Guide to the Best Ethnic Restaurants in Milan

(Michelin Guide Restaurants) | Tested by us

WICKY'S WICUISINE
JAPANESE — DESIGN The atmosphere is contemporary and understated — typical of Japanese restaurants — but the cuisine will surprise you, offering a magical marriage between Japanese classics and Mediterranean ingredients, between aesthetics and flavour. Two dining rooms: one with windows onto the street, the other with an open kitchen and sushi counter, where Wicky Pryan serves a tasting menu in the evenings for those who wish to entrust themselves to his creative flair.
Price: €€€
Corso Italia 6 — (M) Missori — 02 8909 3787 — wicuisine.it — Closed Sundays and at lunchtime on Mondays and Saturdays

ZERO MILANO
JAPANESE — MINIMALIST "Zero" compromises on attention and quality — the cuisine is based on excellent ingredients and Japanese technique and discipline. The chefs, led by Hide Shinohara, offer pure Japanese cooking, focused on maximum quality and the art of form. In the dining room you will find white onyx panels, minimalism and soft lighting, while at the classic counter, in addition to watching the chefs at work, there is also the opportunity for an improvised tasting menu.
Price: €€€
Corso Magenta 87 — (M) Conciliazione — 02 4547 4733 — zero-milano.it — Closed at lunchtime

Isola — Porta Nuova

AALTO
FUSION — CONTEMPORARY SETTING In the heart of Milan's vertical Porta Nuova district, inside Torre Solaria, in a room where stone, wood and glass create a warm and elegant atmosphere of refined design, the cuisine of chef Takeshi Iwai unfolds — cuisine he himself defines as "free to be Italian, Japanese, both, or neither". The cross-contamination between ingredients and suggestions from both countries is nonetheless evident in the tasting menus, from which individual dishes may also be ordered à la carte. "Restaurant within a restaurant": the IYO Omakase sushi counter shares the entrance with AALTO, but the spaces are distinct and the gastronomic offering bears the signature of sushi master Masashi Suzuki.
Price: €€€€
Piazza Alvar Aalto — (M) Repubblica — 02 2506 2888 — aaltorestaurant.com — Closed Tuesdays and at lunchtime

SERENDIB
INDIAN — ORIENTAL STYLE Serendib, the ancient name for Sri Lanka, means "to bring happiness" — and through a welcoming setting and a menu of typical Sri Lankan and Indian dishes, the challenge is met! The tasting menu is recommended, especially on a first visit, to explore the various specialities.
Price: €
Via Pontida 2 — (M) Moscova — 02 659 2739 — serendib.it

FINGER'S GARDEN
FUSION — FASHIONABLE A venue with an oriental atmosphere, soft lighting and a distinctly cosmopolitan clientele. Chef-patron Roberto Okabe moves effortlessly between raw fish preparations and original fusion creations, with the occasional Brazilian touch. The more adventurous diner will trust themselves to his freestyle tasting menu.
Price: €€€
Via Keplero 2 — (M) Sondrio — 02 606544 — fingersrestaurants.com — Closed at lunchtime Monday to Saturday

OSAKA
JAPANESE — MINIMALIST On the lively Corso Garibaldi but tucked away in a small gallery, a venue of sober minimalist atmosphere where the counter showcases the chef's respectful precision in slicing fish. At lunchtime the set menu format prevails; in the evening the full menu is offered, including the sukiyaki — a festive and convivial dish par excellence, a kind of fondue in which meat and vegetables are cooked in broth in a pot placed at the table, shared by all diners.
Price: €€€
Corso Garibaldi 68 — (M) Moscova — 02 2906 0678 — milanoosaka.com — Closed Mondays

