La Libera In Milano

11/03/2026: Very good food and excellent staff. I recommend it.

08/03/2026: First off, the really good part: the food was incredible. I had the ossobuco with the saffron risotto and it was incredible. The veal melted into my mouth, the marrow was so buttery and flavorful, the risotto was the perfect companion. My waiter was Nicolò and he was extremely polite and helpful and did not make me feel bad for deciding I couldn't possibly fit a dessert after having asked for the dessert menu. The ambience is very traditional, it feels like stepping back in time a few decades. Gorgeous glasses adorning the walls, rich woodwork. It does get loud at times but it is still enjoyable. Now for why I had to take off a star. A hostess is the first impression a restaurant makes on the guest and this hostess gives off a bad one. She was not wearing a name tag, but it was today March 8 at lunch. I had made a reservation online, meaning my name was spelled out in written form. I arrived and after the polite salutations, in Italian, I said my name and that I had a reservation for 1. She repeated back my full name incorrectly, (Mariella Argona) which is fine and normal with an unusual name. I corrected just the surname (Arbona con b non g). She looked at her list and came back with "could it be Maria Rodriguez?". No, no it could not be since that would be a whole different human. She finally found me. Never apologized or even smiled at her confusion and lack of politeness and tact. People with Spanish last names aren't interchangeable. If she has hearing issues perhaps she could ask guests to write down their names. But really it was the attitude that was unacceptable. Hopefully she'll get better, but from what I heard waiting for my coat she is rude to people on the telephone as well. Avoid the hostess, but the food is delicious and deserving of its fame.