La Finestra sul Lago with a Beautiful View of Lake Como… Ristorante Una Finestra sul Lago has been on our wish list for a long time. Every time we take the winding road from the Nuova Regina through Carate and Urio to the Vecchia Regina, our eyes are drawn to this restaurant, especially when it’s dark. The atmospheric lighting, cozy tables, and always being fully booked catch our attention. We’ve tried to reserve several times without success, but today we finally managed it. Last night, we ate lightly to avoid jeopardizing our half marathon this morning. Tonight, we’re ready to make up for it. Yes, our expectations are high, and we’re looking forward to a cozy, delicious, and atmospheric evening.
We look for a place to park our car when a man in a fluorescent jacket taps on our window. He asks if we are guests of Finestra sul Lago. The man in the fluorescent jacket urges us to step out and quickly parks our car on a private driveway a bit further down. A valet service is nice, as parking here can indeed be disastrous, but for us, it feels a bit strange. You might somewhat expect this at pricey restaurants on the shores of Lake Como, but less so in the narrow streets of Carate Urio.
Una Finestra sul Lago forms a balcony above the narrow streets and offers a fantastic view of Lake Como. We can only think of superlatives.
Una Finestra sul Lago shines brighter than ever. The Christmas lights give the restaurant and terrace a beautiful romantic touch. Although it’s dark, we still have to describe the view in detail. The restaurant is situated on a slope in the village of Carate Urio. The front forms a balcony above the narrow streets and offers a fantastic view of Lake Como. The view extends over Torno almost to Como. Una Finestra sul Lago truly lives up to its name. The large windows of the veranda enhance the view. There is a cozy terrace and also the possibility to sit outside on the balcony at high tables. To describe the view, we can only think of superlatives.
We are greeted very jovially and enthusiastically. We are offered a table by the window, and we rub our hands in anticipation. White cloths with lights hang from the ceiling. Beautifully decorated Christmas trees are present. This makes the veranda a cozy and warm space. A young man in a sharp suit and bow tie introduces himself with his arm behind his back as the sommelier. Gastronomy! A lady brings some grissini and bread, a waiter brings the menu, and the sommelier brings two sparkling glasses of prosecco. However, a small amuse-bouche does not follow…
The extensive menu presents about five beautiful dishes per course. With this menu, Una Finestra sul Lago aims higher than the average restaurant. And this is also reflected in the prices. For starters, we choose Spaghettone Fresco and Millefoglie di Patata.
We follow Una Finestra sul Lago on Instagram, and we often see the spaghettone featured. A beautiful plate of pasta with bottarga di tonno (dried tuna roe), peperoncino, and a leaf of greenery as decoration. It makes your mouth water. For the main course, we order the spaghettone again and pancia di maialino con peperoni di Carmagnola e funghi Enoki. “Excellent,” says the waiter. “And please, enjoy your aperitif…”
His words are barely out of his mouth when the appetizers arrive. We’ve been seated for literally ten minutes, and our glasses of prosecco are still full. So quick, what a letdown. The atmosphere and coziness are gone. In front of us are two appetizers. The disappointment grows. The beautiful plate of spaghettone from Instagram is hardly recognizable. Spaghetti with not much else. There’s no tuna on it, and we can’t even taste it. The whole dish is salty, and the (fresh) pasta is actually undercooked. A bit cheeky of us, but take a look at the photos on Instagram and judge for yourself. The other appetizer is good, no more, no less.
Here come the main courses already. In all the haste, we quickly order a glass of wine from a waiter. The sommelier seems to have forgotten our table. As for the spaghettone, we already sense the disappointment. But the pork dish is also not impressive. The little pink rascal has had a big appetite. His belly is nothing but fat. A few peppers, some mushrooms, but mostly a small and unimaginative portion.
And so our evening at Una Finestra sul Lago ends within a record time of sixty minutes. We decline dessert and ask for the bill. A different waiter comes by a bit later to ask if we want dessert. No, we already asked for the bill. The bill amounts to 156 euros. The spaghettone costs 28 euros, and the pork dish costs 32 euros. So, we pay 78 euros per person. Considering the quality of the food and the overall experience, it is absolutely not worth the price. We feel a bit cheated. Two races in one day, and we really didn’t ask for that.
Maybe. On the other hand, Una Finestra sul Lago does present itself as a gastronomic restaurant. The dishes on Instagram look top-notch. The website is well-maintained with beautiful photos. Their visual communication is very appealing. The location is superb. The staff is friendly and does their best to pamper the guests. But the expectations are not met. Lots of hype but little substance. Especially for that price. There is little communication between the staff and the kitchen. In our opinion, the intended level is not yet achieved. We have to acknowledge that the reviews we read are very positive for the restaurant. We just can’t relate to them.
The menu also includes pizzas. Maybe we should come back on a sunny day to try a pizza. There is potential, and it would be a shame to write off this restaurant. If only for that incredible view and the hope that Finestra sul Lago will be a bit more appealing next time.
