Ristorante Ratanà – Authentic Milanese Italian Cuisine in the Heart of Milan

An exceptional experience — at all levels. I was dining alone after an emergency cancel by a friend, but I wanted still to try many of the unique menu items. So I ordered … a lot! :-) My server, graciously, said “that’s a lot, what if I bring you half portions?” Problem solved! Every dish I tried was uniquely exceptional, from the very first grissini w/fresh veggies, to the last, an immaculate chocolate dessert that I would count among the most perfect desserts I’ve experienced. The service was particularly thoughtful: multiple servers all seemingly tuning into my needs. I was doing wines by the glass, and the three recommendations were exact. (An amaro to close, too!) I’m surprised to see one or two bad reviews about the service. My experience was over-the-top fantastic. I don’t know, maybe they took heart over the solo old dude, but I felt almost part of the family. Even the kitchen staff seemed to weigh in with me. I’ve been here before, for another exceptional experience and that effort was repeated again. I’ll be back and, yes, the chef did stop to say hello. (I had brought a very small food gift.) FYI, because everything on the menu looked good: I had the radicchio salad (a wildly perfect conglomeration of melded ingredients), the thick onion soup, and stuffed chicken thigh. Plus, yikes!, that chocolate dessert. I don’t usually rave about desserts, but this one … ! Two dollops of creamed chocolate with a little divot in each, filled with complementary oil, all doused in huge grains of crunchy salt, all surrounded by crispy thin (chocolate-chip? Fig?) toasts. Yum, at all levels. Everything and everyone.

It's rare for cuisine to live up to expectations, let alone exceed them, but Ratana accomplished it. The trout was sublime. The risotto was the greatest I've had anywhere—utterly perfect texture and balance between richness and brightness from the gremolata. The cutlet, with its simple potato/chicory/fried sage accompaniment, also could not have been better. My one minor nitpick: while I like the look of the wall of wine, I'd rather see the nicer bottles stored in a cooler place. That aside, I'd be happy if I could eat here once a week for the rest of my life.

I want to love Milano - truly I do! In my experience it's a wonderful city for fashion, but not so much for food. That all changed when I visited Ratanà in Milan’s financial and business hub, about 30 minutes’ walk north of the centro storico, amidst a sea of modern glass skyscrapers. In an historic building in a beautiful regenerative urban green space, Cesare Battisti and his team are serving some of the most delicious, inspired food I've had anywhere. I had a perfect solo seat at the counter, the ideal place to watch the action and chat to a fellow solo diner. My waiter Ali arranged a menu of four half portions so I could experience as much as possible. Deep-fried zucchini and blossoms with pecorino and a burnt lemon and basil mayo was the perfect start with a glass of Franciacorta. Shout out to THE BEST house-made grissini used to dip up the last of that mayo! Ali insisted I have the traditional risotto Milanese with gremolata and roast juices. So glad I listened, it's a great dish on its own but the pairing with Fratelli Ferrero Nebbiolo is one of the best combos I've ever tasted! The nebbiolo worked pretty well with the vitello tonnato too, a super creamy tuna mayo and salty little capers for added pop! I was ready to quit, but Ali pushed me on to try a local creamed goat cheese with a deconstructed sbrisolona crumble and sauce made from American (foxy) grapes - WOW! Thank goodness for that 30 minute walk back to the hotel! I'll be back next year for the 5-course dego with paired wines. Love the sense of fun in their freshwater fish compilation menu titles too (some take a bit of thought). Thank you Cesare Battisti, Ali and team for helping me find a reason to love Milano!

We visited Ratanà as a couple between 7:00 and 9:00 pm and had an excellent overall experience. The atmosphere is elegant yet relaxed, making it easy to enjoy the evening without feeling rushed. The food was well executed, with clean flavors and high-quality ingredients. The dessert, panettone with mascarpone, was outstanding and a perfect way to end the meal. We paired our dinner with a Nebbiolo, which matched the food beautifully. Service was polite, professional, and discreet. A small but very meaningful detail really stood out: when I stepped outside for a cigarette and it was cold, the owner personally came out and turned on the outdoor heaters. That kind of genuine care makes a real difference. A place worth visiting in Milan, not only for the food but also for the hospitality. We will definitely return.

One of the best restaurants in Milano for authentic Milano fare. Recommended by Stanley Tucci! Came for lunch with my daughter while in town for the Olympics. Food was splendid- one of the best meals in Italy!! Do not miss!! Make a reservation in advance!!

Fantastico! Best food we had in Italy. Gets a little noisy around lunch but the service was good and the park this restaurant is pretty nice, especially with a view of the Bosco Verticale. We went in blind and randomly ordered the tortellini, seared fish and roast beef, and all items were great - especially the tortellini which was covered in a deliciously rich cheese sauce. Homemade bread sticks were also great and we loved the caramel sorbet dessert. No denying that it's pricey but it was worth every euro. Reservations absolutely needed.

We had the five-course tasting menu and it really showcased the best of the restaurant. The risotto Milanese was the standout — a classic taken to another level, and I could easily have had five more portions. Every dish was fresh and exciting, highlighting excellent produce. The wine pairing was spot on, the atmosphere cosy, and the wait staff attentive and genuinely welcoming. Overall, a fantastic experience. Highly recommended.

Lovely service and atmosphere. Need to book ahead but well worth it. We did the 5 dish tasting menu and wine pairing. The saffron risotto and Brianzolo cotechino, lentil pate and Salva Cremasco cheese was a highlight for us. Delicious!