Al Fresco

When a restaurant can't find your reservation alarm bells start to ring and as far as the service goes, things went from bad to worse. The service was speedy but the waitress who served us, did so with a level of indifference, and downright rudeness, as soon as she discovered we were not Italian speaking. Al Fresco has not appeared in the Michelin Guide since 2022, according to the sticker displayed on their door, and with this kind of service you can understand why. Onto the food, which was fine. The starters had lots of flavour, our pasta mains were hearty Italian fare and the desserts were delicious, the pistachio ice cream was the star of the show. Overall, if you can stomach the poor service, the food and atmosphere make Al Fresco worth a visit if you are in the Navigli area.

A wonderful spot in Milan! Al Fresco offers a beautiful garden atmosphere and truly delicious Italian dishes — fresh ingredients, perfectly cooked, and beautifully presented. The staff is friendly and attentive, making you feel right at home. Ideal for a relaxing lunch or a romantic dinner. Definitely one of the best places in Milan for authentic Italian cuisine! 🇮🇹✨

An hidden gem close to Navigli. Relaxing place with excellent food. Pasta with squid and lentils cream is amazing as well as the fritto misto. Zabaione cream is among the best ever tasted. Worth even six stars.

Overall it was a positive experience. The venue is elegant, with a welcoming atmosphere that strikes a good balance between sophistication and comfort. Despite being full, the noise level was acceptable and did not interfere with conversation. The food was of good quality, and each dish was presented with care. The courses were well-balanced, and the flavors met expectations. However, the desserts were the least impressive part of the meal: they didn’t capture the same attention to detail and perfection as the main dishes. The service, though polite, could be improved. One aspect I found a bit off-putting was the insistence on trying to sell additional dishes and drinks, which somewhat detracted from the experience. As for the price, it’s on the medium-high side: our bill for an appetizer, a main course, and a dessert (without wine) was 70 euros per person, which I consider fair for the quality of the dishes, but not exactly cheap.

We visited for lunch in mid-January and had an absolutely wonderful experience. The food was incredible! I ordered the salmon with grilled vegetables on the side, and it was perfectly cooked and delicious. The service was equally outstanding. One member of our group is gluten intolerant, and the waiter went above and beyond to ensure she had great options to choose from. Overall, a fantastic dining experience, and we’ll definitely be back!

After a fantastic experience yesterday we decided to return to Alfresco for another diner. Unfortunately, the owner (or manager?) abruptly tell that our family (two parents and two children) was not allowed to play a card game. Very unkind! He cited government rules and the police as a reason, which of course turned out to be complete nonsense. Later it turned out to be more about the restaurant's own rules. Fine, but then he could have just explained that neatly. Fortunately, our waitress was extremely friendly. Despite that, we decided to eat somewhere else. Too bad we had to have this unpleasant experience in our beloved Italy.

Great experience! The fish dishes were extraordinarily fresh. The place is cozy and welcoming. The service was very kind as well. Top!

Al Fresco is exceptional! Great food, great atmosphere, and friendly staff. The restaurant is one of the best! A must try!

My husband and I came here on our last day in Milan. We didn't have a reservation but decided to give it a try anyway. To our luck we were seated right away. They have a small, seasonal menu which kept the food flavorful and fresh. The ambiance was charming and the wait staff was prompt and respectful. We ordered truffle pasta, spaghetti, veal cheek, veal steak, chocolate almond cake and panna cotta. Overall, it was a memorable experience and we would recommend this restaurant to any of our friends traveling in the area. Its unfortunate the previous reviewers did not have the same service as we did. Side note: they do not accept American Express