When we explored the Galleria Vittorio Emanuel II. we saw the restaurant Savini. We decided we wanted to try it out. It looked inviting. They enticed us with their large chocolate and fine food selection. It was also always full.
I found out a little bit of the history of the restaurant. The founder was Virgil Savini, who originated from Cuvio in Varese. He was born in 1852. The Savini was always located at the Galleria. In 1881 Virgil Savini bought a brewery and opened it as Ristorante Milano Savini in 1884. The dining room and conservatory are very elegant and have been frequented over the years by many famous people, including Giuseppe Verdi, Gioacomo Puccini, Arturo Toscanini, Maria Callas, Charlie Chaplin, Prince Rainier and Princess Grace (Kelly) of Monaco, Frank Sinatra, Henry Ford, Ava Gardner, Erich Maria Remarque and Lana Turner to name just a few.
The restaurant prides itself in using only the finest and freshest ingredients from all over Italy. If you choose for example a Bellini, the peaches are sourced from a farmer's market in Sicily. They are hand cut and pureed at the premises.
Our own experience was good, and we recommend you visit Savini, when you are in Milan. It started with a slight disappointment, though. We were craving something sweet at around 13.00 hours, so we went into the restaurant and asked for a table. It's a classy establishment, but with a relaxed atmosphere. Unfortunately there was only lunch service available, so we checked out, if we could come back later. Tea and Coffee was served from 15.00 hours. We whiled a few hours away at La Rinascente, the department store.
When we returned we were seated at a more private space inside the restaurant. If you want to be seen, you need a table in the conservatory. For us it was just right. We prefer privacy and a quieter place anyway.
The patisserie offers a wide selection of delectable desserts and cakes. Deciding what to choose was difficult. My better half spied one of his favorite desserts: ice cream or sorbets with fruit salad. Again there were at least six different ice cream sorts and sorbets to choose from. He was in a bend what to take. After discussing with me the issue, he made up his mind.
Soon a waiter arrived to take our order. EW had a hot chocolate, tangerine and forest berry sorbet with fruit salad. I chose Cappuccino and a tiramisu. I wanted a comparison between the one we had had at the Hyatt (see review) and this one. Unfortunately there was a very small glitch. Even though, the restaurant employs a lot of staff, it still seems to be too few. They are too busy for their own good, and mistakes happen, when too much is going on. Another waiter arrived with my coffee, my better half's hot chocolate and his dessert, but there was no sight of the tiramisu. We waited for a few minutes, thinking, because the tiramisu was coming from the patisserie and not from the kitchen, I might still get it without reminding one of the waiters. Unfortunately I was really forgotten. The waiter apologized. After a short wait I had my dessert as well. While the Hyatt has a modern version, Savini's is traditional. The tiramisu was shaped like a flower and dusted with cocoa. Both were very tasty, and I would eat each one again. The Cappuccino was strong and hot, just perfect. I tried his hot chocolate, which was rich, and the sorbets. They were intense in flavor and delicious. He liked my dessert too. When we asked for the bill, it arrived promptly and was 60 Euro / 77 USD.
Some comment in regards to the staff: They are friendly, make you feel welcome and are unobtrusive. All encountered were fluent in English.
Savini has also a gift shop on the first floor.
I hope you liked what you have read so far. Happy travels!
©2012
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