PACIFICO
PERUVIAN — BISTRO Soft lighting and a cool atmosphere in the mixology area, a modern dining room and a cuisine that nods towards a gastronomic style defined by Peruvian flavours infused with Asian influences. Excellent choice of tacos and ceviche, as well as grilled meat and fish dishes.
Price: €€€
Via Moscova 29 — (M) Moscova — 02 8724 4737 — wearepacifico.com — Closed Mondays and at lunchtime

Centrale Station

DIM SUM
CANTONESE — CONTEMPORARY SETTING In a refined and hushed environment with part of the kitchen on view, you will have the delightful opportunity to savour Cantonese and southern Chinese specialities. The dim sum — traditional small dishes of meat, fish, vegetables and eggs that define this gastronomic tradition — are gently elevated by a subtle contemporary touch. An immersive Asian dining experience.
Price: €€€
Via Nino Bixio 29 — (M) Porta Venezia — 02 2952 2821 — dimsummilano.com — Closed Mondays

MOEBIUS SPERIMENTALE
CREATIVE — TRENDY A former textile warehouse has been transformed into one of Milan's most striking venues, in a modern industrial-chic style, articulated across three areas: a cocktail bar with an impressive gin selection, a tapas-bistro and a fine dining restaurant. The latter is housed in a glazed room, dramatically suspended at the centre of the space. Enrico Croatti's creative and intriguing cuisine is based on sharing, with a series of tapas-style dishes.
Price: €€€€
Via Cappellini 25 — (M) Centrale FS — 02 3664 3680 — moebiusmilano.it — Closed Mondays and at lunchtime

MU DIMSUM
CONTEMPORARY CHINESE — FASHIONABLE An elegant oriental atmosphere in this restaurant led by owner Suili Zhou, who with refinement and determination brings to life the most authentic traditions of her country's gastronomic culture. An interesting tea menu — served with traditional ritual at the table — and a selection of Italian sparkling wines and Champagne.
Price: €€
Via Aminto Caretto 3 — (M) Centrale FS — 338 358 2658 — mudimsum.it

Porta Romana — Porta Vittoria

GONG
CHINESE — ORIENTAL STYLE East meets West in a harmonious fusion of flavours: this is Gong, which, in addition to lending its name to the venue, positions impressive gongs throughout the modern, elegant dining room. Attentive and considerate service, always willing to explain the various delicacies, brings to the table free-form and avant-garde Chinese recipes. The attention to aesthetics and rigorous selection of raw materials convey in every dish the international spirit of this style of cuisine, of which Gong is an undisputed ambassador.
Price: €€€€
Corso Concordia 8 — (M) Tricolore — 02 7602 3873 — gongoriental.com — Closed Mondays and Tuesday lunchtime

ICHIKAWA
JAPANESE — SIMPLE Ichikawa is one of the masters who has done most to introduce and promote Japanese cuisine in Italy. Two options are available: a tasting menu (served at the counter, with greater interaction with the chef) or à la carte. The omakase menu features the master's creations based on the inspiration of the day; alternatively, the "constants" of the regular menu. The courteous and professional service is well acquainted with the chef's techniques and secrets.
Price: €€€
Via Lazzaro Papi 18 — (M) Porta Romana — 02 4775 0431 — ichikawa.it — Closed Mondays, Sundays and at lunchtime except Saturdays

Navigli

BENTŌTECA
FUSION — CONTEMPORARY SETTING Great success for this venue by talented chef Yogi Tokuyoshi, who after earning 1 Michelin Star with his fine dining restaurant pivoted in 2020 towards a smarter proposition. The dishes harmonise Japanese flavours and Italian aromas with great skill and creativity. Among the chef's classics: Katsusando, a Japanese sandwich served with fried tongue. Excellent, excellent cooking prepared with energy, very informal service and natural wines by the glass.
Price: €€
Via San Calocero 3 — (M) Sant'Agostino — 340 835 7453 — bentoteca.com — Closed Mondays, Tuesdays and at lunchtime on Wednesdays and Thursdays

