Osteria La Vecchia Lira In Milano

24/10/2025: Excellent Dinner to Celebrate a Graduation After more than 10 years, I returned to the Al Garghet restaurant for my niece's graduation celebrations. A historic Milanese restaurant, established for nearly 35 years, Al Garghet, originally a former tavern and dance hall, is located (and we recommend using Google Maps) half-hidden among the fields south of Milan, specifically at Via Selvanesco 36, between the Grattosoglio and Vigentino neighborhoods. The interior is a program in itself, thanks to the magical, almost fairytale-like atmosphere, created by its seasonal decorations and Christmas decorations, which are already up in October. First of all, the name "Garghet" derives from the sound frogs make, meaning "the croaking of frogs," which are present (in ceramic, wood, and plastic) on many of the cupboard shelves in the front rooms. Then there are the rooms and spaces, furnished in the style of the English countryside or bohemian France. Rooms that hark back to Milanese tradition, with furnishings reminiscent of Milanese tenement houses or works by various artists the owners love to surround themselves with, as well as memorabilia from travels around the world. Not to mention the outdoor areas, naturally open in the warmer months, which evoke rustic meadows, huts, flowerbeds, and country streams. The menu, written in dialect on squared notebooks, immediately immerses you in Milanese culture, a feeling not easy to grasp for those not born in Milan. Returning to our dinner, there were nine of us to celebrate my niece's graduation, a certain event, so my brother-in-law managed to reserve a table in advance, a difficult one to book, even during the week: it was a Thursday. The restaurant is famous, indeed very famous, for its Milanese cutlet, which we also recommend booking. We opted for a single dish per person, well aware of the generous portions of not only the classic "Cuteléta A La Milanesa" (the classic, bone-in veal, cooked pink in clarified butter with baked potatoes) (gluten, eggplant, dairy, traces of sesame, soy, nuts, mustard), but also the "Cuteléta Del Garghet" (large, crispy elephant-ear pork loin with diced tomatoes) (gluten, eggplant, sesame, soy, nuts, mustard). Given their size, both of the aforementioned cutlets will satisfy at least two people. Someone else opted for the "Risott A La Milanosa" (Classic Milanese-style risotto, Carnaroli "Salera" rice (dairy products, celery, sulfites), the "Mondeghili" (Milanese-style breaded and fried meatballs (gluten, egg, sesame, soy, nuts, nightshade, dairy products, celery, mustard), and the "Risolt Fumée" (Carnaroli "Salera" rice creamed with smoked provola cheese and black pepper, parsley sprouts, creamed fava beans sautéed with celery, dairy products, sulfites). A taste of Fried Porcini Mushrooms, all washed down with a good Morellino di Scansano. Water galore, at least seven desserts, among which I remember the delicious Caramel Ice Cream, Mascarpone Cream, and the Deconstructed Tiramisu. The staff was quite fast, considering the multitude of customers in the various rooms. Rooms. Excellent atmosphere and quality cuisine, which is obviously reflected in the final price, which is high but in line with the quality and portions. As already mentioned, reservations are required, both to indicate the number of cars that will be parking in the large parking lot, monitored by no fewer than four security guards, and to leave a credit card number for the deposit.

23/10/2025: I have to say I recommend it without any ifs or buts... Perhaps a little pricey... But then again, it's better to be a little pricey and eat well than a modest price and eat badly...