Piccolo Lago Restaurant

The best Michelin experience of my life, anywhere in the world. I’ve had the privilege of dining in top restaurants across the globe, from Tokyo to Paris to New York, but Piccolo Lago stands in a category of its own. It’s not just about technique or presentation (which are both flawless), it’s about soul. This is a restaurant where the Michelin stars aren’t the main attraction, the people are. Family-owned, family-run, and deeply rooted in love for both food and hospitality, you can feel the passion in every interaction and in every dish. The experience is intimate, elegant, and profoundly human. Each plate was a story, each ingredient intentional. The views over the lake were breathtaking, but honestly, they were just the backdrop. The heart of this place lives in the kitchen and in the warmth of the team. Piccolo Lago isn’t just the best Michelin restaurant I’ve been to, it’s one of the most special places I’ve ever had the joy of discovering. I’ll be thinking about this meal for a long time. -Tyler

We had a lovely evening at the restaurant for an hour last night of our European trip. We first had a cooking class, learning to make gnocchi. After that, our meal was served overlooking the lake with an amazing group of people. I can't recommend Piccolo Lago enough. The staff was wonderful, the food was delicious, and the ambiance made it and out of this world experience.

BEAUTIFUL!!! The location is beautiful, and the view from the restaurant is heavenly! We had their historic dishes (set menu) with 3 wine pairings, and some of the dishes were unbelievable - for me, the flan was one of the best dishes I’ve ever tasted. The bread was homemade, and melts in your mouth. Nothing I write can describe how epic the experience was - a truly immersive experience!

As a vegan, it can be difficult to find fine dining establishments that are willing to create a vegan menu. But Piccolo Lago rose to the challenge!! The menu was whimsical and delicious. The wine pairing was fantastic. The service was warm and friendly. I highly recommend a visit! Email ahead to request a vegan tasting menu!

Amazing place , food and service It is a must if you are in the area Can’t wait to go back again

We had a three-course dinner. The meal started with a pasta dish that was overcooked, bland, and completely lifeless. The main course was zander served on a mushy, porridge-like base. It was utterly tasteless and had no texture whatsoever—you could have sipped it through a straw. It genuinely felt like eating jarred baby food. Dessert was supposed to be tiramisu, but it was dry, dull, and just as flavorless as the rest. We came in with high expectations, as the restaurant gave off an impression of quality. What we got instead was one of the worst dining experiences we’ve ever had—at any level, anywhere. To make matters worse, the service was rude and indifferent. If this place ever held two Michelin stars, it must have been a lifetime ago. That level of excellence is nowhere to be found now. Do yourself a favor: don’t waste your time, money, or appetite here.

Excellent spaghetti with “gambero rosso” with a Ronco delle Mele sauvignon from Venica vineyard. Then a wonderful very tender Fassona porterhouse steak. Atmosphere with the sunset was magic!

A great experience indeed. We were there on a package that included one night in their cosy hotel Verbano, on the Isola dei Pescatori on Lago Maggiore, with a magnificent view over the Isola Bella. At 7.00 PM a private taxi boat brought us to Carciano where a taxi brought us to the restaurant. My wife has celiac desease and needs gluten free options, and we really appreciated the 8 courses "Piccola Spirale" menu, standard for me and customized to my wife needs and the superb wine pairing to accompanied the various interesting and very creative dishes. Creativity sometimes could be too daring for our taste buds, but this was not the case at Piccolo Lago. At the end of the dinner the same taxi and taxi boat brought us back to the quaint little Island. Expectations were obviously high but were meeted if not exceeded.

A restaurant that sits in the stillness of the lake.... The view here is spectacular. Did I mention that it's Michelin two star rated? Definitely worth the experience. Two person Chef table encased in glass just steps away from the kitchen where you can see the Masters at work. This place is amazing: food, service, atmosphere. Truly something special. Don't forget to watch the sunset from the terrace with a bottle of wine. Salute!

We went as part of a conference so we didn't have the standard menu but the location is stunning, the staff were nice and I am fascinated by the squid ink black sponge bread :)