HAZAMA
JAPANESE — CONTEMPORARY SETTING Japanese cuisine in a small restaurant with a minimalist mood that echoes the kitchen itself. It is here that young chef Satoshi Hazama offers a kaiseki journey crafted from the highest quality ingredients. Kaiseki cuisine employs five basic techniques applied to seasonal produce: raw, grilled, fried, boiled and steamed, in a crescendo of intensity that embodies the pinnacle of Japanese gastronomy. Advance booking essential.
Price: €€€€
Via Savona 41 — (M) Porta Genova — 02 0995 5972 — ristorantehazama.com — Closed Mondays

City Life — Sempione

IYO
JAPANESE — DESIGN The cuisine at the refined IYO draws on Japanese gastronomic culture but transcends it through interpretations that take account of Italian tastes and cross-cultural influences. The particularly extensive menu lists the classic dishes one would expect in a restaurant of the Rising Sun — sushi in its most celebrated forms, sashimi and tempura, to name but a few — alongside more creative or fusion recipes, the result of original combinations of Japanese, European and other elements. Fine wine selection with around 500 labels and by-the-glass options.
Price: €€€€
Via Piero della Francesca 74 — (M) Gerusalemme — 02 4547 6898 — iyo-experiences.com — Closed Mondays and Tuesday lunchtime

BA
CHINESE — CONTEMPORARY SETTING In a sober, understated setting with raw concrete walls and large red lantern-inspired chandeliers, tradition and design merge to accompany a fine gastronomic experience at the heart of China, reinterpreted with a contemporary touch.
Price: €€€
Via Raffaello Sanzio 22 — (M) Wagner — 02 469 3206 — ba-restaurant.com — Closed Mondays and Tuesday lunchtime

North-East Urban Area

LE NOVE SCODELLE
CHINESE — WELCOMING Ethnic cuisine now found throughout Italy goes into fine detail here, as the specialities of this address draw on the rich gastronomic heritage of Sichuan province in south-western China. Spiced and spicy dishes, indicated on the menu with a "heat level" rating.
Price: €
Via le Monza 4 — (M) Loreto — 331 800 1116 — lenovescodelle.com — Closed Mondays

(Gambero Rosso Restaurants)

CASARAMEN

Via Porro Lambertenghi, 25
Tel 0239444560
Closed Mondays and Sundays all day
Covers 18
Price range €
casaramenshop.it
JAPANESE For lovers of Japan's signature dish, this is a cult address — anonymous from the street were it not for the long queue at peak times. Inside, a long communal table and a counter where ramen is prepared in four variations: classic tonkotsu (in a broth made from pork bones and meat slow-cooked for hours), the spicier "miso on fire", a vegan version and a "dry" option. Simplicity here rhymes with perfection — top-quality ingredients and meticulous technique. Bao also on offer, with a small selection of sake and a couple of Japanese beers.

CASARAMEN SUPER

Via U. Bassi, 26
Tel 0283529210
Closed never
Covers 25
Price range €
casaramensuper.it
JAPANESE Those not satisfied with the pared-back simplicity of Casa Ramen can discover a more articulate world at its spin-off, five minutes' walk away. Here, alongside four ramen versions (the vegetarian one is a cult in its own right), there is a menu where many fine Italian ingredients are combined with Japanese techniques and a sharp eye for trends — witness the bao selection. Also noteworthy are the more substantial dishes, such as "trout on fire", fried beetroot and chawamushi. The house's own Italian-made soy sauce is a well-known point of pride. Pleasant setting. Fast service. The sake selection is well worth exploring.

