La Locanda In Padenghe sul garda

23/08/2025: I chose this place from the photos, by chance, while looking for a restaurant in the center of Desenzano for lunch on a rainy day. We entered this magical space, which is covered but feels like an outdoor dining area. It's meticulously designed, with a rustic yet refined feel. We ordered gnocchi alla sorrentina and a seafood first course with fresh pasta. The rating was...fair. The gnocchi were good, bathed in a very flavorful sauce, but with very little mozzarella, not blending in with the rest, as the recipe calls for. However, with the delicious bread they offer and all that delicious sauce, I made endless mopping up the sauce. The seafood first course was apparently good, perhaps a little too oily. Then I ordered grilled vegetables, but—probably my mistake—I expected them to be already seasoned. Instead, they arrive freshly grilled (grilled vegetables disgust me when they're hot) and with salt and oil on the side. Oh well... I was dreaming of those delicious side dishes with garlic and parsley, cold and flavorful (I think they could be made both ways and let the customer choose how they like them, but hot and plain absolutely not; freshly seasoned hot vegetables are truly awful). Then I had a crème caramel that seemed homemade, and I really enjoyed it. The service was efficient and very friendly. The bill was a bit steep, in my opinion, compared to the food. The ambiance, in my opinion, is the restaurant's strong point.

17/08/2025: We dined at this restaurant and were pleasantly surprised. The outdoor seating is located in a charming courtyard. The dishes are generous and of excellent quality. I recommend the tagliolini with pesto ragù; they are truly excellent.