Bar Marino In Milano

21/10/2025: My partner and I booked the "Giovani Forchette" menu for lunch, €50 for five courses. It wasn't indicated that cover charge and bread weren't included, so we were charged an additional fee for these. Furthermore, one of the courses was a small pastry (in addition to the main dessert), a choice that seemed a bit clever. Final bill: 2 "Giovani Forchette" menus 50x2 + cover charge and bread 12 + water 12 + (a glass of champagne and a glass of classic method with a Venetian cicchetto) 25 + 14 = €163. Dishes tasted: Breadsticks with creamed cod as a cicchetto paired with the glass, rather unremarkable scallops au gratin, parmesan rice with licorice and meat stock, suckling pig with sweet and sour sauce, mascarpone ice cream with coffee granita, and small pastries. All the dishes were good, but only the rice with licorice really impressed me. The cod breadsticks were very greasy, and one of the cookies from the small bakery was undercooked—a minor detail, but you wouldn't expect it from a restaurant that aspires to a certain level (perhaps the lack of attention is due to the "budget" menu?). The service was the most disappointing aspect. The maître d' tried to be brilliant, but he made one gaffe after another, coming across as anything but courteous or welcoming: he couldn't open the cork on a sparkling wine, he brought me an already opened champagne instead of the one I requested, and in general he seemed very agitated. The other waiter wasn't any more precise: he didn't bring me bread (which I had to ask for), he poured water hastily, and when he had to explain two dishes, I couldn't understand him very well, both because of his low voice and his uncertain Italian. Even the stained placemat certainly didn't help the overall impression. In conclusion: We didn't eat badly, but we didn't have a memorable meal either. The unexpected costs and lackluster service left a bitter taste in our mouths. Perhaps the difference in treatment is due to the "Young Forks" menu? In any case, it shouldn't be.

09/10/2025: Beautiful. Friendly staff. Pleasant location. Right in the center.