09/12/2025: Describing an extraordinary experience is always harder than criticizing something that didn't work.
And never before have I struggled to find the right words: what I experienced at Verde Sosta goes beyond what a simple review can contain.
Immersed in a breathtaking landscape, with a view that encompasses the hills—and Monte Rosa, which, in the background, is always a thrill—Verde Sosta is one of those places that makes you feel at home from the first moment.
Thanks to Pino, his staff, and his family: their welcome was among the warmest and most sincere I've ever received upon entering a restaurant, something that almost amazed us at how rare it was.
And I'd like to talk about Pino before describing our lunch.
Coming across someone so passionate, so in love with his work, and so deeply connected to the local area is almost impossible these days.
His kindness, the sweetness with which he shared anecdotes and curiosities about the dishes, and the pride he took in sharing the history of his restaurant were contagious and made our experience and our journey through the Verde Sosta kitchen even more memorable.
And now let's talk about the food.
We started with a welcome aperitif featuring a potato and sausage meatball and a glass of excellent wine.
The menu, rich in local specialties, promised well and, without a doubt, delivered on every promise.
For appetizers, we shared top-quality cured meats from the hills accompanied by schitta fritta, a delicious Oltrepò specialty similar to a savory fritter, extremely rare to find in local restaurants.
The first course was the most memorable moment: the homemade braised beef ravioli were the best I've ever tasted.
The filling wasn't the classic pressed braised meat, but a succulent and flavorful shredded meat that, with every bite, poured into your mouth, releasing its sensational flavor.
It's definitely worth trying.
The potato and sausage ravioli were also excellent, a house classic that's been on the menu since opening.
For the main course, we shared a huge plate of mixed boiled meats, accompanied by salsa verde and homemade mustards.
All the meat was tender and of excellent quality, but the cotechino was a real revelation: in Oltrepò, cotechino is almost always a guarantee, but this one at Verde Sosta is truly on another level.
The desserts, homemade of course, concluded our gastronomic journey in a way that can only be described as excellent.
My bitter orange panna cotta was a perfect balance of sweet and bitter, a new and surprising combination, never tried before.
The pears in Bonarda with Marsala sauce, on the other hand, were simply the undisputed star of the dessert, a classic dish you wish would never end.
All this was accompanied by a high-quality Buttafuoco, carefully recommended by Pino and his waiter.
I encourage anyone passing through Oltrepò Pavese to stop by Verde Sosta: it's one of those rare Italian restaurants where every detail—from the food to the atmosphere, from the service to the warmth—makes you feel lucky to live in a country that has made food one of its greatest treasures.
Thank you so much, Pino, for the incredible experience.
30/11/2025: A place that is truly worth visiting once in your life.
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