When hunger strikes and you arrive in Milan, where do you go for great food? Well, north of the Po River there is ample amount of butter that will help you enjoy its mouth-watering Milanese cuisine. In Milan, it’s almost always some meaty food with butter. Unlike the rest of Italy, Milan doesn’t reside in healthy olive oil or spaghetti. They prefer rice and butter over meat – it’s all heavenly and neat. When they ask you why you won’t eat a healthy bowl of fish and vegetables, blame it all on geography – you’ll be done and fed. As far as those with weak hearts are concerned, don’t worry.
We also have some delicious vegetables and tasty seafood dishes to fill your tummy. So, no excuse. Get over your gastronomy guilt and let’s try these 10 powerhouse Milan restaurants that offer heavenly pleasure.
Whether you want to taste delicious and authentic risotto with a touch of saffron or the meaty juicy dishes of Italy, the restaurants below let you taste the flavor of Italy.
The king of Milanese cuisine, risotto, is characterized by its distinctive golden color with a touch of saffron, the trademark of bourgeois charm. If you plan to do so while in Milan never miss the “Risotto alla Milanese”, it is a dish that is worth eating.
This is no ordinary soup and there are hundreds of different recipes, each with a different taste. But your best bet would be to try it at Ratana, where legendarily renowned chef Cesare Battisti, known locally as the ‘King of Risotto’, prepares your meal.
2. Dongiò for the pleasure of Italy
Say Calabrian Cuisine! Let us take you to this traditionally designed trattoria in Porta Romana. You may have to wade through crowds of local food experts, but rest assured, it will serve you well. The kitchen specializes in traditional Southern home cooking.
The same applies to the signature dish you shouldn’t miss: Spaghettioni alla Tamaro. Made from fresh pasta, topped with tomato sauce, it’s the Nduja sausage that turns heads. This one-of-a-kind, spreadable spicy sausage paste is like no other. For vegetarians there is always Parmigiana di Melanzen. This is the Italian version of the popular Italian-American dish eggplant parmesan.
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3. Pescaria for delicious seafood
There is something for the faint of heart here, especially those with a fish heart. Enter the ancient Pescaria, whose all-white interior is furnished and decorated with fisherman-basket lampshades. It’s a seafood sandwich shop, did you guess it! It’s not just the food but also the company of fashionable locals who stand in long queues to taste the sacred sandwich.
Eat in and you’ll discover the secret, the seafood is paired with a range of surprising ingredients: don’t forget pesto and even fried turnip greens and crunchy artichokes. While at Pescaria, it’s an absolute sin not to try their signature octopus sandwich.
4. Manna for juicy meat dishes
Now it’s time to try some of the more guilty pleasures that Milanese gluttony has to offer. How about pork cassoulea? Stew of pork and Savoy cabbage is a January staple. Due to the timing of pig slaughter, casauela is traditionally prepared early in the year, in January. Feel like a meat overdose? but it’s not like that. Interestingly, there’s just a hint of meat, enough to enhance the flavor but not enough to completely overpower it. The meat they use for this preparation is generally not the best cut. But a simple cabbage stew with a touch of pork, prepared by Chef Matteo Fronduti of Manna Restaurant, is definitely something else.
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5. Masuelli San Marco for a palate of polenta
Stories of polenta date back to the 17th century when the dish was first introduced in Italy. This was the time when maize was a staple of the diet of farmers in northern Italy. But yesterday’s staple food is daring to become today’s delicacy. The simplicity of the recipe is a plus and in good hands it is perfect. The cook has to be patient enough to stir it again and again for hours until it becomes completely fragrant and perfect and ready to eat. But the deep flavor of Milan’s best polenta can only be found at Masuelli San Marco. This is a beautifully decorated old-style trattoria managed by the aging legend Pino Masuelli with his enviable stamina.
6. Refettorio Simplicitas for those looking for organic vegan food
The tranquility of the Refettorio Simplicitas is an acquired taste. Although it’s not quite the same as dining at a silent movie, the decibel meter sitting in the center of the hall will improve your ability to talk softly while swimming in a bowl full of minestrone. Refettorio Simplicitas, right next to the Teatro alla Scala in the center of the city, is famous for its unique minestrone. It seems that there is no specific recipe for this dish, but the delicacy of Refettorio Simplicitas lies in its ingredients, pure organic vegetables. It is a form of vegetable soup made from leftover vegetables and whatever is at hand. Its base is beans, potatoes, onions, carrots and celery.
Refettorio Simplicitas, right next to the Teatro alla Scala and one of our favorite options in the heart of the city, makes a beautiful minestrone with 100 percent organic vegetables. The place lives up to its name: just like in the refectory of a monastery, peace is given utmost importance. Although you don’t have to remain completely silent during the meal, a decibel meter seated in the center of the room prompts you to talk softly.
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7. Un Posto a Milo for some unusual dishes
It’s Un Posto a Milano’s simple seasonal menu that makes all the difference. The food is fresh and delicious. And this feeling is further enhanced when you take a closer look at the decor of the renovated 18th century farmhouse. The cuisine is prepared by renowned chef Nicola Cavallaro who sources his fresh produce from local farms. They serve absolutely earthy craft dishes that make a statement. Grab a table outside on the patio; Come summer and if you’re ready for a winter getaway, build a garage with low ceilings and a huge fireplace in the back room.
8. Langousteria for a grand dining experience
Feeling messed up again? Let’s look at Langousteria. Rumor has it that they serve the best fish and crustaceans in town. One of the best Milan restaurants, Langosteria is a spectacular fine dining experience, but you can avoid the suffocating formality. The decor is cute and summery. Langousteria’s ocean-inspired decor is especially warm. Via Savona, 10, 20144 Milan MI, Italy, Langosteria
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9. Casa Ramon for the best kind of cooking
Casa Ramen, as the name suggests, is a unique ramen joint. Hunt all the way to Isola and wait in the inevitable long queues, tasting ramen in one of the best Milan restaurants is absolutely worth it. And it’s not just any ramen; It is the Italian version of the Japanese dish. Unlike the rest of Milan, it’s not sushi for owner Luca Catalfamo. He likes ramen. Via Luigi Porro Lambertenghi, 25, 20159 Milan MI, Italy, Casa Ramon.
10. Giacomo Arengario for views and food
See the Art Deco style of Giacomo Arengario embodied in the complex of the Museo del Novecento in the heart of Milan. The location is absolutely charming; Sitting on one of the loggias on the upper floor of the museum building. Overlooking the Duomo, the restaurant will offer you one of the most exclusive and spectacular views of Milan as you look away from your table. Note the interior, lavish as ever, with decor reminiscent of 1930s Milan in both architecture and patterns.
Here it is, your ten commandments for gourmet indulgence. When you map out your Milanese cuisine, don’t melt it down. Let the butter do its thing. Until this time, you are focused on completing your entire course. If you are planning a trip to Italy, don’t worry, we create amazing tours.
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