Relais La Speranzina

The food was the highlight for me: an eight-course tasting menu with wine pairing that felt like a magical little journey. Every course was creative, surprising, and technically impressive. I especially remember the sturgeon canapé, the shrimp with razor clam coolie, the Angus beef sauce, and the beet dish presented as a rose. I've had plenty of tasting menus, but this was the best meal I've had, the most technical, thoughtful, and complete. The room was stunning and the service felt personal and elevated. We were served by the head sommelier, and at the end the executive chef came out to greet us and chatted with us for 5-10 minutes. That made the evening feel even more special. It was my first Michelin-level dinner, and it went beyond what I expected. It's definitely a five-star experience. I don't know what Luca P was looking for, but that one-star review seems way off base. Sure, it's expensive, but if you can afford it, go now. To me it feels like three-star Michelin quality at a one-star price, for now. A memorable choice for a honeymoon dinner.

We spent 650 euros for two and left feeling completely ripped off. I've eaten at plenty of starred restaurants, and I paid this much at Osteria Francescana in Modena, which has three Michelin stars, and there it felt worth the money. Here, the dinner just didn't deliver that kind of value. The owner and staff were really nice, but our expectations were high because of the one Michelin star. There were too many service mistakes. They didn't clean the table between courses, and when I asked for extra wine outside my chosen pairing, nobody brought it until I got up and went after them. They also poured me a 30-euro glass of champagne without asking what I wanted. We chose the tasting menu, then they added a seventh course, lobster, which wasn't needed and cost 43 euros. The table beside us was very loud. I asked the staff four times to ask them to quiet down, and got the response, “they are loud in my opinion.” No comment, I guess. The chef's dishes all seemed too similar. He puts mayonnaise in every dish, just in different colors, and they literally tasted the same. That's why I give this place one star. Not worth it.

We were otherwise delighted, but the tipping situation left us feeling exploited. The waiter abruptly pointed out that the bill “does not include a tip,” even though it clearly listed a €20 service charge. He then suggested adding 10% to the total and entered that amount into the card machine. I've never had a waiter be so rude about a required tip for a fine dining meal for two, which came to €66.

We stumbled across the restaurant while wandering through Sirmione, and only then realized we'd found a tucked-away starred place. The lake view and elegant white interior were lovely, but the food itself was the reason to go. Our four-course menu was packed with flavor, color, texture, and aroma, and the portions were surprisingly generous for a starred restaurant. We could barely finish it. The kitchen deserves ten stars, and I loved the idea of giving guests a tour of the restaurant, the wine cellar, and the heart of the place, the kitchen. When I heard the soulful music they listened to in there, I had a feeling I'd love the food, and I did. The family history felt present in the place, and you could feel the love in every bite. Service had some room to improve. At €200-300 per person, I naturally expected more attention, including clearing the table between courses, something many places do even without stars. Bread is an important part of this cuisine, so that stood out. They also rarely noticed when our water needed topping up, and I usually poured it myself while staff saw and said or did nothing. One person looking after our table was really kind. He tried to help his colleague, who didn't speak much English, and explain the dishes to us. But he seemed to be the only person who could do that, and was very busy, constantly circling the table and being called away to help other staff. I felt bad for him, especially since it was lunchtime and I don't think the restaurant was even 30% full. Still, we had a pleasant meal and got the delicious dining experience we'd come for. I'd visit again happily.