Il Desco

What is generally considered fine dining in downtown Verona was pioneered by Elia Rizzo, who opened Il Desco in 1981. He definitely upped the bar and set new standards of food excellence in this fabled city, introducing new techniques, select ingredients, and well-honed atmosphere and service. Making each guest’s experience unique and authentic is a vocation that Elia has passed on to his son Matteo, who basically grew up in his father’s kitchen. After training abroad, where he gained familiarity with a wealth of different food realities and cultures, Matteo returned to Italy with enough maturity to take the helm at his family’s business. It shows in Il Desco’s freshness and dynamism. The menu features an interesting mix of new recipes, international concoctions and contaminations that revisit the gastronomic heritage of the Veneto region and of Northern Italy in general. Fish is the star of the show here, in dishes like Salmon mi-cuit, Pulp Fiction scallops, Cod carbonaro with cod tripe, and Onion-and-oyster soup. Il Desco is Verona’s premiere fine dining location – not just for the high-quality gourmet cuisine. For decades, excellent service and the warm, hospitable ambiance have made this the go-to restaurant in town.