Al Cavallino Bianco

The setting was lovely, with greenery all around and a great view of the snow-covered mountains. The meal itself was a very different story. We came for Easter lunch and had the set menu, but the food was poor and both the kitchen and dining room staff seemed totally inexperienced. During lunch, several people were told that menu dishes had run out. Our table alone represented eight customers who won't be coming back. This is the first time I've ever given a place I've visited one star. I usually finish reviews by saying either highly recommended or highly not recommended. What a shame.

We didn't finish eating until 5:30 PM, and the €40 we paid didn't feel justified by either the menu or the service. The food was average, not bad, but nothing special. The dining room looked fine, the tables were nicely set, and the appetizers were already out when we arrived at 1:00 PM. There was cold meat, meatballs, croutons and savory tart, all decent, but unfortunately it was all cold. Once those were gone, the service fell into disarray. Some tables were already getting seconds while others still hadn't been served. A few guests started raising their voices, and the wait staff looked embarrassed and overwhelmed. There wasn't a head waiter to get things under control. They make you pay before lunch, which is enough to make you wonder. I hardly ever give a place a terrible rating, but I can't help it here. I hope they improve, though I don't think I'll be back.

Our Easter with the family was ruined. I hope the owners, and maybe the officials too, read this, because I have a lot to say. We had to pay a €40 deposit per person in advance, and that money felt wasted. The waiters were inexperienced and didn't seem suited to the job or aware of basic rules. Staff couldn't manage the customers, tables were left unattended, dishes weren't served properly, and staff were complaining to customers too. The food was poor throughout. The appetizers were dry, stale and shoddy, and sometimes didn't arrive at all. The first courses were awful, one cold and the other bland and sour. The supposed suckling pig was actually very tough pork loin. The roast beef was overcooked, not properly aged and unseasoned. The coffee was diluted with cold water or milk, and the desserts were burnt and doughy. Outside, the vegetable garden was unkempt, with optics and regrets everywhere, and the large garden was full of holes. The stables were desolate, with only seven of around thirty stalls open. A pony looked in bad shape, seemingly unbrushed for years, with a swollen belly from worms, hooves needing attention and a fear of people. Staff later told us the animals are beaten and shut in the dark with both doors closed and no food when they're "naughty." You could already see the problems by looking closely. There were two pens of undernourished piglets, no more than a month old, clearly too young to be away from their mother and being fed only hay. A young calf was in a standard wooden pen about 3.5 x 3.5 m, bucking around with a risk of breaking through the shaky old wood and falling out. The donkey's stall had too little light. Its hooves clearly needed filing, it risked breaking its fetlocks, and its coat was dirty and matted, excessively long, with "holes" in the short hair from constantly scratching nervously against the stall. Two male horses, an apaloosa and a possibly thoroughbred, were malnourished, especially the latter, and dirty. They seemed not to have been groomed in ages, with dreads in their manes, and both were terrified of people. The apaloosa, usually a docile breed, was very nervous, had various tics, was aggressive, and even bit a little girl. The possible thoroughbred had a protruding spine and ribs, obvious signs of malnutrition on his sunken muzzle, and seemed to be suffering from constant tears and a sad look. Not recommended.

We celebrated our daughter's first communion here and ate lots of food, which was very good. If you like peace and quiet, the place is enchanting. The kids ran around in the meadows, visited the stables and played with a very sweet little pony. Mrs. ANTONIA, the owner, gave us an exceptional welcome, and the waiter was very kind too. I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoys relaxing and the flavors of nature. It felt like Mom was in the kitchen!