CITTAMANI

Piazza C. Mirabello, 5
Tel 0238240935
Closed Sundays
Covers 48
Price range €€
cittamani.com
INDIAN Among Milan's many Indian restaurants, Cittamani stands out for its ambition to elevate this great Asian country's cuisine to a higher level. Starting with the setting — elegant, bright and entirely free of the folklore that typically characterises this genre. The same applies to the dishes: refined, precise and made with quality ingredients. The menu features classic preparations executed using traditional methods with a contemporary sensibility: butter chicken and salmon tikka, or the thali with its various small tasting bowls. Excellent spiced bread and naan in various fillings. A thoughtful wine list, outstanding cocktails characterised by imaginative Italian mixology blended with Indian spices. Service occasionally a touch distracted.

DON JUAN

Via Altaguardia, 2
Tel 0258430805
Closed Monday lunchtime
Covers 100
Price range €€
ristorantedonjuan.com
ARGENTINIAN Don Juan was a pioneer of South American cuisine in Milan long before it became fashionable, built on a welcoming and characterful setting, high-quality meat and efficient service, coordinated by patrons Giorgio Beretta and Marlene Gomez. Twenty-three years on, it remains a destination for a broad clientele who love the distinctive rooms and the "parrilla" — its signature strength — from whole Angus loin for four to individual cuts and sharing dishes. The kitchen also delivers: from the many empanadas to the unmissable dulce de leche. Well-stocked cellar with the finest Argentine and Chilean reds, as well as Italian classics and an excellent sangria. Business lunch Tuesday to Friday; Sunday lunch is accompanied by a tango show.

DOU ASIAN PASSION

Piazza Napoli, 25
Tel 0249636318
Closed Mondays
Covers 76
Price range €
douasianpassion.com
ASIAN A paradise for lovers of Chinese dumplings, dim sum and xiaolongbao, who here can enjoy an elegant, minimalist setting and polite, attentive service. The star is southern Chinese cuisine crafted from selected ingredients with accomplished technique. From the menu: prawn pad thai, scallop and crab dumplings, chicken braised in coconut milk and yellow Thai curry, as well as soups, noodles, rice dishes and a broad selection of meat, fish and shellfish mains.

IL GUSTO DELLA NEBBIA

Via N. Bonnet, 11
Tel 3519866676
Closed Mondays
Covers 40
Price range €
ilgustodellanebbia.eatbu.com
CHINESE An out-of-the-ordinary spot between Corso Como and Milan's Chinatown. The undisputed star is Chongqing noodle: Chinese wheat or rice noodles, dry or in broth, enriched with an abundance of spices — especially pepper and chilli. Numerous topping options: braised beef tendon (excellent), shredded chicken in sweet and sour sauce, chicken and beef bone broth. Also the right place for small indulgences: century eggs, boiled beef tripe with sesame sauce, very spicy bao. A must for lovers of Chinese cuisine, without preconceptions.

IYO OMAKASE

Piazza Alvar Aalto
Tel 0225062828
Closed Tuesdays; dinner only
Covers 7
Price range €€€€
iyo.omakase.com
JAPANESE Clear rules, the same for everyone: one counter, eight stools, everyone starts and finishes together — friends and strangers alike — two punctual sittings at 19:00 and 21:30, and you eat whatever the chef has decided. This is the omakase formula — "chef's choice" — which others in Italy have attempted before, but never with the philological rigour and ingredient quality of this venue nestled almost like a secret restaurant within Claudio Liu's IYO and AALTO. Masashi Suzuki presents his Edomae-zuishi vision in a menu filled with what the season dictates: welcome course — soup — sashimi — shiizakana — yakimono — sushi — dessert — green tea. The liturgy unfolds in silence and intensity; the audience competes to witness it, despite the considerable cost (€185 per person, plus €85 for the wine and sake pairing).

IZU

Corso Lodi, 27
Tel 0259900221
Closed Mondays
Covers 125
Price range €€
izumilano.com
FUSION Three decades of activity have not diminished IZU's appetite for adventure — well guided by patron Jin Hu, it continues confidently along a personal style that fuses Japan, China, California, Peru (and even Italy) in dishes that are always enjoyable and beautifully presented. An extensive menu, consistently high in quality wherever you choose to fish: classics and contemporary — temaki and uramaki, sushi and sashimi, tempura and carpaccios. The creative section is where it truly shines: the house ceviche, fish & chips Tokyo-style, the pop squid. Fine wine list with sparkling options and a solid sake selection. The setting has become more elegant after renovation, with efficient service.

