Ristorante Il Desco — Restaurant in Verona

This comment is purely about the dishonest staff who tried to make me pay a no-show fee while I cancelled the reservation in the free cancellation time period.

I was an international visitor, and made a dinner reservation (credit card info required to secure the reservation) a few months before my trip, because it was listed in the Michelin guide. On the day of the reservation, I was very sick (for a few days already) and could not even leave my hotel bed. I decided that I had to contact the restaurant and cancel. The hotel has a 6-hour (prior to the reservation time) free cancellation policy, so I was aware that I needed to call before that. Very coincidentally, the restaurant called me first to reconfirm the reservation. I was very apologetic and let them know that I had to cancel.

I totally understand that my health is my issue, and the cancellation led to possible restaurant profit loss (if they couldn't sell the table), so I was not looking for sympathy. I was only expecting professional handling according to the cancellation policy. However, here came the ugly part. The staff on the phone spoke perfect English, so there was no loss in translation. He insisted that I needed to pay a no-show fee, thinking that I was not aware of the 6-hour free cancellation window (this was indeed printed in very tiny fonts in the confirmation email, so it would not surprise me that many people didn't know about it). I confronted him right away, and pointed out that I was still outside the 6-hour window, so it should be a free cancellation, and I shouldn't be charged with any no-show fee. His attitude dramatically softened, now knowing that I was aware of the policy. Still he was rude in the tone and stated that okay he would agree to cancel the reservation, for free.

I was shocked about this experience, and this restaurant was listed in the Michelin guide??!! I understand every reason that they might be upset, but it is not a reason to cheat and try forcing a no-show charge when it was not legitimate to do so. I was lucky that I read through the policy, but I can totally imagine people being lied to and paid the no-show charge as a prey. I was very upset about the dishonest conduct of this staff member, and I would not recommend this restaurant to anybody no matter how good the...

When planning our trips to Italy I look for dining experiences. We booked a reservation for this dining room months in advance (party of 3). We arrived at the designated time for our reservation and were warmly greeted and seated. Reservations with this establishment are recommended.

Three set menus for the table are offered and if none of them are deemed suitable, you can choose 3, 4 or 5 course tasting options from the ala carte menu. For this evening we built a custom 5 course tasting menu option from the ala carte menu.

Each course was plated fabulously and described passionately by our servers. All servers made a point of highlighting the preparation and inspiration when presenting the courses.

Every course presented was exquisite and they were consumed as passionately as they were presented. All were excellent. Our menu selections had not included "the Egg". When the course arrived at our table it came compliments of the Chef. They wanted us to experience one of the house specialties. Happy they did as it turned out to be one of my favourites of the evening.

Everyone was absolutely fabulous at this dining room. The staff was busy but was always attentive and extremely accommodating.

This was an excellent evening. Thank you to all.

We recommend...

A Refined Prelude to the Opera

My wife and I had the pleasure of dining at Ristorante Il Desco before attending Nabucco at the Arena di Verona, and the experience was nothing short of exceptional. If you're planning to dine before the opera, I highly recommend reserving the pre-show dinner seating at 18:30 to ensure a timely and relaxed arrival.

Tucked away on a quiet side street not far from Casa di Giulietta, Il Desco is a gem hidden in plain sight. The moment we stepped inside, we were struck by the refined interior—an elegant blend of historical architecture and modern sophistication. The building itself exudes the authentic charm of old Verona, creating a welcoming and memorable atmosphere.

Our evening began with a refreshing glass of rosé champagne, setting the tone for what turned out to be an outstanding culinary experience. The dinner was masterfully prepared, with each dish showcasing thoughtful composition, balanced seasoning, and beautifully arranged ingredients.

A heartfelt thank you to the chef and the attentive staff—every member of the team contributed to making this dinner one of the highlights of our trip. Il Desco offered not just a meal, but an experience—a perfect prelude to a night at the Arena. We will certainly return on our next...