A must visit if you come to Bellagio or Varenna. The food was delicious and beautifully presented and the atmosphere was so serene. We had the risotto, Salmerino crudo and the lake fish of the day which was incredible. Carlo has a strong vision here which he is executing perfectly. We closed our eyes to savour every dish. Can’t recommend this place enough.

This place… wow. Nestled in some ancient back alley in a random mountain town, the vision of one young chef came to life for my wife and I on our honeymoon. If you want a top-notch romantic experience in a local hidden gem, get reservations immediately. The ambiance was delightful and beyond cosy. Candlelight, rock walls, and with SIX tables inside only, you know you’ll be cared for. We asked our eager and friendly server to just feed us, choose everything from the wine to the food, and he was more than happy to. As for the dishes, they were at best 10 out of 10. At worst, 7 out of 10. He uses very local ingredients, from fish from Lake Como to herbs in their garden. The salmon carpaccio and egg appetizer were mind-blowing. It came with homemade bread, which we happily used for the sauces. Next we had the goat cheese risotto and celery pesto on homemade pasta with sausage, and this is where we should have stopped our meal. It was already too much food with the appetizers and we wanted to eat every last bit, but had to pace ourselves for two more “secondi” plates. The main courses were “lake fish” with bacon(?), which could have used a bit more punchy flavor, and venison, which was luxurious. For dessert, we found where the chefs adventurous spirit took risks, but sadly didn’t pay off. A crème brûlée with arugula salad on top, which was confusing, and a marmalade cake, which was fine but forgettable. It hurts to put a 4 star on food, because the effort and expertise deserves more, but when the big risks don’t land, one must be honest. I STRONGLY recommend this place, and we can’t wait to see what his menu will have next time we visit Lago di Como.

Probably our favorite meal while visiting nearby Varenna. Atmosphere is intimate and beautiful. Service exceptional. Menu is always changing - everything was delightful. We had: - an appetizer special of over easy egg with some kind of cheese(?), breadcrumb, balsamic. Forget exactly, super delicious. If you're ever offered a special just take it! - pasta with hazelnut butter, sausage, pumpkin and coffee - risotto with beetroot, alpine taleggio and rocket - grilled lake fish - creme brulee My favorite was the pasta - fresh and house made, buttery, nutty! My wife loved the egg appetizer. You can't go wrong. Getting there - it would not be an easy walk from Varenna. If you have a car it seemed decent enough to park but we took a taxi. Get reservations! Not to be missed.

I would have given 6 stars if I could. We had the best evening at this little gem of a restaurant. Not only were the staff super friendly and accommodating (even with our dog), but they were also proactive in providing us guidance to get to the restaurant (which is hidden away quite well ;)) an hour before our booking. We were so pleasantly surprised and that was before we even had any of the food. Which was…wow. Just wow. Brilliantly simple, but exquisite at the same time. Throughout the evening the service was outstanding. So so happy we found and tried Semi di Grano! Grazie mille!

This was the best food we had our entire trip in Italy!! The service was wonderful, and everyone was so friendly. We talked to the staff for a little while, and they are so kind. The food was absolutely amazing. The Crème Brûlée was the best I’ve ever had in my life. The whole atmosphere was calm and very well put together. This place is a must visit!!

This is a lovely, hidden gem. The food and wines were exquisite, service very friendly and competent. The restaurant is relatively small which makes the experience more personal. I can only recommend to dine out at Semi di grano.

Great little spot in the hills by varenna and Bellano. The food was inventive and unique but tasty. There was a really great vibe in the courtyard where they had used old wine bottles as lights beneath vibes and between ancient buildings. The service was great, the wine list was massive and the menu had dishes to cover off all tastes. The atmosphere would have been unbeatable but unfortunately there was quite a loud family who didn’t really have control over their kids. This is no fault of the restaurant but it really turns a romantic moment into a frantic moment. The highlights for me was the crudo and the celery pesto pasta. I feel the asparagus could have been a 10/10 but the asparagus tasted a bit over cooked to me. The pasta was made so well, cooked to perfection and had flavours I had never tasted on pasta before! Hats off to the team here such an amazing vibe and a really good option if you’re looking for something beyond the lakeside tourist traps.

The place will go down as a core memory of a month long European vacation… Every star well deserved (maybe one day a Michelin)- this is place punches way above its weight class. I went here for Sunday lunch, you can make reservations - no doubt it will be mandatory with as good as it is. I asked for the link via Google Chat. There is a small reservation fee that is deducted from the bill. We drove over from Perlee, about 2-3km to the south. I wouldn’t recommended to walk from Varenna unless you’re part goat. The elevation gain is about 400 meters or 1,300 feet. I suspect there is a bus or taxi. Once at the car parking area there is a series of small signs and white lanterns that wind you through a series of alleys leading you to the restaurant. We sat outside where sunbeams cut through the swaying overhead grapevines that shade the outside section. The menu has just enough and not too much listed. You will realize why it is brief, as everything that comes out is perfect. The wine list is sizable. We had the following: Charred Salad seems like something Chef Francis Mallman conjured up it was great. The Berry Risotto will have you asking about the cheese and learning how to emulsify berries to try to recreate it at home. The Rabbit was the best I have ever had. A great reduction with a wonderfully caramelized onion. It will have you buying beagle dog so you can hunt them and try to recreate it. The Blueberry Yogurt Cake is one of the few times you can say moist and it be appropriate. The Italian espresso also hit the spot.