L’Antica Riva

What can I say? This is Italy. Lunch here next to Lake Como on a stormy rainy day and it still feels like paradise. Dining solo but on octopus scarpaccio, spaghetti al la ghitara with langoustines and mussels, a half bottle of chilled Arneis and smelling the flowers in the air from the area makes me forget about women (not quite actually). Very sensual day and food here is superbly fresh. Only eclipsed by the typical European professional service. And also the coziness of this ancient stone restaurant. Wow.

I ate here twice during a visit to Como. First with a group of friends, celebrating a birthday, and staff were very kind and helpful. Different courses of calamari, pasta and steak were all delicious.
Second visit sat on the lake view patio, and enjoyed an amazing braised beef, mushroom, and polenta dish, and excellent red wine. Waiter, (Moudi?) was attentive and enchanting… lovely evening!

I came here with two friends while looking for a place to eat lunch along Lake Como. They have outdoor seating with a nice view of the lake. It was quite busy on a Friday, but we still got seated immediately.
It was too hot for me to eat much, so I just got the mixed salad for EUR 8. It was supposed to come with pineapple, mozzarella, tomato, tuna, and kiwis, but I didn’t see any pineapple on my plate.
One of my friends got the fillet fish perch (from the lake) with herb (thyme) for EUR 14 and was a bit surprised that it came battered and deep-​fried. But he said it was still good.
My other friend got Tris fish (salmon carpaccio, octopus, shell prawns, American sauce) for EUR 10. The cold octopus looked a bit scary, but they were sliced thin and she said it was good.