LON FON

Via Lazzaretto, 10
Tel 0229405153
Closed Tuesdays
Covers 60
Price range €
lonfon.it
CHINESE A historic Milanese address — among the first to offer, since 1978, consistently well-executed traditional Cantonese cuisine. The success and longevity of this establishment is down to the Tsui family, who run it with passion and experience, welcoming their many diners with great warmth. The rest is down to the quality of always-fresh ingredients and careful preparation faithful to Cantonese tradition: dumplings of every kind, wonton soup, rice noodles, Peking duck, crispy spring chicken and many other delights. An essential wine list and punctual, polite service.

MAO HUNAN RESTAURANT

Via N. A. Porpora, 5
Tel 0249787261
Closed Mondays
Covers 60
Price range €
CHINESE The many references to the Great Helmsman lend character to this small, informal venue serving the typical cuisine of Hunan province — based primarily on spiced and peppery meat dishes. The extensive menu highlights the braised pork belly, stir-fried pork with chillies and crispy ribs. Good dumplings and rice or dry-bowl noodles (with prawns, tripe or cabbage). Curiosities for the more adventurous include the intestine chips. Fish dishes also available, such as clams in bloom or crab hotpot. Warm service, consistently affordable prices.

MITÙ RESTAURANT

Via P. Castaldi, 28
Tel 0249404925
Closed Sundays; dinner only except Saturdays
Covers 55
Price range €€
mitu-restaurant.com
COLOMBIAN A pleasant venue with an evocative atmosphere, distinguished by its gastronomic offering firmly rooted in Colombian culinary tradition. Behind this restaurant is also the mind of a great footballer, Iván Ramiro Córdoba, who together with his brother has conceived every detail of the atmosphere and menu. Traditional craftsmanship, and a menu entirely made in Colombia with original and typical dishes from that land: grilled avocado with corn sauce, aji colombiano and costeño cheese; granadilla with leche de tigre and cashews; scallop ceviche with coconut and mango. Paired with well-crafted cocktails or a selection from the international wine list. Punctual service.

SEÑORIO

Via Bramante, 13
Tel 0236599315
Closed Mondays all day and Tuesday lunchtime
Covers 70
Price range €
senoriomilano.com
SPANISH It may raise a smile that a Spanish restaurant — run by Spaniards, which is evidently no coincidence — should be found in the heart of Milan's Chinatown, without making itself too conspicuous. Inside, however, is a "gastronomic patio" spread across two rooms, one of them authentically Iberian. The broad menu offers many fine things: from a perfect paella (in five varieties) to the desserts. Great fun too with the sequence of carefully curated tapas to start, alongside meat and fish dishes (including raw). A cellar showcasing the best of Iberian production, and service that takes great pride in conveying the soul of this cuisine.

VASILIKI KOUZINA

Via Clusone, 6
Tel 0294381405
Closed Mondays all day and Sunday evenings; dinner only except Sundays
Covers 50
Price range €
vasilikikouzina.com
GREEK Vasiliki Pierrakea from Kalamata set out to prove that Greek cuisine is not merely a matter of olives and tzatziki in flip-flops — and she has succeeded in establishing a venue that, while not entirely rejecting the spirit of the "taverna", elevates certain dishes to fine dining territory and reworks others with creativity. The opening board (in Halkida olive wood) is a collection of "aplistia" — various morsels such as taramasalata and tyrokafteri. Then come the fennel meatballs (marathokeftedes), the old-Athens salad with salt cod, the couscous with mussels and squid. A closing note of red fruit baklava. The wine list demonstrates that another Greece also exists in the glass.

