Vesta Milano — Restaurant in Milan

Horrible service, subpar food.

First I would like to start off by saying! I love Milano. I have lived in Milan for 2 years in different seasons and I have always had really good dining experiences. I have never had an unprofessional experiences at a 5 start restaurant in this city.

As I know many businesses have taken a hit in the hospitality due to Covid-19 it’s been said that finding quality staff is more so harder than ever.

This was my first time visiting Milan post Covid. I was in town for a few days and asked a local acquaintance which restaurant would they recommend dining at my first night that could be a bit later in the evening on a Monday.

I contacted Vesta about 9:30 to see if they had any availability for 10 PM . The person on the phone seemed nice and mentioned that the kitchen closes at 11:30 so I would have plenty of Time to dine in.

When I arrived I explained to manager Francesco who I thought was a hostess that I had called and that it would only be me dining. As my boyfriend works remote and had to do a last minute zoom call.

The ideal plan was to experience this new restaurant. Eat, have a few drinks. Then order an additional meal to go for my boyfriend. I later found out that was not possible and they did not give an explanation as to why.

Francesco was very cold, callous and rude and not so accommodating at all as he was the manager the staff was very much like this also. Following his foot steps.

He acted as if he did not want to seat me or he didn’t not understand that I had made a reservation for 10 PM there were plenty spaces available towards the end of then night.

Once I sat down it took them about 15 minutes to give me a menu and another 25 minutes to take my order which was cutting more close to the time of the kitchen being closed (Thank god it wasn’t an hour wait)

When my waiter came to my table I asked him what did he recommend on the menu he said it’s just sea food. I mention to him that I understood what type of restaurant this was but I still was confused as which part of the menu was the starters as no one walked me through it. Being a “New-ish restaurant”

The waiter finally took my order and when the guy brought out my pasta he had a conversation with the table in front of me for a legit 3 minutes as he was in transit to my table! Like… ARE YOU KIDDING ME!????

I ordered the Pasta Maniche, TBH it was tasteless and very flat! I’ve always had great pasta experiences in Milan so not sure why this new chic restaurant missed the mark on that.

I did ask to speak to the manager as they denied me service to make a purchase to take away or to even make an exception as my boyfriend wasn’t able to make the dinner due to work.

I understand the whole situation about “to Go boxes” I am not THAT American! I’ve been to 30+ countries and I speak 4 languages.

It just seemed so strange that they would not let up on that.

Francesco, the manager stood in front of the restaurant texting on his phone and even when I had requested to speak to him they looked back at my table and continued talking and ignored me the entire time.

Not to mention my waiter asked me if I wanted a cocktail before he realized he didn’t even give me a drink menu.

I was very polite and cordial about this entire situation.

I was excited to try this new restaurant as I’ve stayed in the Brera neighborhood during my years living in Milan and it was nice to see something new.

2 things the owner or whoever is doing the hiring should know.

When you have a person who is in leadership who doesn’t have any commitment to excellence to grow or make a business flourish everyone follows from top to bottom.

The restaurant does have a nice ambience but the workers are so rude and they seem to be a bit just fed up and don’t wanna help you.

There are so many other beautiful Options in Brera to experience. I would definitely X this!

You’re paying way too much money for a mediocre dining experience!

As a person who travels the world and fine dine regularly!

I have been treated better at MC DONALDS!

DO...

Opened in September 2022, VESTA wows passersby with its entrance, a spectacular travertine marble staircase which leads from Via Fiori Chiari up to the main dehors bar. Conceived by architect Stefano Belingardi Clusoni, the marble steps fuse beautifully with a switchback (a tornanti) ramp and three cushioned benches, allowing guests to hang out on the stoop while admiring the Brera crowd strolling by.

The dehors bar counter, situated at the top of the steps on the right, is also made of travertine marble, in harmony within the entire outdoor space. The far end of the dehors offers a picturesque glimpse of the apse of the deconsecrated church of San Carpoforo, now the headquarters of Brera Academy of Fine Arts but previously an ancient temple of the Vestals, the inspiration for the name VESTA.

