If there is one place in Milano that I loved and still love, it is the place that made me go there – Rossini Ristorante Pizzeria. Some years ago, crazy crazy Guntars, in love with Italian cuisine and owner of two great restaurants in Riga, who loves to wear pink glasses (at his decent age), decided to look further than Latvia and opened a place in Milan. As he says, he would never do that again, but the fact is that Rossini is there, on the tiny Via dei Piatti in the middle of the city, and while other locals struggle to get their clientele, Guntars has his come again and again.

The secret is not that they serve something much different, but the fact that what they serve is fresh, well prepared, tasty, and true. Plus, unlike other restaurants, the interior is also a big part of the dining experience, as well as the great wine list and service. There is no magic in the menu – they have thin, wood oven baked pizza (quattro formaggi is my favourite), fresh bread, and olives that come after you have ordered your food, fantastic tiramisu (always leave room for that), amazing octopus carpaccio and a grilled version of it, steak with porcini, and Milano cotleta that has actually has meat in it. Some soup, freshly made Linguine con pomodori freschi, gamberoni e basilico and Burrata con foglie di soncino, prosciutto di parma e olio antonelli are just few things that make my taste buds happy. During these days, I tried and tested many of the dishes and although I know them from restaurants in Latvia, the Italian produce has done its justice and made it just a tiny bit Italian.

And the wine list – that is another story and believe me, it is a tasty one. Actually, I met Guntars in Riga because of wine and food, where wine came first. At that time, I tried to sell him some of our wine, but today, even without him trying, he easily sells his wines to us and only because most of them are perfect. In Rossini, the story is the same – the wine list is nearly perfect with small wine houses visited during trips and wines hard to get somewhere else. His passion for wine is hidden on the lower floor wine room where you can admire them while having meal.

So, when you are looking for classic, local and fresh food, do not hesitate to look for Rossini Ristorante Pizzeria but make sure to book it since sometimes the line likes to be longer than the stomach can handle.

Via dei Piatti 4
Milano
http://rossiniristorante.it

Text and pictures: Signe Meirane
Camera: Sony Alpha 7s