Cute space. Rather forgettable pennette alla vodka…read more We ordered at the counter, looking in the case at the remaining foodstuffs that were available, then took a seat and our grub was brought out to us. I learned from Café Martesana that if there is more than one person at a table who orders a coffee after a meal, the assumption is that -everyone- at that table desires one. This happened at least two or three times in the course of a week in Milan. Fortunately, it's straightforward enough to send excess away, as long as you speak Italian. This serves as a suitable destination right along the river to snag a quick and affordable lunch. It's simple, reasonably priced, and relatively efficient as far as sit-down places go.

I guess it was inevitable that a friend of Dorothy would land here. I stopped in for a late lunch…read morebecause all the other local restaurants were closed for the afternoon. I sat outside on the terrace and had a very good seafood salad and a plate of spaghetti in a mildly-hot butter sauce. The salad was full of frutti di mare, and the spaghetti was cooked perfectly al dente. Service was fast and friendly, and the prices were very reasonable; E13,80 all told, including bread and water. It seems to be a bit of a hangout in the local neighborhood, which is full of arty, academic types, and the crowd was well mannered, even if, from time to time, their smoke got in my eyes.