Memorable food in Milan, Lake Como, Bologna, Venice, and Florence

Suggestions for 5 different locations might be a bit much for a single thread. I might suggest that you do a search of the forums for prior restaurant reco's - from the past 2 years - for each city/location? I'll even help get you started:

Milan:
https://search.ricksteves.com/?button=&date_range=2y&filter=Travel+Forum&query=milan+restaurants

Bologna:
https://search.ricksteves.com/?button=&date_range=2y&filter=Travel+Forum&query=Bologna+restaurants

Venice:
https://search.ricksteves.com/?button=&date_range=2y&filter=Travel+Forum&query=Venice+restaurants

Florence:
https://search.ricksteves.com/?button=&date_range=2y&filter=Travel+Forum&query=Florence+restaurants

Lake Como - I searched only Vernazza as it looks like the town you're considering otherwise do a search for your chosen location:
https://search.ricksteves.com/?button=&date_range=2y&filter=Travel+Forum&query=Vernazza+restaurants

Happy browsing!

I generally consult Slow food Guides and food writers I follow like Elizabeth Minchilli and Katie Parla.

The kind of places we like are the exact opposite of fancy-pants or strange. So they may not be what you are looking for, but here goes.

We've spent more than 3 weeks total in both Bologna and Venice, most recently in December 2023. Two and a half months total in Florence, but I'm only mentioning the places we liked recently, most in the Oltrarno. If you google on --- Rick Steves forum Florence restaurants --- there are many posts with recommendations.

Bologna --- we loved eating at Broccaindosso for the third time. Also liked Osteria La Traviata, and Trattoria Nonna Gigia.

Venice --- La Rampa in Castello for the 2nd time, and Osteria La Zucca for the 2nd or 3rd time (the first time may have been 23 years before!). Osteria da Pampo in Castello was great for the whole family, as was La Palanca on the Giudecca

Florence --- Acquacotta, Trattoria dell’Orto, Trattoria Sabatino (no reservations but the line is actually kind of fun as is the style of the place), the deli Gastronomia il Giglio, Alla Vecchia Bettola

Haven't yet found a restaurant in Milan that we really like.

Never been to Lake Como.

I like traditional Italian cuisine and detest the innovative "nouvelle" cuisine that is served in some fancy restaurants in Italy. I don't even consider that food Italian, it's California fusion cuisine that unfortunately has made its way in culinary schools in Italy.

Some of my favorite in Florence (Not in any order):
Perseus
Ristorante del Fagioli
Buca Mario
Sergio Gozzi
Sostanza (detto i'troia)
Trattoria Sabatino
Il Brindellone
Trattoria Casalinga
Trattoria il Latini

For Milan I suggest Nerino Dieci Trattoria. If you are in Varenna, il Cavatappi.

If you like sfogliatelle - flaky pastry - it is one of the specialties of Naples. The best sfogliatelle in the world is 5 minutes from the Naples train station. Antico Forno delle Sfogliatelle Calde Fratelli Attanasio Vico at Ferrovia 1/2/3/4. Walk aover, show up, grab a number right away and wait your turn. So worth it.

Enjoy Naples,
=Tod

My recommendations are recent. We spent 5 weeks in Italy this past May and June.

I second Roberto's recommendation of Trattoria Casalinga in Florence. In fact, we dined there based on Roberto's recommendation, and it was one of our favorite meals of our trip. Located in Oltrarno neighborhood. Recommend making reservations. We also really liked Trattoria del Chianti for steak.

I second Trotter's recommendation of Il Cavatappi in Varenna. Another awesome meal. And La Vista in Varenna located at Hotel Albergo Milano, where we stayed. Their lamb chop dinner is outstanding.

In Bologna our favorite meal was at Ristorante Cesari. We also enjoyed our traditional Italian meal at Trattoria Anna Marie. My husband was disappointed in our meal at Trattoria Da Me Torre. He said it was too fancy. The food is good and the restaurant gets great reviews but my husband is like your husband - he just wants good food that is not fusion/fancy.

In Venice we liked Muro Frari, near the Frari church. And we loved having drinks and cicchettis at Terrazza Nobli in Zattere on the Guidecca Canal. Recommended by Rick.

In Milan you could look for restaurants in the Brera district.

Hope this helps.

My first recommendation IS actually a food, not a restaurant. If you are in Varenna, try pizzocchieri alla Valtellinese. A specialty from the Valtellina region at the base of the Alps, just northeast of Varenna. It's made with buckwheat pasta, potatoes, cabbage, cheese. Very hearty.

And in Milano, I recommend gelato from Ciacco. Really interesting flavors.

More than restaurants, I suggest you to do some food tours, at least here in Emilia-Romagna. They could be expensive, but for foodies and lovers of traditional food is interesting know how ingredients are made and the histories behind. I have in mind a perfect tour, starting with a Parmigiano-Reggiano dairy located in the mountains of Modena, traditional breads (tigelle, borlenghi, gnocco fritto...) freshly made in our area, maybe something with chestnuts, being October the season for that, Traditional Balsamic vinegar, wine and cold cuts.