Grotto al Ritrovo dai Fusetti — Restaurant in Circolo della Navegna

Such a shame it was so bad. Really hoping it’s a one off bad night. The grotto has had such great reviews and also top recommendations from reputable and knowledgeable friends. All in all very disappointing and I haven’t had a bad experience in such a long time. The drive up was exhilarating, not just the steep, tight, curvy streets but also squirrels and baby deer along the way. The grotto is simply amazing and beautifully set with stunning lake and mountain views. Parking was a nightmare at the outset: one car was parked so badly everyone was hitting it as they tried to squeeze out. Then the real trouble began. We were expecting a warm friendly welcome from our hosts but instead, in the doorway, 3 staff were arguing with each other (not loudly just that’s all they were focused on) as the arriving guests, us included, waited for them to finish. They could see we were waiting patiently and smiling but just carried on their “discussion” regardless. Wow. First impressions were not important at all. Then they could not find our booking, actually near the top of the list, when given the name, time and number of guests. After working it out we were pointed to our table from the doorway and not taken over and without bringing or even given menus. Despite being given the prime front row, with best scenic views (really stunning), we asked for something else not in the direct cold wind, as we had our young child with us, and were taken to the covered section in the garden which was still very charming. Still no menus and worse we were not asked if we wanted drinks or an aperitif. Other guests arrived in the garden but nobody came to the guest tables in the covered section. In the end we called someone over and asked for menus, drinks and blankets for my wife and 6 year old daughter., plus we requested the pasta bolognese (1 of only 2 child menus available) be brought as quickly as possible for our young daughter., on the understanding from the reviews they were child friendly and would understand. They brought blankets but Menus still didn’t come. Eventually I got up to get menus myself and one senior staff member said she would bring them over when I asked if I could take them. We already knew what we wanted from the reviews and online menu and despite being told the online menu was old our dishes were still on them and we were able to order after quickly checking. Our daughter’s meal didn’t arrive and neither did the staff come back. One hour later all 3 of our dishes came together, our daughter’s pasta bolognese, my lasagna and my wife’s gnocchi. Our dishes were cold but our daughters was hot. They must have prepared ours and left them on the side when they remembered they forgot to cook our daughters. Lasagne should be bubbling hot from the oven and gnocchi hot from the pan. When either are cold they are dreadful, they were. We had waited an hour after ordering. We were told that it was because everyone came at the same time. When we pointed out that it was their policy that they only offered 2 sittings: 6pm and 8pm. So of course everyone would arrive at the dictated time instead of staggering the bookings every 5 to 10 minutes around the 2 sitting slots. When we got the bill we were also amazed the child’s pasta Bolognese was CHF 18 (the most expensive child’s meal in Locarno/Ascona all of which have been pasta Bolognese - at least it was tasty and hot) and the her syrup was almost CHF 5. Wow. We gave critical feedback and we were asked to come back and try again another time. They also nicely gave us 2 shots which we declined as we had to drive back down the steep road. Such a pity as we expected it to be so much better. Still some nice...

Eine Bewertung bei unserem ersten Besuch an einem schönen Ort kann nur zweigeteilt erfolgen:

Um 19 Uhr angekommen, das Grotto draussen zwar gut besucht, aber nicht voll. Vorerst zwei Damen im Service, irgendwann einmal drei - alle hoffnungslos überfordert und vor allem konzeptlos. Irgendwie kam es mir vor wie an einem Grümpelturnier, wo es freiwillige Helfer oft noch besser machen. Der Apéro funktioniert noch, dann geht die Warterei los mit der Bestellung.

Nach rund einer halben Stunde geht dann auch das. Wobei die Dame mit der grossen Menütafel zu kämpfen hatte - wie wenn sie sie zum ersten Mal in den Händen gehabt hat und nicht wusste, wie sie sinnvoll hingestellt werden könnte. Am Boden ... ach nein, doch lieber auf einem Stuhl. Aber wo soll der Stuhl stehen? Und dann rutscht die Tafel auch noch weg ... Irgendwie klappt auch dies dann halbwegs.

Von unseren 5 Personen bestellten 2 Personen dasselbe, 1 Person Bresaola, 1 Person das Menü und 1 Person Rindsfilet mit Polenta - davon 4 einfache Vorspeisen. 3 wurden rasch bedient, die 4. Person bekam die Menüvorspeise erst, als die anderen fertig waren und (vermutlich) auch erst, nachdem wir darauf hingewiesen hatten.

Sintflutartige Regenfälle begleiteten die Vorspeise und nachdem das Dach nicht mehr dicht war (kein Vorwurf, kann passieren; es schüttete wirklich wie aus Kübeln) zügelten wir ins Restaurant. Dann geht es mit der Warterei weiter. Nach rund 1 3/4 Stunden seit unserer Ankunft (und somit über einer Stunde nach der Bestellung) erlaubten wir uns nach der Hauptspeise zu fragen und wurden von einer der Damen angeschnauzt! Notabene waren die beiden Gäste im Innern des Restaurants, welche erst bestellt hatten als wir auch drinnen sassen, bereits an der Hauptspeise. Kurz darauf kam dann auch (endlich) unsere Hauptspeise.

Das Filet - medium bestellt - war durchgegart, die Sauce und der rote Risotto gut. Das Bresaola gestern im Ca' Nostra deutlich besser, das Lamm ok. Alle Gerichte sind eher lieblos angerichtet und ohne Farbtupfer dekoriert. Von den drei Damen war im Restaurant kaum je etwas zu sehen. Vielmehr sausten sie wie gestochene Hühner (sorry der Ausdruck!) vom Restaurant zu den Gästen draussen und wieder rein.

Soweit die vernichtende Kritik der ersten rund 2 Stunden.

Dann (endlich) kam Stefan Buess ins Lokal, fragte nach dem Befinden. Er erkannte rasch und gut unsere Unzufriedenheit und reagierte gut. Er offerierte zum Abschluss Grappa, reduzierte den Menüpreis aufgrund der falschen Garstufe und sympathischer Smalltalk konnte stattfinden. Lieber 3 Stefan's als die drei Damen ... dann wäre der Besuch mit sehr grosser Wahrscheinlichkeit anders herausgekommen.

Die Preise mit Ausnahme des Menüs sind ok. Der Normalpreis von 75 Franken für das Menü ist zu hoch für: 3 Ravioli zur Vorspeise, ein eher kleines Rindsfilet und eine weisse Schokoladenmousse im kleinen Glas serviert.

Zusammenfassend war der Besuch bis auf die letzte halbe Stunde ein grosser Reinfall, das Grotto hat aber aufgrund der Reaktion von Stefan eine zweite...

I'd give 4.5 stars to this Grotto. First, here's what was really amazing : the best brasato and polenta I've ever had, the stunning view above Locarno and the entire Lago Maggiore, and a very cute terrace in front of a quaint little stone house. However, to get there, be ready to drive up a sinuous, narrow, steep road. And drive it later down at night. But it's doable. And there are parking spaces, some in front of the restaurant for early ones, a bit further up for the other ones. Now what bugged me was : they have too much success. Service is professional, but not with the heart. The guests all very posh. Everything a bit noble. And pricey, as befits. Oh, and DO take warm clothes with you (long arm sweater, long pants) as you will need them even in August : it's high up, there is a breeze, no...