If you're visiting Lake Como, this is an experience that should not be missed. Named after the…read morerectanglar sails of the Lake's fishing boats from a bygone era, Al Veluu would be worth a visit even if there was no panoramic view. The kitchen exhibits that ability peculiar to great Italian cooking of transforming good fresh ingredients in relatively simple recipes into exquisite dishes. We dined there twice recently, a dinner and a lunch. Both were extraordinary experiences. Two risotoo dishes in particular stand out : a porchini risotto and risotto Milanese with its saffon infusion; both were about as good as I have tasted anywhere. Pasta dishes and a preparation of a local lake fish were also perfectly seasoned and tasty. And both of the local wines that was recommended turned out to be delicious and well-matched to our dishes.
But what elevates this epicurian experience above and beyond is the restuarant's location and thus its spendid vistas. Dining on the patio one sits high on a hilltop overlooking the lake, affording the diner with a majestic panorama. The candlelit table, the exquisite food, the wonderful wine and the splendor of Lake Como all around; as a romantic experience, it would be hard to beat.
Getting to the restaurant, you should be aware, will generally require a car or a taxi. For our lunch we did walk up the hill. Walking takes around 20 minutes and the walk is up some moderately steep roads that are not pedestrian-friendly, so it would not be adviseable to walk it at night.
