I migliori ristoranti di cucina italiana in Pavia

21/07/2025: We stopped by Quanto Basta for an aperitivo, but the experience was anything but positive. The platter consisted of unappetizing cold cuts and obviously stale bread. A place that claims to be welcoming and refined can't afford such poor quality in its basic products. It's a shame, because the atmosphere might be pleasant, but the attention to customer service and quality really makes the difference.

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.

19/10/2025: The pumpkin patch idea in general is nice, but it's pure business and nothing else. €15 admission, plus €2 for parking. As soon as you arrive with your car, they're already waiting for you to pay for parking. The field is cute, full of pumpkins and a small pond, but it's impossible to walk around because there are so many people! The website says tickets are sold out, but there are always people paying on site and it's packed! It's impossible to walk around with a stroller; there are lines for miles for everything! To walk around the pond with the inflatable, you have to wait in line for three days. The entrance fee didn't even include a pumpkin. We came as a group of three adults and a child, and we left after half an hour. We couldn't do any activities because of the huge lines. Not to mention the dust that rises to the sky; I don't know how those who come with babies manage it. You can't breathe. Maybe with all the money they get, they could put some sand in there to keep this cloud of dust down. Unfortunately we won't be back, it's pure marketing and nothing else, there's nothing to do but stand in line for anything.

12/08/2025: Nice place, a little expensive.

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 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, 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.

11/02/2026: Bread, pancakes and great service, well done guys!

02/01/2026: €8 for two small slices of pizza? For real? Pizza with cherry tomatoes, not particularly high quality, but exorbitantly priced. Also, the lady was not very friendly.

09/02/2026: Terrible experience, I will never return. A slice of pizza containing 274 grams of mushrooms and 4 cheeses cost almost 6 euros... Too high a price for a small square of pizza... With 6 euros from the pizza chef I can get a whole pizza... absurd prices....

26/01/2026: Perfect for a quick lunch break, an excellent lactose-free choice, always available for delivery in red, white with potatoes, and multigrain with spicy aubergines. You can find them in combination in store.

21/11/2025: Substandard night club: 1,000 people in a tiny space, only one exit. I can't believe how a place like this can be open.

25/09/2025: They served me a vegan aperitivo just for me, with sandwiches, crostini, and focaccia—something that, for a Piazza Vittoria that only offers olives and chips to vegans, is a 10-0 deal!! The waitress was very kind and the manager was super friendly (I think).