Antica Trattoria della Pila – Mala Milanese in Como

Our cooking buddies will be taking a trip to Como this Fall and are looking for some different and interesting places that are not on the beaten path. I looked into my backpack of places to eat, made a few phone calls and talked with some friends. One restaurant that kept coming up is the Antica Trattoria della Pila in Como. This restaurant is run by a couple of true Brianzoli offering a great traditional recipes of Lombardia and an atmosphere that is difficult to find.

The 60s in Italy were contentious. They were years of great change and social strife. Economic growth was at unprecedented levels resulting in an ever-expanding wealth differential between the very rich and the rest of the population. As the tensions grew various grass-root popular movements sprouted in the big cities. This movement was very similar to the 60s revolution at the Universities here in the US. Much like Rap music represents a certain inner-city culture the music of the Mala represented the social struggles in Milan and the hinterland.

Great musicians like Ornella Vannoni, Alda Merini, and Nanni Svampa immortalized, with passionate performances, the local bars and osterie, the fights between the youth and the police, and the political ideology of the Mala.

The Antica Trattoria della Pila takes you back to those years. Live performers croon in Milanese dialect while dinner is typical Milanese and Brianzolo cuisine. Fresh onions in sweet and sour sauce, onion soup in loaf bread, and casseoula, served in a rustic atmosphere of simple tables and epic items scattered around the hall. The cheese tray is impressive, in line with Milanese tradition, and the wine cellar is well supplied with medium quality wines at a reasonable price.

This is a step back into the 60s in Milan, with local comfort foods, great entertainment and an all round fantastic evening. Make reservations you will most likely need them.

Antica Trattoria Della Pila
Via Pila 6 - 22100 Como (CO)
tel. 031302343

Tags: Como Italian Restaurants Lombardia Italian Culture Travel Italy