Il Giardino di Cannero - Ristorante con pizzeria - Cannero Riviera, Province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola

Louise C.

We visited this charming Italian restaurant with a party of 12 and no booking—no small feat. To our delight, they managed to seat us promptly (although one setting was initially missing, and quickly remedied), setting the tone for what became one of the best meals we’ve had in Italy.

Ambience & Atmosphere
The energy was instantly amplified by the live music—beautifully tuned and pleasantly integrated into the evening’s flow, it transformed dinner into a memorable experience.

Service
The service was a mixed bag—but in an understandable, human way. Our waitress, though initially caught up in the bustle, took the time to attend to us more fully once the restaurant eased up. Communication was occasionally a challenge, but honestly? That’s on us—our imperfect Italian likely played a role. It felt fair-minded and respectful to recognize that, and not expect everyone to speak English.

Food & Value
The food was worth every euro. Elevated, flavorful, and executed with care, it exceeded expectations—enough to justify its higher price point. Considering we spent about €350 for 12 people (including dessert for six children, with no kids’ menu offered), it felt like a hearty but delicious splurge, and the quality more than lived up to the cost.

Final Thoughts & Recommendation
In balance, the positive aspects—live music, excellent cuisine, flexible seating despite a large group, and responsive service—far outweighed the minor hiccups. For anyone seeking an authentic and lively dining experience in Italy (especially in a moment when booking wasn’t an option), this place comes highly recommended. Just plan ahead, bring your Italian phrasebook (even if it’s a few key words), and soak in the atmosphere.

ingo E.

Nothing but a great dinner experience . Food was delicious and nicely served. The staff was very friendly and reacted fast. The restaurant has a nice terrace . Great evening

Jonnie P.

Delicious food and wine with attentive service in a relaxed atmosphere. Highly recommended.

Ramon D. K.

We were staying in B&B Zagara (same owner) and we decided to eat at their restaurant and were pleasently surprised. The staff is friendly, professional and provide good service. The food is maybe even better.

The first day we had Steak Tartare as a starter, my wife ordered an octopus and I ordered a steak. The Steak Tartare was the best I had in years and the rest was great too.

The next day, I decided to keep it simple and ordered Lasagne and a pizza. Prepared with fresh ingredients and also a "simple" dish was excellent.

Highly recommended if you stay in the area.

Katherine

Vegetarian food is an after-thought sadly (unless you want pizza which is delicious). One of the pastas (tuna pasta) was plain pasta with what tasted like mayonnaise squirted over it (tasted of nothing and cost €18!).
Lovely atmosphere and great pizzas but unfortunately wouldn't go back as a vegetarian if you don't want pizza.

Janet B.

Really nice restaurant with great food and the Tiramisu is to die for. Strongly recommend to visit.

Joost V. D. H.

We went for dinner two times here now.
Tonight we went with four persons for dinner as a walk-inn, same as previous time at around 19:30. Both of the times we were seated immediately! 🙂
As for this evening, I really loved the food and atmosphere was great.. Accompanying with a little breeze of air. You can tell they paid a lot of attention to their dishes according to their e.g. the dish presentation and table lay-out. Went to many other restaurants in Cannero, but this one stands above most of them! This is definitely WORTH the visit! Price range is average. Pizza's are cheap as most other restaurants, but other dishes are more worth trying. The gnocchi as a starter with beet is the best gnocchi I've ever tasted. As a main a had the mixed fried seafood. Tried a few new things such as octopus and it was delicious.. Service is great, the staff enjoyed their work and therefore creating a positive guest experience. A point of improvement is to focus on empty glasses, it can be definitely a way to create more turnover. Both of our visits we had to ask for it ourselves when they served the dishes for example. Other than that we are happy to return someday! Thank you and would recommend a visit!!

Joost van den Heuvel

Catalin A.

Lovely experience. Friendly staff and good, quality food. Wine well chosen as well!