I migliori ristoranti di cucina italiana in Pavia

17/03/2026: After a half-hour wait, they took our order. After another half-hour, the first courses, which weren't fish, arrived. Then, after another 40-minute wait, two strawberry cheesecakes arrived, which were basically crushed biscuits with a layer of cream and a layer of strawberry jam... and all before the second courses. There were two of us, and we went because it used to be called "La casa sul lago" (The House on the Lake) and the food was excellent. Now it's called "Pearl on the Lake." They've changed management (they're no longer Italian), with three very young, inexperienced waiters (cutlery on the floor, wrong plates, and it took them more than five minutes to clear and set a table for two). In the past, I used to go with friends at least once a month. Now...never again. We spent €64 for two peach first courses (badly made) and two cheesecakes (which weren't).

09/02/2026: A charming restaurant located on the river. We weren't able to use it due to the weather, but it offers plenty of outdoor space. We sat on the veranda; it wasn't very warm but quite cozy. The interior was very well-maintained, with unique and tasteful finishes. We had a seafood lunch; everything was good quality, with plentiful dishes and well-presented. The service, unfortunately, was a bit cold and sloppy, although the staff was friendly. All in all, I'd recommend it.

03/01/2026: The staff were rude, especially at the cash register, and the pastries were lacking. It's a real shame, because I'd been there as a child with my grandfather (I lived in Pavia at the time), and it was a whole different story. I still remember the waitress's kindness and the cream canoncino I ate!

14/12/2025: December 8th. We decide to stop for an aperitivo at what's described as one of the most renowned and elegant venues in the city. The place is packed, but despite not having booked, we're kindly shown to the upstairs dining room, which is currently empty. A great start. Too bad that from there begins a sort of sociological experiment on how long a customer can be ignored. We sit for at least twenty minutes without anyone noticing us, while other customers arrive. At a certain point, the waiter in charge of the dining room appears and distributes menus... to all the tables except ours, leaving without even looking at us. Apparently, being the first to arrive didn't even warrant a greeting. After a few more minutes and the intervention of a second waiter, we finally manage to intercept the first and politely ask for the menus. We're asked if we want the herbal tea or cocktail menu. I reply "both," since I want a herbal tea and my partner a cocktail. All hell breaks loose. The waiter snorts dramatically, flares his nostrils, purses his lips, and sighs in annoyance, as if I'd insulted him or as if he were facing someone incapable of understanding, repeating the same question in a rude tone. I calmly repeat that we want both menus. He disappears. He returns after several minutes and, with the grace of an Olympic thrower, tosses us a menu of herbal teas and a dessert menu, before disappearing again. At that point, we both order a cocktail and also ask for two chips, enunciating carefully; perhaps a refresher course was needed. Chaos ensues. Tables receive random appetizers, incomplete orders, customers wait. We see our chips and olives arrive at another table, where a woman, appropriately surprised, asks for an explanation. She's told that "they're included in the aperitif." Too bad nothing else arrives for half an hour, with an increasingly nervous child. The ensuing discussion culminates in a very elegant "go fuck yourself..." from a waiter who evidently thought no one was looking. Pure class. Our cocktails arrive without appetizers, which arrive only halfway through after repeated reminders. Excellent chips and olives, it must be said: probably the only thing that worked. At the cashier, we're asked if everything went well. I try to explain my disagreement, but he arrives: the waiter in question (brown hair shaved at the sides with an upward fade, a perpetually sullen and annoyed expression). He interrupts, draws attention to himself, and effectively ends the conversation. The end. Such behavior is unacceptable in a venue open to the public, regardless of the quality of the food or the location. The disrespect, arrogance, and nervousness of just one person caused inconvenience to customers and colleagues all evening. We have no reason to advise against it. We'll probably return, hoping that the owners will pay more attention to staff training and, perhaps, take responsibility for what happened. Apologies, every now and then, are still in fashion.

03/01/2026: The staff were rude, especially at the cash register, and the pastries were lacking. It's a real shame, because I'd been there as a child with my grandfather (I lived in Pavia at the time), and it was a whole different story. I still remember the waitress's kindness and the cream canoncino I ate!

14/12/2025: December 8th. We decide to stop for an aperitivo at what's described as one of the most renowned and elegant venues in the city. The place is packed, but despite not having booked, we're kindly shown to the upstairs dining room, which is currently empty. A great start. Too bad that from there begins a sort of sociological experiment on how long a customer can be ignored. We sit for at least twenty minutes without anyone noticing us, while other customers arrive. At a certain point, the waiter in charge of the dining room appears and distributes menus... to all the tables except ours, leaving without even looking at us. Apparently, being the first to arrive didn't even warrant a greeting. After a few more minutes and the intervention of a second waiter, we finally manage to intercept the first and politely ask for the menus. We're asked if we want the herbal tea or cocktail menu. I reply "both," since I want a herbal tea and my partner a cocktail. All hell breaks loose. The waiter snorts dramatically, flares his nostrils, purses his lips, and sighs in annoyance, as if I'd insulted him or as if he were facing someone incapable of understanding, repeating the same question in a rude tone. I calmly repeat that we want both menus. He disappears. He returns after several minutes and, with the grace of an Olympic thrower, tosses us a menu of herbal teas and a dessert menu, before disappearing again. At that point, we both order a cocktail and also ask for two chips, enunciating carefully; perhaps a refresher course was needed. Chaos ensues. Tables receive random appetizers, incomplete orders, customers wait. We see our chips and olives arrive at another table, where a woman, appropriately surprised, asks for an explanation. She's told that "they're included in the aperitif." Too bad nothing else arrives for half an hour, with an increasingly nervous child. The ensuing discussion culminates in a very elegant "go fuck yourself..." from a waiter who evidently thought no one was looking. Pure class. Our cocktails arrive without appetizers, which arrive only halfway through after repeated reminders. Excellent chips and olives, it must be said: probably the only thing that worked. At the cashier, we're asked if everything went well. I try to explain my disagreement, but he arrives: the waiter in question (brown hair shaved at the sides with an upward fade, a perpetually sullen and annoyed expression). He interrupts, draws attention to himself, and effectively ends the conversation. The end. Such behavior is unacceptable in a venue open to the public, regardless of the quality of the food or the location. The disrespect, arrogance, and nervousness of just one person caused inconvenience to customers and colleagues all evening. We have no reason to advise against it. We'll probably return, hoping that the owners will pay more attention to staff training and, perhaps, take responsibility for what happened. Apologies, every now and then, are still in fashion.

27/05/2026: The pizza was soft and inedible, you couldn't hold it in your hand.

11/05/2026: Food poisoning with fever and vomiting was caused, likely due to the poor preservation of the eggs in the carbonara pizza.