a bit late to start with the bread now as my main dish was served. Everything was somewhat normal until right in the middle of my meal the waiter came asking to settle the bill. I told him I wasn’t ready as I was still eating . Then another female waiter came and wanted to start cleaning the table, but I was still enjoying my beef with asparagus. I had some wine as well. No one poorer more sparkling water in my glass, no one offered another glass of wine. So, the overall experience was good was good, service...

When in Milan, it has to be Risotto alla Milanese con Ossobuco. I had just arrived in the city and assumed most places would be fully booked—but luckily, this charming restaurant had one table available and welcomed me in with warm hospitality.

The atmosphere was wonderfully authentic, like a cozy, family-run Italian trattoria.

I had a salad, some cheese, and of course, the main dish. Everything was delicious! The ossobuco was fall-apart tender with a mild, comforting flavor. In contrast, the risotto had that perfect al dente bite, with rich cheese notes and just the right touch of saffron. It paired so well with the red wine that I ended up having three glasses!

If you’re looking to enjoy classic Milanese cuisine in a casual and heartwarming setting, I highly...

We didn’t have a reservation so we arrived at 19:30 on the dot and were the first people in the restaurant, but it filled up quickly. The ossobuco was clearly the house favorite and for good reason, it was amazing. And served over delicious risotto Milanese. We also had the steak tartare, which was listed as a second course because you get a massive serving. It was perfectly seasoned and served with grilled vegetables for a lighter feel. We had a great bottle of wine and tiramisu to finish it all off. The service was good + helped us graciously even though we spoke very little Italian and we loved the small, local feel of...