Ristorante Grotto Broggini — Restaurant in Circolo dell'Isole

We read a lot of good things about Grotto Broggini and decided to give it a try.

As a couple we were seated right next to the kids playground. We didn't mind and looked at it as a kind of cute entertainment for the night.

Service started fast, we placed our drinks order, received the menues and bread was served in a little paper bag.

The entire atmosphere is kind of hectic. It's a very big restaurant and it is very popular among families and bigger groups of friends. The kitchen is constantly pushing out food and the staff is rushing between kitchen and guests.

The waiter who was responsible for us didn't seem to care much. There was no personal interaction, he just couldn't be any less interested. After we placed our food order he literally disappeared. Starters were served quickly. The beef steak tatar and the Duet of Bruschette were tasty.

For our mains we ordered two of their signature dishes, Porchini Risotto and the Ticino sausage with saffron risotto. Both the risottos weren't very good, kind of overcooked and boring. It seemed like they had been prepared in advance, just waiting to be served to the crowds. The same with the sausage, it must have been sitting on the grill for a while and was super dry when it arrived. We discussed about giving direct feedback to the staff, but figured they would just not care. We waited in front of our half empty plates for a while and finally decided to skip both coffee and dessert. (Not that it was offered in the first place.)

Quite a disappointing dinner...

Grotto atmospheres in Switzerland are special and Grotto Broggini is the best of the best. You’re invited into a natural oasis filled with lush greenery and trees. And the sunny yellow umbrellas add to their garden vibe. I also loved the soft lamplight on the table that was giving a touch of romance and glamour. Your culinary adventure starts with a mascarpone and pita appetizer that says you’re in the right place. It had orange zest so I was in love. Their gazpacho was a perfect choice on a really hot day. It had that fresh from the garden tomato taste. It made me so happy. I also enjoyed the seafood skewer with each morsel prepared to perfection. And my friends please enjoy their tiramisu with not too sweet layers of deliciousness. Heaven. I really appreciated the service here too. My kind and joyful server not only guided me to one of their best tables underneath some beautiful vines but also did something I truly appreciated. After I enjoyed the gazpacho he asked whether I wanted to take some time between courses. A skilled server. can pick up on what a guest would appreciate. This allowed me to really appreciate my white merlot wine choice and their amazing greenery. So thank you Grotto Broggini for a lovely and unforgettable dining experience. This will be my first resy...

Complete and utter disappointment. We made reservations for dinner after failing to get a table the first time we stopped by. The enormous outside beer garden was packed that night and we were seated right next to the playground at picknick tables. While it was extremely loud with all the kids running around, it was actually quite cute at the same time.

Both food and service however were an absolute disgrace. I've received better service at McDonald's to be honest. The Risotto which they have received so much praise for in the past was just watered down and didn't taste like much. Ticinese Sausage was dry as a bone. It's not like the staff could've cared any less though - not once did they stop by at the table to ask if everything was alright. Trying to order a second glass of wine was nearly impossible and you had to flag a waiter down. Even after the plates were cleared they just couldn't be bothered to provide the slightest bit of service. No dessert menu was offered, no coffee, just nothing.

After a disappointing meal (which by the way only took about an hour to complete), we left. No longer hungry, but also not satisfied with a feeling of being ripped off.

Won't be returning and...