Maybe you do not go very often to Lake Maggiore but as I have lots of friends who transit on the highway from Switzerland to Italy so maybe a good address for a wonderful meal on their way can be helpful.
I was near Arona this summer and my sister and her husband took me for dinner at Restaurant Castagneto. It is 15 minutes from the Arona highway exit in a small village called Montrigiasco.
The restaurant is a very nice villa surrounded by trees and flowers and with a beautiful terrace overlooking the valley.
The atmosphere is classy but not too serious, like only the old tradictional good restaurants can show. It is family run and you will immediately feel at home: a big picture of the family hangs from the wall in the big dining room that has a fireplace on one side.
The food was absolutely delicious, coming from the best Piedmont Lombard tradition and no doubt homemade.
I had lavarello in carpione, fish from the lake cooked and left to marinate in vinegar and onions, followed by a perfect kidney dish with mustard sauce.
Have a look at some of the other dishes on offer (no translation here but I am sure your appetite can do wonders): sfogliatina di scarola e fonduta di toma val Formazza, carne cruda battuta al coltello, foie gras d’oca spadellate con mele caramellate among the starters, agnolotti di punta di vitello con Castelmagno, fettuccine tuttograno al ragù d’anitra, caserecci con guanciale, pomodoro, peperoncino e pecorino, gnocchetti di patate alla fonduta among the primi piatti, lumache in guscio con aglio, burro e prezzemolo, rotolo di coniglio ripieno di cavolo e patate con piattoni stufati, carrè di maialino all’alloro, costolette d’agnello spadellate al rosmarino as main courses.
I must admit I tasted all the orders my family had and I adored them all.
So next time you pass by, do not hesitate to stop here with only one problem: who can drive afterwards?
Ristorante Castagneto- Via Vignola 14 – 28041 Montrigiasco di Arona (NO)
Tel. / Fax. 0322.57201
Cell. 340 371 3579
info@ristorantecastagneto.com