Yard Restaurant — Restaurant in Verona

After putting off a needed meal for hours to tour Verona, I stumbled upon Yard a few minutes before they opened. With a Michelin 2021 sign and a varied menu, the placed looked gorgeous and the attentive hostess sat me into the empty restaurant. Then for some reason, after 5 minutes a couple was sat just next to me. The elegant dining room was empty, I thought it was strange.

A well dressed maitre’d brought me menus and I promptly ordered. Here’s my take.

A basket of wafer thin crackers and rolls came promptly. I had to ask for olive oil. Balsamic was not delivered. I asked for butter, what’s butter? I also asked for salt and pepper which were promptly delivered. Neither the rolls or the crackers were particularly interesting nor tasty. The extra virgin olive oil was outstanding.

The tomato strawberry gazpacho was ok. With toasted crouton fresella, drizzles of fine basil infused olive oil, and flower petals, a big serving came in a large stone white bowl. It was ok. I felt the strawberries overwhelmed the soup while the tomato base never came through. The basil and croutons were a nice distraction from the strawberries. I was hoping for something more complex.

The burger came with melted cheddar, lettuce, delicious ripe tomato slices and bacon on a barely toasted basic brioche style bun. The burger came exactly as I requested, medium rare. On the side we’re ketchup, mayonnaise and a burger sauce. The burger was delicious and satisfying. The bun could have been better if toasted and perhaps topped with poppy seeds or something other than basic flour and water.

On the side we’re basic, cut identically fried potatoes once frozen. This was a major downer in a country which prides itself on using fresh potatoes for pommes frites. I’ve had better fries at McDonalds. I kept thinking this is a Michelin restaurant? Perhaps I ordered the wrong things.

The red wine from Verona was excellent as was the cafe Americano.

The service was very good. I asked if I could take the half full bottle of fancy oxygen water and the maitre’d said no. This led me to conclude the restaurant really doesn’t serve fancy water which you pay for, they serve tap water in fancy bottles which you pay for.

Overall I’ll give Yard a B-, with extra points for the white table cloth setting and the fine service. Otherwise the food was ok, certainly not...

Verona, like the whole Italy, has excellent restaurants for all kind of tastes. I'm not first time in Verona and definitely not the first time in Italy. Honestly I don't remember having such a mediocre meal anywhere in Italy. Even at a fast food place.

I have been in several restaurants around the world, (Check my profile) therefore I could say I have at least a little experience what a nice meal tastes and looks like. I will post only one single photo to let you see the "McDonald's" fries they served me. Fun fact the menu stated "wedges potatoes with black truffle". However I don't mind I didn't have wedges potatoes, but for god's shake I could have Lidl(Aldi or Hofer) fries at McDonalds.

Please do a favor to yourself and never go there! Verona has indeed a variety of very nice restaurants. But not this one.

Does this place really have a Michelin star? Something went wrong with this. The only reason I give 2 stars and not one is because the service was very friendly. They asked hundred times sorry for not having the meal that we saw in...

The worst experience in Verona, better to avoid this place. They position themselves as a high-class restaurant but their service is really low level. Food was really disgusting. Starter was not tasty at all. Inside of sushi with lobster I have found big piece of shell! It’s horrible! Taste was also not good. We decided to cancel main dish due to this. Moreover we ordered wine Riesling but I think waiter has no experience, because he brings totally sour wine. I told him that it’s not what I asked. Then he brings another wine twice expensive and also bad 😂 this time it was super sweet, too much sweet, like juice. But the waiter firstly opened the bottle and gave me wine to try and only AFTER opening he told me that we have to pay for this bottle! Horrible service. Of corse we paid for everything but even didn’t finish this wine, it was impossible to drink. After all the bill was with different price and different name of wine. Dishonest and horrible service. Moreover, it was my birthday and this restaurant made my celebration...