Lago di Garda Restaurants

We chose this place because of its attractive position inside the town of Sirmione, at the tip of the lovely peninsula that stretches out inside the lake from the southernmost point of the shore.

Now our judgement is a bit hampered by the weather, as it was a summer day and everyone was out. We were told to wait 10 minutes, and after about that time, one of the heaviest rain showers I've seen in my life poured down on us, forcing everyone who sat outside to relocate indoors.

At that point I really believed we would never get anything to eat, but after some people got up and paid our turn came. We were treated with mixed seafood starters, lobster pasta, outstanding lakefish and an excellent dessert.

Service is ensured by the young couple (Italian man, Estonian woman) who run the place with a professional and friendly attitude. The quality of food is high, and the preparation is very stylish and tasty.

All in all, a very good experience, with obviously matching prices. My wallet was very thin that night (I believe the bill summed up to 140 euros for two, and that was with a bottle of wine for two).

Favorite Dish: The dessert - if only I remembered how it's called...

"Il giardino delle rane" is a very nice restaurant, both from the food and from the aesthetic point of view. It offers excellent Italian food served in a froggy atmosphere: frogs are depicted on dishes, glasses, candles, menus, cutlery, etc. and frogs statues are everywhere.
The restaurant has a very nice open terrace on one of the most important squares of Garda city.
"Il giardino delle rane" also offers a bed and breakfast service, and hosts a frog museum (frog-shaped objects collected by the restaurant owner).

Favorite Dish: Everything is excellent, but I suggest tryng "spaghettate": spaghetti with different sauces served in big bowls, and, if you are fond of chocolate desserts, you cannot miss "Il bacio del principe", a chocolate fondant served with custard.

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On our way home we arrived in Desenzano at lunch time. There was a bad storm and it was raining and windy. We decided to stop at the first place we found and we got lucky.
Ristorante Pizzeria al Fattore is a modern decorated restaurant with an elegant dining area. The menu have a good selection of seafood, meat, pasta and pizza so everybody can find what he like best. I had a pasta "Chitarrine con gamberoni e fiori di zucchina" (home made spaghetti with king prawns and zucchini flowers), my boyfriend had a portion of baked trout with a layer of potatoes on top, a bottle of water and we spent about 28 euros.
The food was great, the trout was a little small portion but tasty and the pasta was awesome with three full prawns on top.

This is really an outstanding address if you love to travel and taste food and wine specialities. First of all, the ambience is very accurate; the owner loves brics-and-bracs markets and shows everything may by worth to be shown (there is the mirrors room, the clocks room...). Moreover, the wine cellar is really worth-seeing. As to the cuisine, you will find seasonal menu (chestnuts, pumpkin, for example) or a terrific menu a la carte. Strongly raccomended for foodies.

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This small bar was next to the mooring harbour in Brenzone, and within staggering distance of my hotel! (Club Da Baia)

The inside bar has seating. There are also a few high stools and tables outside the bar, then across the narrow road, in front of the harbour there is more comfortable seating and tables.

A pleasant place to sit - and chill!

There is a rock bar atmosphere - Italian rock music on CD, and the appearance of the bar staff, but the clientele was a mix of ages.

I really liked this place - I felt quite comfortable, as a lone female.

As far as I could see, this was the only bar in Brenzone - apart from those in the hotels and restaurants.

A selection of beers - bottled and draught, wines, spirits, cocktails, soft drinks and coffee. Snacks served including Panninis 4 Euro, Tost 3 euros

A Mojito cost 5 euros, as did Gin and Tonic, bottle of Becks 3 euros

Favorite Dish: I only tried the beer here - which was good -a draught Worsteiner

2.00 euros 0.2 litre glass
3.50 euros 0.4 litre glass

A small glass 1 euro

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I stayed in Brenzone for 4 nights and I ate here each night.

It was near to my hotel, there was a friendly atmosphere and I felt comfortable here. The food was quite good too.

The open fronted restaurant faces onto the lake. The restaurant is part of Hotel Brenzone

A mix of clientele - all ages, and different nationalities.

The staff were very friendly - all were professional and polite.

The menu was varied and printed in Italian, German and English.

