Italian Restaurant Guide: The Best Restaurants in the Province of Novara
- 3 hours ago
- 10 min read
Chef Matteo Ridoni — La RiMa, Novara
The Province of Novara is one of Piedmont’s most varied gastronomic territories, stretching from the rice fields surrounding Novara to Borgomanero and the extraordinary landscape of Lake Orta. Its cuisine is built around rice, Gorgonzola, Nebbiolo-based wines, salame della duja, tapulone, freshwater fish, Fassona beef and some of the most recognizable dishes of northern Piedmont.
The ZAFFERANO & CO. EDITORS rating evaluates culinary identity, ingredient quality, technical execution, consistency, hospitality, wine culture and the restaurant’s importance within the Province of Novara.
1. Villa Crespi — Orta San Giulio
ZAFFERANO & CO. EDITORS — ★★★★★ 5/5
📍 Via Giuseppe Fava 18, 28016 Orta San Giulio NO, Italy
☎️ +39 0322 911902
🌐 villacrespi.it
Antonino Cannavacciuolo has transformed Villa Crespi into one of Italy’s great destination restaurants. The cuisine combines the chef’s Campanian origins with his long professional connection to Piedmont. Mediterranean intensity, precise technique, sauces of exceptional depth and luxurious ingredients are brought together within one of the most recognizable dining rooms in Italy. The Moorish-style villa overlooking Lake Orta makes the experience inseparable from its setting.
Strengths: internationally important chef, extraordinary technical execution, impeccable service, exceptional setting and one of Italy’s most complete fine-dining experiences. Weaknesses: very high cost and an experience deliberately designed for special occasions rather than casual dining. Verdict: unquestionably the flagship restaurant of the Province of Novara.
2. Locanda di Orta — Orta San Giulio
ZAFFERANO & CO. EDITORS — ★★★★★ 4.9/5
📍 Via Olina 18, 28016 Orta San Giulio NO, Italy
☎️ +39 0322 905188
🌐 locandadiorta.com
Locanda di Orta provides another sophisticated interpretation of Lake Orta dining. The restaurant is intimate, elegant and more restrained than Villa Crespi, allowing contemporary technique and careful presentation to take centre stage. Its location inside the historic centre of Orta San Giulio makes it particularly attractive for visitors building a complete gastronomic weekend around the lake.
Strengths: intimate atmosphere, refined contemporary cuisine, excellent location, technical precision and strong wine programme. Weaknesses: small scale and a structured fine-dining approach make advance planning essential. Verdict: one of the most refined alternatives to Villa Crespi around Lake Orta.
3. Ristorante La RiMa — Novara
ZAFFERANO & CO. EDITORS — ★★★★½ 4.8/5
📍 Viale Dante Alighieri 11/C, 28100 Novara NO, Italy
☎️ +39 0321 1588260
🌐 ristorantelarima.it
Chef Matteo Ridoni leads one of Novara’s strongest contemporary restaurants. The restaurant produces pasta, bread and desserts in-house and builds its menus around seasonality. The wine list retains a strong Piedmontese identity while extending across Italy and selected international producers. This is thoughtful contemporary cooking without unnecessary theatricality.
Strengths: chef-driven identity, handmade production, seasonal menus, polished service and excellent wine selection. Weaknesses: portions and presentation follow a contemporary fine-dining style that may not suit diners expecting traditional trattoria abundance. Verdict: one of the best modern restaurants in Novara city.
4. Tre Scalini — Novara
ZAFFERANO & CO. EDITORS — ★★★★½ 4.8/5
📍 Via Nicolao Sottile 23, 28100 Novara NO, Italy
☎️ +39 0321 1513303
🌐 trescalininovara.com
Chef Marcello Gado describes Tre Scalini through the idea of being classically modern, an accurate summary of the restaurant. The cuisine starts from recognizable Italian foundations but introduces contemporary technique, seasonal ingredients and elegant presentation. The dining room is calm and sophisticated without becoming excessively formal.
