A French Bistro experience in Milan: Giacomo Bistrot (18. April 2016)

The Giacomo Bistrot offers you a truly French bistro experience in Milan. When you enter you are not really being welcomed but it was more like “Hey, if you want a sandwich, there is a store across the street!”. I mean, okay, to be fair, it was 3pm, and maybe not exactly the time to have lunch but if your homepage says you are open the whole day, then treat the customers accordingly.

However, once I made it clear to the waiter that I would like to enjoy a proper meal, I was seated at one table and quite quickly after that brought some bread (cover charge, EUR 5.00). The breads, respectively the choices of bread, were good but for the fact that they did not serve any olive oil or butter with the bread, I think EUR 5.00 as a cover charge is quite a rip-off.

In order to start the Italian way with a “primo piatto”, I went for “tagliolini con fave e bottarga, caviale di lime e gamberi rosso” (EUR 25.00) which looked absolutely lovely! And I must say it was also great in taste. What was not entirely to my liking was the fact that the king prawns were still very close to raw.

As my Italian is quite limited, I was not entirely sure what I had ordered but something with veal when I asked for the “punta di vitello “48 ore” manioca fritta e salsa agropiccantero” (EUR 24.00). The meal served looked already interesting – and I must say it was actually not that bad but the manioc was somewhat a bit blunt in taste and the veal was very fatty. Still, if you took the time to cut some fat out, it was actually a decent dish.

What I really liked was the little dessert from the kitchen. Although I was already more than satisfied I couldn’t resist trying a “cannoncino” and I must admit that it was pretty delicious!

What really made me love the place was the atmosphere. One wall is really like a library and, honestly, where do you still find the beauty of books displayed? Not in many places anymore. And that is what makes the Giacomo Bistrot – besides the not optimal welcome – so French.

To be fair, after being seated, the waiter had changed and he was actually friendly and attentive as you would wish for service to be. So nothing to complain there. And when – in the end – the first waiter served again for coffee and dessert he was also friendly and nice. I suppose realizing I was not just going to eat a piece of bread and a soup made him change his mind. However, that is not the way how you are suppose to treat customers.

The prices for the dishes are quite steep I would say. And the same applies to some degree also to the beverages. I mean EUR 8.00 for a double espresso is wow! That is even more than you pay in Zurich! And we are not talking about a place where you sit in the middle of the tourist attraction but actually a place which is rather remote. The water (0,75L) was fair in price with EUR 5.00 as well as the Barbera d’Alba, Vietti, 2013 (which was actually a 2014) for EUR 7.00.

All in all, I have quite a mixed impression about the Giacomo Bistrot. The place is absolutely lovely and makes you oversee a lot. However, as much as it seems that the waiters would generally be up to the task they definitely do not act upon it – which is a pity! Secondly, the prices are too high. There is nothing against paying a high price for good food but the price performance ratio is definitely skewed.

My take: Go for the atmosphere, have a look at the books and enjoy.

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Contact Details:

Giacomo Bistrot

Via Pasquale Sottocorno 6

20129 Milano (IT)

Tel.: +39 02 76 02 26 53

E-Mail: info@giacomobistrot.com

Homepage: http://www.giacomobistrot.com

About the Author: Sven

I started the blog in October 2009, while living in Milan which I definitely consider to be one of the food capitals of the world. I was in touch with food since my early childhood (as my father is a former chef). Whenever I can, I travel the world to discover new places, to meet people but mostly to try local dishes and to find hidden gems! If you know a place worth going, please drop a line to: info@thediningexperience.org. Currently, I am a member of the following food-related associations: Chevalier @Chaîne des Rôtisseurs Zurich-Ville; Membre Gourmet Dégustateur @Ordre Mondial des Gourmets Dégustateurs [OMGD]; Gesellschafter @Goldener Fisch and Member @Slowfood Convivium Zurich City.