Ripoli La Griglieria — Restaurant in Varese

The restaurant is beautiful and the service is fantastic (informal which I always prefer and also very courteous and professional).

They also have English menus which saves time on having to use google translate etc.

Alas, the food is so poor had I tasked my 7 year old niece with it she would have come up with a better quality meal.

The quality of the steak was ok (not spectacular. I doubt it is from cows in pasture) but it was unevenly grilled.

I asked for medium and it was medium on one side and medium rare borderline rare on the other (photo attached).

The steak is not marinated and is probably the most bland steak I had in any steakhouse in my life (I travelled to around 70 countries).

It is just a steak cut that is slapped on the grill and nothing else.

There are no sauces to accompany it and it was not even salted during the grilling.

The potatoes in the oven are the same boring potatoes with oil and a negligible amount of onion 🧅 served in 1,001 steakhouses in North Italy 🇮🇹 but ironically it and the wine were the only successful part of the meal.

In a desperate search for flavour I decided to also order the "chickpeas from Sicily".

I was imagining a creamy paste of chickpeas with lemon and garlic but instead I got a glass bowl with hard chickpeas from a supermarket jar that were slightly warmed in the microwave.

On top of this masterpiece raw rosemary leaves were stuck (am I supposed to eat them? They were also laying on the steak. Had rosemary been fried in butter and smothered on the steak it would have at least tasted of something).

I was hoping the dessert will save the day but unfortunately it too was barely edible.

The so-called salted caramel tiramisu was not salted at all. It tasted of an industrial caramel sauce on top of unremarkable cheesy whatever without even a hint of marsala wine or rum and some...

What should I say........ actually there are no words how to describe this small, cozy, familiar, beautiful steak house! It is something you have to see, feel and taste!!! The location is beautiful, classic and with charme. The staff courteous, friendly and with the perfect knowledge of the product they offer. All guests are sitting on the same table what gives the place a very special flair. I think for the meat there is nothing more to say than just delicious. I definitely recommend this place and will come back for sure. Thank you for this nice evening...

Ripoli is a delightful foodie gem in Varese. I am lucky to have stumbled upon it. I knew I was in for a treat when I was seated at the communal table next to the kitchen window.

The place has the feel of an insider locals’ spot but was warm and welcoming me as a traveler. The food is authentic and stands on the quality of the ingredients and is beautifully prepared, but down to earth without flourish or fuss. This is seriously good food!

I enjoyed dinner at Ripoli twice during my week long stay. I heartedly recommend you...