WABY

Via Carlo De Cristoforo, 2
Tel 0283412987
Closed never
Covers 40
Price range €€€
wabyristorante.com
JAPANESE Immediate success for this new venue by Matteo Zhu, a young entrepreneur from Biella of Chinese origin, whose only shortcoming is being half-hidden in one of the lanes between Corso Como and Piazza Gae Aulenti. A sober, refined setting in the familiar style of well-regarded ethnic restaurants. High-quality ingredients animate the proposals of a rich menu — more broadly Asian than strictly Japanese — where an important role is played by the trilogy of nigiri, gunkan and uramaki. The tartares also convince — often inventive — as does the robata section for meat (Wagyu included), fish and vegetables. For the adventurous: creations such as raw tuna tagliatelle with ikura, yuzu powder and dashi, or tuna belly in nori seaweed cracker with egg cream, tobiko and Kaluga caviar. Focused cellar, outstanding sake selection.

YAPA

Viale Monte Nero, 34
Tel 0284211594
Closed Sundays; dinner only
Covers 54
Price range €€
ya-pa.com
FUSION Minimalism and an ecumenical openness to flavour. These are the guiding principles of Matteo Pancetti, a Tuscan chef who loves working with a few fine ingredients — the better to maximise flavours on the plate — through preparations inspired by techniques and recipes from around the world. The result is "Yapa" — which, translated from the native South American Quechua, means "that little something extra". The menu, conceived as "concepts" rather than preparations, is largely designed for sharing — travelling together through the cuisine — ranging across "Raw" and "Bakery", "Tempura" and "Robatayaki", "Tacos" and "Wok". A wine list in keeping, and a cocktail menu. Gentle and attentive service.

YAZAWA

Via San Fermo, 1
Tel 0236799710
Closed Sunday evenings
Covers 40
Price range €€€
yazawa.it
JAPANESE A Japanese restaurant whose offering revolves around the prized Wagyu Kuroge cattle breed (raised exclusively in the Land of the Rising Sun), presented here in cuts and preparations that allow its incomparable flavour to be fully appreciated. In particular, the yakiniku cooking method takes centre stage — grills placed at the centre of the table on which each piece is cooked to perfection. À la carte (including a light-lunch option), or one of two tasting menus for a complete and deeply satisfying journey: classic Yakiniku (€110, including starter, rice with Wagyu ragù and dessert) or Chef's Yakiniku (€150), for a broader exploration of Japanese flavours beyond those of chef Tsuyoshi Noikura. A selection of wines, Japanese beers and a solid sake list. Competent and precise service.

YOSHINOBU

Via G. Parini, 7
Tel 0236591742
Closed Saturday lunchtime and Sundays all day
Covers 34
Price range €
ristoranteyoshinobu.com
JAPANESE As the sign announces, this is the restaurant of Japanese chef-patron Yoshinobu Kurio. It is he who, with skill and experience, selects quality catch at Milan's fish market. And it is he who crafts a menu that, beyond the Japanese kitchen classics, offers variations based on whatever the season and availability dictate. In due course — and with authentic flavours — beautifully presented dishes arrive at the table: amberjack and sea asparagus sashimi; nigiri with sea bass, dentex and grouper, or with eel; maki with soft-shell crab or lobster; temaki with violet prawn. Worth trying: the Bento box (€18) for takeaway. To drink: a selection of wines, beer and sake.

YUM

Viale Coni Zugna, 44
Tel 3296114760
Closed Mondays
Covers 28
Price range €
FILIPINO A venue conceived to explore the flavours of Filipino cuisine, interpreted with a sensibility attuned to contemporary tastes. In a small, carefully decorated and tranquil room, served by friendly and approachable staff, the menu ranges with balance between land, sea and garden. Arriving at the table, well presented: pansit (the classic noodles), meat dishes (the pork roll starter is worth trying), fish (salmon in sauerkraut leaf, cooked in coconut milk), bowls of rice and vegetarian dishes (such as lumpia, rice paper rolls filled with a mix of vegetables). The cheesecake is a must. A small wine and beer selection to drink.

