Grotto Efra

A cozy mountain restaurant in Ticino with breathtaking views and delicious local food. The atmosphere is peaceful and authentic, with friendly staff and traditional Ticinese dishes like polenta and braised beef. Perfect for a relaxing lunch or dinner after exploring the Alps. A true hidden gem in the Swiss mountains!

We went there several times now because we love the concept of zero kilometers products and they boycott products who harm the environment , first time we did not make any reservations so we have to wait for about 10 min, and stay out side with waterfalls view, but then we made reservations the next time and we got the inside also amazing rustic architecture & interior design with an amazing view toward the mountains. Luca is an awesome waiter. The chef cook an excellent meal ( ask for menu of the day out side of the menu) . The nostrano red wine ( from Ticino ) was excellent! Homemade dessert. If you want warm food they serve only in lunch time 12.00-14.00 and sometimes dinner between 18.00-20.00. Make sure you call to know their working hours. We love everything there. And the walk to the waterfall and back . Huge kids park for our children nearby where they can play bobosco ( the locally made wooden game with wooden ball ) . Our kids loves it. You must try once if you are in Valley Verzasca.

OMG, This place is a MUST visit, if you are in this area. Service is extremely friendly, helpful and speak English. Inside is beautiful and outside you have this amazing views and nature sounds. Brazato, Palenta, local wines in small local cups. Everything was great. I’m sure I will come again with my friends.

Stopped by here for a coffee and gelato. Both were excellent. Service was top notch. The weather was not great but that meant it wasn't as busy. They have parking but we had walked from the town's main parking lot. This won't cost any stars but a few suggestions: 1. If you have an allergy to cats, they had a cat or two roaming around the restaurant freely, so take precautions. I have a cat allergy but was fine. They don't bother you. 2. Take CHF cash or a Visa/Mastercard and you should be fine. I noticed the receipt (posted) said they would also take 8 EUR - which is obviously a favorable exchange rate. When I tried to pay with EUR, the server indicated that they "preferred" CHF. I offered to pay by Amex (they have an Amex logo on the door), but the server said they did not accept it. This was misleading. In the end, they did take EUR but charged 8.80 (at par), not 8.00 as indicated on the receipt. Still a slightly favorable rate, and I wasn't going to make a stink about it.

This place is beautiful. It’s definitely worth eating at. Hopefully you get a different waitress than we had. Our waitress was impatient and literally told us “she didn’t have time to answer questions about the menu”. Basically she was too busy and didn’t have time for us. Our questions were very simple. Had I been anywhere else with other options I would have left. Other than that the food and atmosphere were amazing.

Location is really nice and cozy. Perfect to sit outside when the weather is good. Nice view on a waterfall close by! The food was also really delicious. We had two different cheese plates which were both perfect. They serve different kind of polenta, cheese plates with bread, meat plates and soup. Also a variety of desserts.

We were deeply disappointed by our experience here as a family with young children. While the food itself was good and the location very beautiful, the way we were treated made us feel uncomfortable and unwelcome. One of the owners repeatedly sat us at the very back and deliberately closed off the small reading/play area that would have helped keep our kids occupied. When rain was threatening, we asked if we could bring in our stroller to keep it dry, but she refused outright. When we raised our concerns, her response was simply: “I’m the owner, I can do what I want — I like order and I don’t feel like cleaning. See it from my side.” We had originally planned to eat here several times a day throughout our stay (since it’s right next to our accommodation), but after receiving what was honestly the worst customer service we have ever experienced, we decided not to return. If you’re a family, be prepared for an unwelcoming atmosphere. We feel obliged to share our experience with other parents: the food and view do not make up for the lack of hospitality.

Super cozy Restaurant with amazing food (try one of the Polentas!) and very friendly service. I will be coming back definitely!