I really like this place, but I should say that it is a slightly generous 5 stars. If 4.5 were and…read moreoption, that's what I would give it: 5 stars for ambiance and service and 4 stars for food, so why not be generous and give it a 5?! The restaurant manager, Andrea Ponnozzo, is outstanding and he has created an environment where you really feel like a personal guest. He had seen me once and recognized me walking around town in Ascona - when does that happen? The service is attentive and personal without being overbearing. The space is wonderful - a modern dining area that overlooks the lake and is not too crowded. There is a nice bar in the restaurant if you want to get a drink before dinner. The food was excellent. I had the Ticino oxtail ravioli and the Capretto, both of which were perfectly done. For dessert I had the Seven Ice coffee, which was a creative twist on a classic. Overall it was a great experience and I would highly recommend it.

I might go out on a limb here and say this was (one of) the best meals I've ever had in…read moreSwitzerland. Don't get me wrong, it was horrifically expensive (350 CHF for two, with one glass of wine!) but actually the food was really very good - by far the best high-end restaurant food I've had in Switzerland - and the service was charming, if occasionally abrupt. Nothing like the rude, slamming down on the table style of Zurich. We decided to not go with the 'surprise menu' and opted instead for a starter, first course and second course... and then we caved and had dessert too! We had: Starters: Foie Gras variation, Potato Mousse with white truffles - both divine! First course: Prosecco & Wild Mushroom Risotto, Pumpkin Variation - fabulously dense rice and loved the pumpkin soup poured over all the other other yummy pumpkin bits Second Course: Bison - amazingly tender and buttery - with red cabbage, Lamb with polenta and aubergine - not bad, not mind blowing though Dessert: Nougat Souffle with redcurrant sauce (for two) - decadent but pleasantly light and so moreish. All in all we spent around 350 CHF, which is about what we've paid elsewhere in Switzerland, but this time I actually think it was almost worth it. It's no Per Se but it's certainly worth a visit and the delightful lakeside setting in pretty Ascona is lovely.

Cool but casual place on the lake at Ascona. The food and service were both excellent. I would…read morerecommend the braised pork cheek (Maiale), with a Ticino Merlot of course!

We have been customers for a few years, but the last few times it was so disappointing that we will…read moreavoid it in the future. Who waits for a simple pizza for 1 hour? For the price asked you should expect a better food and service. Last Saturday lunch after New Years we had a reservation and got seated next to another couple, although most of the other tables were still without guests. No privacy at all! We asked for other seats and got reseated, but pity we were then sitting under the cold blowing AC and that in January! Brrr! Other guests were also complaining that it was too cold so we asked to switch off the AC and they did. No wonder the staff is wearing thermo jackets in the restaurant! When the restaurant door opens, it opens very wide and lot's of cold air gets into the resto. The best is, when they wait in the open door and shout back at the counter to ask something or new arriving groups can't decide to wait either in or outside. Let's continue with our experience that day. The very good salad "stagionale" came very fast and was delicious. For the following pizza we waited for an hour, seeing all later arrived guests finishing up their pizza. We got so angry that we asked for the bill in the end and payed for the 2 drinks and the salad (24.-). No free drinks offered! About the food: What we really liked was the pumpkin soup. What we didn't like at all was the "salmerino" (poached char). It was so strongly flavored with herbs that you couldn't taste the fish anymore and it was slightly undercooked. The tagliolini pasta with white truffle came one day perfect but a month later first undercooked and when it came back the second time with clots in the sauce and very salty. The very expensive Angus burger (37.-!!!) had a nice beef patty, but the coppa and mozzarella don't fit in my eyes. Horrible were the potatoe wedges and snow-white mayo that were served beside! Pizzas are good but pricey. The pizza of the week was 27.-!