Al Fresco Milan

I'm sure you have this neighborhood joint that you passed by several times and every time you said to yourself that you've got to check it out but you always left it "on the back burner" (just because it is right next door). Well, Al Fresco is exactly this kind of place for me and that's why it took me a long time before I actually made it there. The place turned out to be a real gem!

Indoors it's very light with big windows, split into several interconnected spaces and somehow super cosy. There is the open kitchen where the Japanese chef (Kokichi Takahashi) spins seriously delicious Italian specialties (everything tastes so great that I'm afraid I'll be visiting way too often!). The menu changes frequently (different choices for lunch vs. dinner and weekday vs. weekend) and all products are local ('0 km' concept is taken very seriously here). Service is friendly and efficient, adding to the relaxed feel of the restaurant.

Now, I left the best for the end - in summer the place has an amazing garden, beautifully arranged for those long hot summer evenings, when chilling outside with great food and a couple of drinks & friends is pretty much enough to be happy :).

Tip - if you don't feel like taking advantage of the vast wine list, try the tasty artisan beer from a small local brewery and buy several bottles for home on your way out, at a discounted price.