The bar team at VESTA is led by the Milano-born bar manager Francesco De Cristofaro. With previous experiences at Carlo e Camilla in Segheria and Camparino Milano, where he was part of the team that placed 27th in the World’s 50 Best Bars, Francesco lights up the space at VESTA with his free-spirited and refined hospitality. Francesco oversees the drinks not only at the main 57-seat dehors, but inside the 60-seat restaurant, and at a more exclusive bar one floor down in an intimate space that can accommodate up to 30 people, which is used for private events and after-dinner DJ sets. The lower level bar area has an elegant brass bar counter with a breathtaking backlit back bar (bottigliera) and features a latest-generation hidden ventilation system to accommodate smokers. Surrounding the DJ station is a comfortable L-shaped couch, ideal for a large group.

For a minimum spend, one can even reserve a secret room at VESTA located on the main floor. Through a hidden door in the wall, fortunate guests can access this space, which is an ideal refuge for a private experience away from prying eyes. The space can be reserved for 2 up to 14 guests, and only the person who has reserved the room has the power to open the hidden door, adding to the exclusivity of the experience.

13 signatures cocktails are designed to complement the mainly fish-based dishes at the restaurant and the raw fish, oyster and caviar sharing plates at the dehors bar. The food program is overseen by the young chef Giorgio Bresciani, formerly of Michelin-starred Iyo Milano. One of the top selling drinks at VESTA is the Ligurian-twist on the Cardinale, the Negroni del Golfo with Campari bitter, Portofino Gin, Noilly Prat dry vermouth, basil and lemon cordial, with a basil leaf and lemon fragrance garnish. This aromatic and bitter aperitif is the perfect way to begin the evening at VESTA.

To satisfy an ever growing market segment, there are also three no-alcohol signature cocktails at VESTA. One such creation is the Ambroeus Americano, which has all the complexity of a Negroni, but without the alcohol, thanks to the recently launched zero-ABV aperitivo Ambroeus, topped with soda and with lemon natural fragrance.

With its four ample spaces, each distinct but all connected harmoniously, VESTA offers elegant but incredibly versatile experiences that best suits the occasion. In addition, VESTA is open every day at lunch and dinner and all day on weekends, making it a go-to place in Brera for bon-vivants, whether they be locals or...

I visited Vesta Fiori Chiari at the beginning of April. While we appreciated the quality of the food, wine, and the overall concept of the restaurant, the experience ultimately fell short due to a series of service failures that left us genuinely disappointed.

What’s more frustrating is that I reached out to the restaurant shortly after our visit—sending a review on April 13, 2025, and a follow-up email on May 7, 2025—but I have yet to receive any kind of acknowledgment or apology. For a restaurant operating at this level, a basic response seems like the least one should expect.

Here is a summary of our experience:

From the moment we arrived, the atmosphere was overwhelmingly hectic. We weren’t greeted at all, and the first interaction with a waiter was rushed and impersonal – just a quick, confusing question about still or sparkling water, with no welcome or explanation. The chaotic scene unfolding around us was noticeable from the start and never really improved. Throughout the evening, it was clear that the staff didn’t have the time – or capacity – to properly take care of the guests. The wine wasn’t served until after the food had already arrived, which disrupted the flow of the meal entirely. Some guests didn’t receive a top-up of their wine, and at times our glasses remained empty because the bottles hadn’t even been opened, leaving us unable to pour for ourselves. On top of that, the food was introduced and served to the wrong people at the table, which meant some of us didn’t even know what we were eating. We were also seated later than expected because our table wasn’t ready upon arrival. This, combined with a long wait for menus, delayed the entire experience. Since we only had the table for a two-hour slot, we were never even offered dessert, which might have been understandable under normal circumstances, but not acceptable given the delay. The layout and crowding added to the discomfort, with waiters constantly bumping into my friends seated near the hallway. It felt disorganized, rushed, and unprofessional throughout the evening. All that said, we did enjoy the food and wine and can see the potential in your concept. However, the service did not meet expectations, especially considering the high pricing, a matching level of service should be part of...