Osteria Mercato — Restaurant in Stresa

Following all the nice recommendations we booked a table, which payed off because all other seats where taken when we got there. The location is nice and well designed. Service seemed stressed, not very friendly at all. We got bread, no oil or salt, no butter or anything else. The main course, Beef Sirloin, arrived at the table quite raw in the center even tho we ordered medium. Also it was nearly cold when we got it, just like the plates it was served on. Temperature aside the taste of the main course was good. The first deserts that arrived at our table were wrong, seems like service mixed up some orders, the right ones were served a few minutes later. Plates were warm this time (!?), we ordered pistacchio ice cream. Taste was ok. Without asking for it we where then told where to pay quite shortly after. We payed our 80€ bill...

Highly overrated. Wine by glass was served to a different volume, our order was first brought to the wrong table, pasta was served cold, bread on the table was old, waitress was not happy of her job. Couple on the next table was served cold food, too. They complained and got the same dishes back in 30 seconds. Obviously, it was microwaved. Kitchen was disappointing, too - pasta with shrimps (on the picture) tasted of butter, not of shrimps and was full of sour creme; poached egg with zucchini is a joke. Second meal was good, although the overall mood has been already ruined. Being in the restaurant feels extremely loud with echos. Personnel is stressed and doesn't care since the turnover is high. Will...

We had a reservation on the terrace on a hot, sultry evening. Outside a slight breeze made the atmosphere quite pleasant, but the awning made the terrace airless and a few degrees warmer than what's bearable. Stresa is a beautiful town, but the terrace had no redeeming features. When we arrived, we noticed many grumpy, sweaty looking guests with no food on their tables. After 20 minutes, when, despite multiple polite attempts, nobody had even asked us if we would like some water, our expressions matched them. Why oh why can't the host bring menus and take a water order when they seat you? We could see the way the night was heading and left. I suspect it took them another half...