24/08/2025: We decide to treat ourselves to one last restaurant before returning from summer vacation. We can't go wrong; we have to end on a high note! Tomorrow we'll be in the Varallo area, and after carefully poring over the reviews of various restaurants, we narrow our focus to Hostaria di Bricai. We've booked!
We find a parking spot two minutes away, and later we'll understand why. The restaurant is practically inside a beautiful park. We're greeted by the owner, who's quite busy with other tables. She makes us wait about five minutes, then shows us to our table. We already have a pretty clear idea of the dishes, but some off-menu items catch my attention, including the tagliolini with porcini mushrooms. I ask for truffle, but it's flatly rejected, even with a few dirty looks. We start with the entree, which we consider to be excessively minimal, so much so that we can't fully savor its essence. Just a little more in quantity wouldn't hurt at all. The rest, as you can see from the photos, is highly commensurate with quality dishes, well-made and beautifully presented. The bill, too, is absolutely in line with the products and quality offered. There's a wide selection of wines, not exactly cheap, but if you don't opt for glasses, for which the selection is limited, you can always buy a bottle and take it home if you don't finish it. Finally, I feel compelled to contradict the reviews that claim they paid a lot and left hungry! Believe me, if you're in the area, it's worth trying their cuisine. I'd definitely go back!
30/07/2025: As a French guy, i have to say that the foie gras was one of the best i’ve ever tasted. I recommand this restaurant with a beautiful view and atmosphere, definitely will come back !