Strengths: strong chef identity, contemporary execution, balanced tasting experience, professional hospitality and good wine culture. Weaknesses: less explicitly Novarese than the province’s traditional restaurants. Verdict: one of Novara’s strongest modern dining rooms.
5. Ristorante Pinocchio — Borgomanero
ZAFFERANO & CO. EDITORS — ★★★★½ 4.8/5
📍 Via Matteotti 147, 28021 Borgomanero NO, Italy
☎️ +39 0322 82273
🌐 ristorantepinocchio.it
Pinocchio is one of the historic gastronomic institutions of Borgomanero. Its cuisine moves confidently between regional tradition and creative interpretation. Agnolotti, paniscia, Fassona, mushrooms, game and Piedmontese sauces appear alongside technically ambitious preparations. The cellar is another major element of the experience and reflects the restaurant’s long relationship with wine.
Strengths: history, serious cooking, strong cellar, deep regional roots and distinctive personality. Weaknesses: the restaurant’s broad gastronomic style can occasionally feel less focused than newer concept-driven establishments. Verdict: an essential Borgomanero restaurant and one of the province’s most established names.
6. Trattoria dei Commercianti — Borgomanero
ZAFFERANO & CO. EDITORS — ★★★★½ 4.7/5
📍 Via Cornice 35, 28021 Borgomanero NO, Italy
☎️ +39 0322 841392
🌐 trattoriadeicommercianti.it
Trattoria dei Commercianti is deeply connected to the culinary identity of Borgomanero. One of its essential dishes is tapulone, the traditional local preparation historically associated with donkey meat and slow cooking. Paniscia, bagna càuda, vitello tonnato and Piedmontese desserts reinforce the restaurant’s regional identity.
Strengths: authentic local dishes, established family atmosphere, strong wine selection and exceptional territorial relevance. Weaknesses: traditional presentation will appear conservative to diners searching for avant-garde cooking. Verdict: one of the most important restaurants for understanding Borgomanero through food.
7. Osteria San Giulio — Badia di Dulzago
ZAFFERANO & CO. EDITORS — ★★★★½ 4.7/5
📍 Badia di Dulzago, 28043 Bellinzago Novarese NO, Italy
☎️ +39 0321 514704 / +39 331 6318747
🌐 osteriasangiulio.it
Osteria San Giulio combines traditional Novarese food with one of the province’s most distinctive historical settings. The restaurant specializes in local cuisine, with paniscia playing a central role. The atmosphere of the medieval Badia di Dulzago adds enormous character to the meal.
Strengths: authentic Novarese cuisine, excellent paniscia, historic setting, strong sense of territory and traditional hospitality. Weaknesses: intentionally traditional rather than technically experimental. Verdict: one of the best places in the province to experience genuine Novarese cooking.
8. Antica Osteria Ai Vini — Novara
ZAFFERANO & CO. EDITORS — ★★★★½ 4.6/5
📍 Largo Cavallazzi 4, 28100 Novara NO, Italy
☎️ +39 0321 34346
🌐 osteriaaivini.it
Antica Osteria Ai Vini brings Piedmontese and Novarese traditions into the historic centre of Novara. Paniscia, risotto, local meats and traditional flavours remain fundamental, while the kitchen introduces enough contemporary interpretation to keep the menu current. The wine component is naturally central to the restaurant’s identity.
Strengths: historic atmosphere, central location, regional dishes, wine culture and recognizably Novarese food. Weaknesses: execution can be less consistently refined than the province’s leading fine-dining restaurants. Verdict: an important traditional address in central Novara.
9. La Locanda delle Due Suocere — Novara
ZAFFERANO & CO. EDITORS — ★★★★½ 4.6/5
📍 Corso Trieste 42/A, 28100 Novara NO, Italy
☎️ +39 351 6747812
🌐 locandaduesuocere.it
La Locanda delle Due Suocere focuses directly on Novarese and Piedmontese food. Paniscia, regional salumi, vitello tonnato and filled pasta form the backbone of an approachable restaurant built around familiar local flavours. The atmosphere is informal and intentionally welcoming.
