Hotel (Albergo) Giardino*** - Ascona, Switzerland (Ticino)
Ristorante Ostgeria Giardino

Peter and Linda D'Aprix 2002

When you are in Ascona or even Locarno nearby, and you lust after a good quality, authentic Italian meal, then head directly to Ristorante Ostgeria Giardino. The food is well prepared and very even in quality, made with good quality ingredients and all are tastey and filling. They are essentially simple dishes but prepared with sophistication. The menu changes monthly, each month featuring a different region of Italy. The seating is limited to 40 so do make a reservation early during the high season.

The colors of the restaurant are a warm combination of yellows, bleached reds and terra cota, so even on a chilly rainy day like we were enjoying, the atmosphere was warm as was the service.

Fresh ravioli with new, white cheese and asparagus and pine nuts in Olive oil.		The private patio.
Ostgerian dining room.		Quail stuffed with wild mushrooms and Barba di frate.
Click on Photos where the mouse turns into a hand for bigger versions.
© 2002 photos Peter D'Aprix

The restaurant is one of the two restaurants of the five star Relais et Chateaux hotel Hotel (Albergo) Giardino. Their other restaurant, The Aphrodite, is also a good restaurant but is far less even in their quality and more expensive. They share the same kitchens but not the same chefs.

The dining room is filled with light from the glass vaulted ceiling. The white and yellow striped canopy adds warmth to the light in poor weather and filters the sun when it is hot. There is a charming walled terrace outside where meals are served in fine weather.

Our menu featured dishes from the Piedmont region. There were many choices on the menu but I started with an excellent vegetable/cereal soup that was marvelously country and yet anything but heavy handed (photo below). Linda went with the green asparagus with pine nuts and Zibello ham. We could have chosen Beef carpaccio with celery, a warm seafood salad, or the tomato salad with buffalo mozzarella. But there was much more to come so we held off.

A palate teaser with three tastes. Garlic Paste, Green and Black Olives, Sundried Tomato Paste		Entrance to the Italian Restaurant Ostgerian
Statue		Soup of various cereals, vegetables and roasted rosemary bread.

Next was an excellent fresh white cheese (Fromage Blanc to the French) ravioli with asparagus and pine nuts (see photo) while Linda had the green asparagus cream soup with shrimp (she loves appetizers). While I had the roast quail stuffed with wild mushrooms and rosemary roast potatoes (see photo) which was good but a touch gamey for my taste, Linda enjoyed the fish of the day which was a Dorade Royale simply grilled with roasted rosemary potatoes and fresh spring vegetables.

For red meat eaters, the beef fillet in a Parmesan crust looked good as did the veal steak with wild asparagus, artichokes and red wine sauce and the roasted saddle of lamb with chards, ham and garlic sauce looked very edible. Fish lovers would like the Perch filled with shallots, raisins and wild thyme or the Angler fish with a sauce of marinated tomatoes, olives and capers.

By dessert time, it was dark so no photos, sorry. But while the choices were limited to three, they were all excellent. Cooked amaretto cream pudding with strawberries, white Torrone parfait with chocolate and bitter orange salad or Rhubarb cake with Moscato d'Asti ice cream.

The restaurant shares the excellent wine cellar with the Aphrodite so the choices are excellent. We love the dry, crisp white wines of the Ticino made from red wine grapes. The "Guido Brivio" which is a white Merlot was a perfect match for the meal.