'Fast-Food' Options In Stresa

Saturday, September 28, 2013

'Fast-Food' Options In Stresa

4:35 PM |

Dana Kaplan, Stresa Sights |

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A reader wanted to know places that she could pick up 'fast food', that is, quick food to grab and eat on the go for her and her kids, without having to sit down in a restaurant. I had touched on the subject earlier in the summer, in this post, about the little take-away sandwich shop called Cicinin Panini al Metro.

Now, Stresa doesn't have any true fast-food restaurants. And the places where you can find just a bite of food to go are not always easily recognizable as such from the outside. But if you want to grab a sandwich to eat later, or a quick slice of pizza to bring to a bench, here are some ideas:

The just-mentioned Cicinin Panini al Metro. This easy-to-spot little shop is located at the entrance to Piazza Cadorna, where via P. Tomaso and via Roma meet. Here you can get little subway-style sandwiches, 10 cm each, as many as you like! Different fillings listed on the board, sodas and drinks too. If you have a few moments they have cute seating upstairs.

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Pizzeria il Capriccio has also been written about before on this blog, in this post. The sign above the door says Pizza al trancio. Trancio means by the slice. Their pizzas are fresh and good, slices are large and always available in several flavors, or, you can order a pie with toppings of your choice and wait a few minutes on the bench outside or chairs inside. Drinks are also available from a cold case inside the shop. There is even a plastic child's picnic table for little ones. The post about Capriccio also has a short list of handy translated words and phrases. Pizzeria il Capriccio is off of Piazza Cadorna on via A.M. Bolongaro, 6.

Sheet pizzas, focaccia, and many other breads are found at il Fornaio, the bakery located in Piazza Capucci, just steps away from the door of La Lombarda. Everything is baked fresh on the premises. This shop is a daily stop for many Stresa residents, and it's become a favorite for many of our guests staying at La Lombarda; they often mention getting morning pastries there as well as snacks all day long. You should make yourself aware of this bakery.

Gastronomia Salti in Bocca, on via A.M. Bolongaro in the cute little yellow building that you may have noticed, is a little different from the previously mentioned shops. This is a new concept in Stresa -- prepared meals to take away. Each day this shop prepares a different menu of entrees and side dishes, ready to heat and eat. They can rewarm foods for you in the shop if you need, or if you don't have a way to warm things where you are staying. There is no dining in this shop. The daily menu is posted on the window, but there are also always specials or unposted items. For those of you staying in apartments, this is a nice way to easily have yourself a genuine, home-cooked Italian meal, in your home-away-from-home.

At least now you won't go hungry! I've specifically kept this to shops where you can quickly buy something to take with you. The next step up from this, but still easier than a restaurant, would be the many coffee bars around Stresa, many of which offer light and inexpensive fare at simple tables, or ask them to wrap something to go.

But another good option to not forget is the Carrefour supermarket. Carrefour is well aware of the many tourists they cater to, and I notice more and more good options on the shelves. This summer I noticed pre-made sandwiches and salads; grab some of those, a fruit and a yogurt, or some bread and cheese, and you can have some great bring-along foods.