Restaurant Crotto dei Platani in Brienno… Tonight we made a reservation in Crotto dei Platani in Brienno. Our reservation is already a week old. In Italy, Easter has just that little bit more meaning, so we assumed that the restaurants around Lake Como would be complete quickly. The website of Crotto dei Platani shows beautiful photos and an attractive menu.
The restaurant also has a veranda and terrace on the water’s edge with views that stretch as far as Bellagio. It seems like a dream to be able to dine there on a warm summer evening…
Crotto dei Platani is located (from Como) behind the small village center of Brienno when you leave the tunnel on the right side of the motorway. There are five parking spaces next to the restaurant. About a hundred meters further on on the left, a few more parking spaces are reserved for customers of the restaurant. If you come with your boat, you can also moor at the restaurant’s private jetty.
Crotto dei Platani must have missed tonight’s weather forecast: to our surprise, we get a table on the terrace. The parasols are open, the atmospheric lights are on and all the tables are taken. We immediately get a glass of Prosecco. What about that dreamed sultry summer evening?
Not at all! The heat burners are on maximum, the staff hand out blankets while keeping the flying umbrellas in place. Meanwhile, it rains wisteria leaves and insects into the plates and hairstyles of the dressed-up ladies. A tight and cold breeze is blowing! With our coats on, we sip Prosecco and look at each other doubtfully. We don’t want (and can’t) sitting here all evening. You feel every table thinking just the same.
The parasols are open, the atmospheric lights are on and all the tables are taken. We immediately get a glass of Prosecco. What about that dreamed sultry summer evening? Not at all!
We ask one of the waiters if it is possible to move inside. Other tables immediately follow our example. Fortunately, the restaurant is not fully booked and everyone can go inside! Strange choice to set the terrace in this weather in mid-April…
There are quite a few staff working in Crotto dei Platani. It must be because when completely full, the restaurant has many couverts. The waiters have their hands full but are very friendly, correct and attentive.
The menu is extensive with a lot of diversity. All dishes that sound familiar but are presented in an original way. Crotto dei Platini is a restaurant, not a trattoria. Culinary very well cared for with a beautiful presentation at a correct price. If you have something to celebrate with a dinner, then this restaurant is highly recommended. An informal setting with excellent culinary dishes, a successful combination.
We choose, among other things, tartare di lavarello del Lario con tartufo nero d’Umbria and tagliata di manzo con salsa al fegato grasso e riduzione di Porto. The fish tartare is finger licking good. The bottle of wine goes down smoothly. The lavarello spadellato con salsa ai capperi Pantelleria e limone lacks a bit of lime flavor. Nevertheless, our table is unanimous… Very tasty and above all a nice evening!
On condition the weather is really summery, we will definitely come back to discover restaurant Crotto dei Platini on its terrace!
