Restaurants
Whether in Milan or in the surrounding areas, there is no lack of restaurants with menus varied enough to please all tastes.

EATING ITALIAN
Italian restaurants can roughly be divided into two main categories, trattoria and ristorante, depending on the type and the size of the meal you want. Both types can be found in all parts of Italy, whether you stay in Milan or in a much smaller city. Note that most trattorie and ristoranti have a giorno di riposo, a day off, once a week (usually Sunday or Monday).

Trattorie
A trattoria is a small restaurant and is usually less expensive and pretentious. The menu usually consists of a primo e secondo piatto (first and main course) of pizza or pasta followed by a salad, dessert, and coffee.

Ristorante
If you are looking for something slightly more exclusive, there are almost just as many ristoranti (restaurants) as there are trattorie. They usually offer an alla carte menu consisting of portions slightly smaller, but nevertheless delicately prepared to those found in a Trattoria. Meal prices are higher in restaurants.

Opening hours may be different from what you are used to in other places: the restaurants usually open for lunch between noon and three o’clock, reopening for the evening between seven and midnight.

Cassôela

LOMBARDIAN CUISINE
One of the most famous dishes from this part of Italy, is Risotto, rice served with sausages, vegetables or spices. The most typical Milanese risotto is the yellow zafferano. One of the most famous dishes from Como is called 'risotto al pesce persico', rice served with a fish from the Como lake. Other dishes from Lombardia include Polenta, a corn meal served with meat or cheese. Pork is found in many guises like the traditonal Cassôela with cabbage, sausages galore, and salamis. Also Famous are such cheeses as the Grana Padana, that rivals its more noble cousin Parmigiano, and Gorgonzola, the king of blue cheeses.