As they say “Don’t judge a book by its cover” in the same way if you pass through Via Montecuccoli in Milan you may not be impressed by this street or for that matter the Bande Nere neighbourhood but when you enter the restaurant Luogo di Aimo e Nadia situated on this street the chance of loving the traditional food offered and being impressed by it is very high. Situated in a nondescript neighbourhood Luogo di Aimo e Nadia is a very popular restaurant which draws its patrons from far and wide including more affluent areas of Milan. It has been rated both by Michelin and by the Gambero Rossi Guides for its excellent food.

There is a wide range of excellent dishes and if you are looking for traditional tasty Italian food this is one of the best restaurants to visit. It does not offer fancy fusion cooking or an avant garde setting but offers very tasty food. This automatically makes lovers of good food to make the effort to dine here. It has such a high reputation for its gastronomic delights that you can find many of the upper class Milanese making the ride all the way across the city to experience its delightful and traditional yet innovative Italian dishes.

Luogo di Aimo e Nadia is run by the husband and wife team of Aimo and Nadia with some help from their daughter Stefania. It is a family run restaurant and has a long and interesting history. Aimo reached Milan when he was around thirteen and began work as a dish washer in restaurants. With a sense of dedication over the years he opened Luogo di Aimo e Nadia. As his reputation grew the list of clientele became wider and his reach and fame got his restaurant rated in guides – Gambero Rosso 86 (Kitchen52), a single Michelin Star and Espresso 17/20.

Luogo di Aimo e Nadia started as a simple restaurant and through the decades has become a restaurant for fine dining. Despite all these accolades although Aimo has refurbished the interiors he has not shifted its location to the more elegant and expensive areas in Milan. Such is his reputation for excellent food that his loyal customers come to his restaurant and enjoy their favourite dishes. Aimo manages to add a creative touch to traditional Tuscan fare and not only preserves its authenticity but also adds that extra special element which makes patrons come back again and again to visit this restaurant. At Luogo di Aimo e Nadia they prepare every dish using the freshest and best of ingredients sourced from all over Italy and add their special factor of ‘love’ and a personal touch to make their food special.

Luogo di Aimo e Nadia seats forty guests and it is extremely advisable to book your table in advance. It has an elegant ambience with round tables with elegant deep blue upholstered wooden chairs. The tables are covered with pristine white table cloths. The crockery is bone china, the glasses are crystal and the cutlery is silver. On the walls there are paintings by the artist Paolo Ferrari. The lighting is subtle and subdued. The service is very courteous and friendly. They are attentive without being intrusive. In fact the restaurant is small enough to warrant a personal visit from Aimo or Nadia or Stefania who may be making their rounds to enquire about how much you like the food or nay other suggestions you care to make.

There are a wide variety of dishes available- both regional and seasonal. As in most Italian restaurants there is a tasting menu. It is quite a big one but if you prefer you can also order a la carte. There are so many signature dishes that whatever you choose it will be good. The freshest of ingredients are out sourced and every dish is planned meticulously before being served. You can get the best of Tuscan dishes and whether you wish for boar, porcini mushrooms, lamb, truffles, seafood, pastas, pates whatever your wish you can find it on the menu. Each course right from the appetizers upto the dessert is very very tasty and you can rest assured that although you may have to pay a fairly heavy price the food will be worth it.

There is a detailed wine list –around 200 and an experienced sommelier can help you choose the best wines to go with each course. There are a large number of Tuscan and other Italian wines as well as a few international names on the list. There is also a cigar list if you wish.

Luogo di Aimo e Nadia is generally popular and since it only offers forty covers for lunch and dinner it is advisable to book a table in advance- sometimes you have to book upto two weeks in advance. They accept all major credit cards. They are generally closed in August and ten days in January. So it is advisable to plan the visit to Luogo di Aimo e Nadia in advance to avoid disappointment.