Ristorante Castagneto dal 1969

Piemont belongs to the regions with the highest quality and tradition of food and wine in Italy. If you want to get an idea you have to visit the Ristorante Castagneto in Montrigiasco, a small village upon and near by Arona at the Lago Maggiore. The restaurant has a long tradition, is quite famous by the people from the region and is run by the family since 1969. You get this feeling immediately in real when you join the restaurant and are welcomed. The design is very traditional and timeless so you feel there very good from the first moment and at home. The service is done by the members of the family and they do it very professional, friendly and authentic. The kitchen chef belongs also to the family and he cooks the traditional local food from Piemont in a very high and authentic quality, it couldn't be better. We were there for dinner and had for example as a starter "Peperoni spellati al forno con bagna cauda", a traditional dish from Piemont, for main course "Agnolotti di vitello alla Piemontese" and for dessert "Bonet delle Langhe con gelato alla nocciola". It was all togehter perfectly fresh hand made, a real journey into the food traditions of Piemont. They offer also many wines from Piemont. The prices for food and wine are very fair. At all a wonderful place to be, very authentic, familiar and with fantastic food. The recommendation by the Guide Michelin is absolutely correct. Any time again!!

Hidden among the rolling greens and red-tiled rooftops of Piemonte, Ristorante Castagneto is more than a restaurant—it’s a love letter to the land. We nearly made it through the entire menu, and not a single dish faltered. Every plate was a reminder of what real cooking tastes like—where technique doesn’t get in the way of soul. The Vitello Tonnato was textbook perfection, and the veal tongue with parsley and vinegar hit with that bold, rustic punch only the Piedmontese dare to serve unapologetically. The escargot? Bright with garlic and butter, pulled straight from Briona and served with the kind of ceremony that makes you feel like you’re dining in someone’s home, not a Michelin-recognized institution. The duck breast—orange, Grand Marnier, expertly seared. The black spaghetti with seafood and salicornia brought the coast to the mountains with a whisper of brine and spice. Even the side beans were revelatory. You could close your eyes and taste the discipline behind the sauce. The view? A slow-breath panorama of village rooftops and forest horizon. The service? Precise but warm—no pretense, just pride. This isn’t trendy. It’s timeless. Eat here. Stay a while. Then come back.

Coming from Parma to catch my flight back to Canada in Malpensa, it was worth the 40 min detour just to have lunch here. It's runned by an extremely polite family, and I'm the kitchen highly skilled professionals. In addition, one of the family members has deep knowledge about wines, and successful guided me picking from Piemonte that would perfectly pair with my meal.

Fantastic place with a serene and walkable property. The food is incredible and service is impeccable. A must visit if you’re in the area. Definitely worth the detour.

Good restaurant in a nice location. Piemonte traditional Food with high quality dishes. Service is professional and friendly.

Lovely ambiance, great food and service. Would definitely recommend this place if you’re in the area!

Very nice location, with good food BUT lacking creativity and finesse. Service staff was very young and gave their best (much respect) but was lacking of training and support while a real passionated host/manager giving the place a “soul” was missing. the terrasse in summer is surely a positive game changer.

Very homey, this is what I would imagine my grandma’s food would taste like if she was Italian. We had the spaghetti with duck ragu and tripe with polenta and the portions were big enough to share between 2 people, great value!