One of the waiters spoke excellent English, the others had some English - which was still better than my very little Italian.

On my first night, I ordered escalope in lemon sauce from the menu - the waiter appeared to have understood, but apparently he hadn't- there was a delay in getting my order, but I was given a free aperitif.

The food each night was good. The service could be a bit hit and miss - but was always good humoured. One night I was charged for bread that I hadn't received, but another night I wasn't charged for a glass of wine!

The tradition of this restaurant was that at the end of your meal, you were offered a complimentary glass of 'Mamas Grappa' (presumably a home brewed hooch version of this local digestif). On my first night I hesitantly accepted- Years ago I'd been told by someone of their experiences of trying Grappa, and they'd described it so revoltingly, that I was expecting something disgusting - Well it was quite pleasant!

'Mama' often appeared in the restaurant - and she always had a chat with everyone there.

I'm not sure if she was the owner, or the manager, or the chef, but she was a bit of a character!

Favorite Dish: I ate here on 4 occasions. Each meal was very tasty and nicely presented.

My first night I ate Veal Escalope in a lemon sauce (10.50 Euro)- with a glass of (superior) wine (3 Euro ) and a (0.75L) bottle of carbonated water (2 Euro)
The total bill was 15.50 Euros

2nd night -
Bread - 1 Euro
Spinach gnocchi with herb sauce - 8 Euros
Carbonated water (0.75 L) 2 Euros
Glass of house wine 2.50 Euros
Tiramisu 3 Euros
Total 16.50 Euros

3rd night
Bread and water as before
1 bottle wine - (Valpolicello) which was saved for me to finish the next night - 16 euros
Perch with almonds and sage - 11 Euros
Espresso coffee 1.30 Euros
Total 31.30 Euros

4th night
Bread and coffee as before
Seafood salad -9 Euros
Total 11.30 Euros

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I was hungry after wandering around Malcesine, and I wanted a salad, but I could only find Pizzerias or fast food. There was a strong smell of frying and burgers lingering in the air :-(

I was about to give up - I had just over an hour until the ferry left for Brenzone- when I came across a small square with tables outside an Osteria.

An Osteria is a tavern rather than a restaurant, serving wines, beers, food and snacks.

My limited experience of eating /drinking in Italian Osterias, is that they are often more atmospheric than restaurants, are good value, with the emphasis on good quality ingredients, served simply. They are often frequented by local diners, not just tourists/visitors.

I perused a menu - there was a selection of salads - and an absence of cooking fumes!!

I had to wait quite a while to be served - there was only one person serving and preparing the food, and he'd disappeared for a while, so I ventured inside, ready to place my order.

I was completely bowled over- a dark cellar like room with a very well stocked bar of wine and beers, and a food area with salads, antipasto, cheeses etc - I couldn't resist taking a couple of pics.

I ordered a salad and a beer, and sat in the sun under a parasol, eagerly anticipating the arrival of my food.

It was well worth waiting for - an attractively arranged fresh, crisp looking salad, fresh bread, balsamic vinegar and olive oil -

I don't know if the waiter/chef was the owner - (Since my return home I've found there is a web page, which says Hella Nods is the owner of this place - it doesn't sound like an Italian name, and he didn't look typically Italian)

He was a bit of a dour character, but I'd much rather come to a place with great food and atmosphere, where the staff aren't falsely cheerful - I think he let the food speak for itself!

This was the hi-light of my visit to Malcesine!

If I return to Lake Garda, I'd return to Malcesine just to visit this traditional authentic Osteria - A Great find!!!! Recommended!

Favorite Dish: My salad was just what I wanted- Good Quality, a variety of fresh ingredients, and attractively served.

The accompanying fresh brown bread, balsamic vinegar and olive oil was a bonus - I love bread dipped in these 2 condiments!

Lettuce, tomato, olives, radish, sweetcorn, grated carrots, onion all served in a bowl. This was 6.50 Euros

My draught beer was good too - cold and crisp - a German pilsner.

A good location but very busy which sells a selection of sandwiches and geleteria. Not the best place to go. There were not enough staff to cope with the demand when we were there and were kept waiting for ages. On to avoid.