12/01/2025: Very bitter experience. Recommended by many skiers and a ski instructor, we show up at the refuge just before 3pm: the lady tells me that the kitchen is closed and that I can only prepare a drink and offer us what is displayed in the display case. I'm disappointed, I had a large group of three families with me, with two more on the way, but I understand it, and the other refuges also close the kitchen around 3pm. I understand the rest much less. They gave us a dirty table where only the 6 children could fit, adults standing or on a ridiculous two-seater sofa. Two customers sitting at a table, embarrassed by the behavior of the waiters, repeatedly offer to get up to give us their seats. Are we kidding? The place had numerous tables in different rooms, 2 tables only in the immediate vicinity, but they didn't seat us. I personally left in disgust. My companions told me that they stayed, that they drank the bombardini on the table which in the end, after an explicit request, was at least cleaned, they made the children eat the packaged snacks since there was nothing... all while the waiters and managers of the restaurant had served themselves a top-notch meal, with the aromas that the excellent dishes from the kitchen - now open - certainly released, at the next table. So: my friends on the sad table with hungry children and snacks, a table with two embarrassed customers who would like to give up their seats, a table with a banquet laid out for the owners, and a fourth table left empty out of spite, "booked" , "busy". The restaurant belongs to those who manage it, free to do what they want. But I have never experienced such an absurd situation, neither in Sestriere nor elsewhere. For my part I am very embarrassed to have brought my friends to such a place. I forgot: the delay in arriving was due to the Nube d'Argento chairlift which broke down. It is certainly not the refuge's job to compensate for the shortcomings of other operators in the sector, to deal with unexpected events or to show understanding, so my complaint is perhaps out of place. For this reason I took the trouble to argue, to allow the reader to give the right weight to the events, in relation to their own sensitivity.
Edit: I changed the review to 3 stars so as not to unfairly penalize the quantitative score on Google, not having tasted the dishes which will surely be excellent. I have the utmost respect for those who work to achieve excellence and I understand a certain intolerance for the tourist who wants everything. I also appreciate the balance of the response given on the platform.
09/01/2025: Excellent restaurant for a day of skiing, top-notch food and one of the best polentas I've ever eaten!
TripAdvisor