A great pre-opera experience with outstanding service: Restaurant Il Desco (2. August 2024)

Since the plan for the evening was to see Tosca in the Arena di Verona and since I had been looking for a restaurant, which accommodates with the timing of the opera, I booked the Il Desco, which – it turns out – has 1 Michelin star. You’re welcomed in a friendly and caring way and brought to your table. In the beginning it takes a little while until you’re brought your menu to pick from, but then, generally speaking, the quality and speed of the service improves. I went for the “Limoncino Sour” (EUR 16.00) to get a start, and it was actually quite fine.

We then decided to go for the “Tasting Menu Chapter 42” (EUR 155.00) (which was the mid-size), which is – honestly – a bit of a stretch if you get there by 6.30pm and need to be out by 8.45pm the latest (since the opera starts at 9pm). In any case, it started with a surprise from the kitchen in the form of a “gazpacho with aubergine, a chickpea cracker, and something local”. Simple, but good is how I would describe the dish to tickle your taste buds.

Then, it was time for an assortment of bread, crackers, and grissini served with Gorgonzola butter. Now, personally, I love Gorgonzola, so I wouldn’t have been complaining even if it was too intense, but what I truly liked about the butter was the fact that it was light and the Gorgonzola was barely there – just enough to make it enjoyable, but not too much to make it overwhelming.

The first course was “salmon mi-cuit, caper sauce and coffee powder”, which was interesting since the one on the left was smoked, and it had that smokey flavour. It was, to me, at the brink of too smokey, but still within my personal gusto limits. And it was tasty. The salmon tatar was good as well, but wasn’t at the same level as the smoked salmon.

Next in line was the “egg ‘in cocotte'”, which was basically an egg in a water bath, which was, in my opinion, slightly too hot, since the egg basically hardened too quickly. But the combination of the potato foam with the egg yolk was a delicious one.

Next in line was my most and least favourite dish at the same time. It started with “oyster & caviar” and since I don’t really like oyster, I was rather sceptical …

… to be sent “Back to the 80s, champagne risotto, oyster and smoked herring caviar”. However, the champagne risotto they used to finish the dish was a dream come true. It was smooth and intense at the same time, and just amazing.

Then it was time for the main course, which was served in a lovely looking plate.

And frankly, unfortunately, the “free-range chicken, raised in the woods and coconut milk blanquette sauce” was not living up to the other dishes. Sure, the chicken was good: It was cooked well and the sauce was good, but somehow it didn’t work too well as a combination of flavours. I mean, they worked together, but there was somehow nothing extraordinary being created by this combination of textures and flavours.

Then it was time to get a local cheese. Frankly, interesting that they decided to serve just one cheese. The “Say Cheese! (a local cheese selected by our family)” was a combination of 90% cow milk and 10% sheep milk, and it had a proper intensity in flavour, which is not for the faint-hearted.

Then it was already time for the dessert called “waiting for dessert”, so, basically, the pre-dessert. It was a granita with a sorbet (can’t recall which one, since in the end they were stressing quite a bit to get everything served before it was time for the opera), which was good.

The last course of the evening was a “ricotta cheesecake”. Personally, I’m usually not a huge fan of cheesecake, but this one worked quite well in terms of flavour combination – and I especially loved the smoothness of the ricotta cheesecake.

Last but not least, the “friandises” were served – a good ending to a good dinner.

What I liked about the place – besides the generally good food – was the attentiveness and friendliness of the waiters. They were really making sure you’d have an amazing dinner and an amazing time.

Given one of the party had forgotten the sunglasses, we returned the next day, and the waiters seemed somewhat happy and joyful that we came back, despite the fact that we were only able to give 20 EUR tip (since they do not accept tip by card – so, bring cash for the tip).

The place is simple from the outside, but superbly nice from the inside.

To sum it up, the Il Desco is a nice 1 Michelin Star restaurant, which serves good food, has proficient service and is specialised in making sure you get everything before going to the Opera. So, in a nutshell, recommended!

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Contact Details:

Restaurant Il Desco

Via Dietro S. Sebastiano 5/7

37121 Verona (I)

Tel.: +39 045 59 53 58

E-Mail: info@ildesco.com

Homepage: http://www.ristoranteildesco.it

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.