ZAZÀ RAMEN

Via Solferino, 48
Tel 0236799000
Closed always open, Sundays in July
Covers 100
Price range €
zazaramen.it
JAPANESE The setting is modern, elegant and lively, also hosting exhibitions and special evenings, with a 40-seat private room and a 10-seat private dining area available for events in the bright lower ground floor. The seasonal menu is entirely composed of zensai, ramen and donburi (bowls) adapted — but without betrayal — to European taste, starting with the ingredients. Calamari seasoned with shiso, soft parsnip with yuzu; then veal ramen, wheat noodles (also wholegrain, with a choice of spice level); donburi with taro curry, baby spinach and beni shoga (white rice with fruit and vegetables). Dessert: ice cream, mochi, or Japanese Pearls with salted caramel tapioca and citrus sauce. A dedicated lunch offer. Good gin, sake and Japanese beers; wines by the glass. Professional service.


OTHER GOOD ADDRESSES

TANISHKA
Via Privata Antonio Meucci, 43
Tel 3444236436
Closed Mondays; dinner only except Thursday, Friday and Saturday
tanishkaristo.com
RESTAURANT In the Cargo space, where Yum Cha previously operated, a venue offering fusion cuisine at lunchtime and Sri Lankan dishes in the evening, with a menu that changes monthly. Patron and chef is Milan Tanishka, who took over the management of the venue from the previous owners for whom he worked.

Gambero Rosso — Best restaurants in Lombardia

POPOROYA

Via B. Eustachi, 17
Tel 0229406797
Closed always open; Sundays in July
Covers 100
Price range €30 excl. wine
Credit cards MasterCard, Visa, POS
JAPANESE Hirazawa Minoru, known as Shiro, is the patron saint of Japanese cuisine in Milan. Managing since 1977 and owner since 1989 of this small venue — to which he has added a proper restaurant at number 20 with a broader and more structured offering (Shiro Poporoya) — this authentic corner of Tokyo is for true sushi lovers. It has the feel of a canteen: no reservations possible, stools scattered here and there among fridges and calendars. But Shiro's sushi, in its "jumbo" version — larger because Italians initially complained about the portions — remains a landmark. And the chirashi is peerless. Also available: sashimi, soups, yakitori, gyoza — all prepared in plain view. You order, pay, collect and eat wherever you find a spot.

Tested by us

NAY RESTAURANT
Via Pasquale Sottocorno, 17 — 20129 Milan — nayrestaurant.it
Hours: open daily, 7:00 pm – 11:00 pm; Saturday and Sunday, lunch and dinner
Tel 02 3595 9859
How many people in Milan are familiar with Lebanese cuisine? Certainly not many. According to the phone directories, the city has at least a dozen traditional restaurants offering it, following the classic formula of the family who has moved to Italy and naturally runs the place — but at Hani El Ladki's Nay the level is decidedly higher and more professional. The space is modern and elegant: art and design alike encourage a very different approach to this deconstructed cuisine, made up of 70-80% vegetables. The chef, who has just arrived, is Lebanese and brings with him a wealth of experience gained in various Middle Eastern countries.
I have to thank Chef Mazen for starting to open my eyes to this cuisine, which is genuinely new to us, presented through a series of vegetable preparations: aubergine served with a small sauce, chickpea fritters to dip in a sauce made from a secret recipe, a salad of familiar vegetables with toasted bread, and a selection of raw vegetables — radishes, cucumbers, beetroot. Everything is accompanied by an extremely light bread that, if you like, can be filled to make a small parcel, and by the national drink, arak, diluted with water. The wines, of excellent quality, are typically served by the glass as an aperitif, both at lunch and at dinner.