For a leisurely lunch on a clear day in Spring, Summer or the fall, consider Trattoria San Salvatore above Massino Visconti in the Alto Vergante above Stresa and the lake. http://www.trattoriasansalvatore.it/. It is not off the beaten path, but it is at the end of the beaten path. How to get there: go up from Stresa towards the Autostrada, but do not get on. Instead proceed toward Carpugnino and Brovello and then Massino Visconti. You are on SP 38 going towards Nebbiuno. After you go through Massino Visconti, just after you have threaded the narrow one way street, there is a right, well marked to San Salvatore, just before the commuter parking lot. Go up the road, past the Camelot riding stables, and keep following the signs until you turn up a narrow road and up and down until you find yourself in a open parking area across from some rustic buildings. Park there and walk up to the restaurant or the church (began ca. 1350) and the shrines. The restaurant is built onto the lake face of the church. Once you are on the terrace of the restaurant and walk to the front, you will understand what the phrase “location, location, location” means.

Most people we have seen here are from the Alto Vergante, that area above the lake at the level of the Autostrada, from Invorio to Brovello. And most of the young men around the west side of the lake will admit it is number one “first date when you get the car” place. People eat there because of the view and because the prices are very reasonable and the servings are generous. And in the evening, it is rustic romantic. If you are two, order for one. All food is served family style. They have good antipasto, pasta and risotto, and then a variety of meat dishes. No menu, they will tell you what is being served. If you are averse to horse, let them know because one of the sausages is equine. And if you are averse to rabbit, avoid coniglio. House wines, but they also have a very short list of wines by the bottle. And they do have deserts.

You come here to relax and for the view and to impress your companion. You can see the lakes of Varese and up and down Lago Maggiore. And at night you can see the lights of Malpensa and watch the planes taking off. Drive very very carefully on the way down.

Thank you so much Tony... What a gorgeous spot.

This seems like an ideal place for a larger group of travelers, or maybe for at the end of a day trip away, or just to escape summer heat higher in the hills.

Look forward to more information from Tony in the future, and in the meantime, here again is the link for Trattoria San Salvatore.