DINING OWL AWARD: 3rd – best for casual occasions

When I visited: September 2015

Location: Lake Como (Bellagio)

Rating in the Michelin Guide: Not rated in the Guide

Dining Owl Hoot rating: 4/5

What to wear: Could go casual

Ambience: Fun, bustling, lively

Course of the meal: Dark chocolate ‘tart’ (fondant) with banana sauce and shot of amaretto

If I could change one thing: Slightly faster service

Review:

Suisse gave me lots of fun and lots of alcohol one night in Lake Como. This was mostly due to the 16%(!) red wine that my partner Owl and I selected (Cinque Stella Amarone della Valpolicella 2005), and accentuated by the limoncello shot presented to us at the end.

We started with a duck and fig terrine with pear, strawberries and toast on the side, and an octopus and pineapple salad, which was fresh and delicious. Our mains were grangano pasta with king prawns, and veal and Parma ham with black truffles, roast vegetables and Madeira sauce. Desserts were a pear and chocolate mousse tart with cinnamon sauce, and a dark chocolate “tart” (frankly, it was actually a fondant, but no complaints) with banana sauce and a shot of amaretto.

As well as the limoncello at the end, we got a little chocolate each. I love Italy.