Strengths: strong regional identity, approachable prices, traditional dishes, relaxed service and good value. Weaknesses: less technical ambition than the restaurants at the top of the ranking. Verdict: one of the most reliable restaurants in Novara for straightforward traditional food.
10. Trattoria del Ponte — Proh di Briona
ZAFFERANO & CO. EDITORS — ★★★★½ 4.6/5
📍 Via per Oleggio 1, 28072 Proh di Briona NO, Italy
☎️ +39 0321 826282
🌐 trattoria-delponte.it
Trattoria del Ponte is built around the traditional cuisine of the Novara countryside. Seasonality, local produce and regional recipes define the kitchen. Paniscia, braised meats, bollito and classic Piedmontese preparations represent precisely the type of cooking that made these countryside trattorie important.
Strengths: genuine regional food, seasonal ingredients, traditional meat dishes, local atmosphere and strong value. Weaknesses: location requires a deliberate trip outside Novara. Verdict: one of the province’s best traditional countryside restaurants.
11. Osteria Mea Culpa — Borgomanero
ZAFFERANO & CO. EDITORS — ★★★★½ 4.5/5
📍 Via Gramsci 3/B, 28021 Borgomanero NO, Italy
☎️ +39 0322 846441
🌐 osteriameaculpa.it
Osteria Mea Culpa combines local products with a broader modern Italian approach. Chef Emanuele brings decades of professional experience to a compact restaurant where risotto, meat, fish and seasonal ingredients share the menu. The result is less strictly traditional than some Borgomanero institutions but more versatile.
Strengths: experienced chef, local products, approachable atmosphere, risotto and balanced price point. Weaknesses: broad Italian influences make the restaurant less territorially specific than Commercianti or Tiro a Segno. Verdict: a dependable modern osteria in central Borgomanero.
12. Tiro a Segno — Borgomanero
ZAFFERANO & CO. EDITORS — ★★★★½ 4.5/5
📍 Via G. Matteotti 23, 28021 Borgomanero NO, Italy
☎️ +39 0322 281806
🌐 trattoriatiroasegno.it
Tiro a Segno represents a contemporary evolution of the Piedmontese trattoria. Chef and host Davide builds the menu around seasonality, local producers and recognizable regional flavours while maintaining a more polished modern presentation. The wine selection and emphasis on regional cheeses strengthen the connection to northern Piedmont.
Strengths: seasonal cooking, local producers, regional cheeses, welcoming service and an effective balance between tradition and modernity. Weaknesses: less historically important than Borgomanero’s oldest institutions. Verdict: one of the strongest examples of modern traditional dining in Borgomanero.
ZAFFERANO & CO. EDITORS’ SHORTLIST
Best Overall Restaurant: Villa Crespi — Orta San Giulio Best Lake Orta Alternative: Locanda di Orta Best Contemporary Restaurant in Novara: La RiMa Best Modern Italian Restaurant: Tre Scalini Best Historic Borgomanero Restaurant: Pinocchio Best Traditional Borgomanero Experience: Trattoria dei Commercianti Best Paniscia Experience: Osteria San Giulio Best Traditional Novara City Experience: La Locanda delle Due Suocere Best Countryside Trattoria: Trattoria del Ponte
What to Eat in the Province of Novara
The essential dish is paniscia Novarese, a substantial risotto traditionally prepared with beans, vegetables and local salumi. Another emblematic product is Gorgonzola, whose historical connection to this part of Piedmont remains central to local gastronomy. Around Borgomanero, tapulone is one of the most distinctive traditional preparations. Other important dishes and ingredients include salame della duja, fidighina, risotto, Fassona beef, agnolotti, bollito misto, bagna càuda and freshwater fish.
Wine in the Province of Novara
Wine culture here belongs to Alto Piemonte. Nebbiolo, traditionally called Spanna, is fundamental. The province is particularly associated with Ghemme DOCG, while neighbouring appellations and territories reinforce a broader Alto Piemonte wine culture based on Nebbiolo, Vespolina and Uva Rara. These wines have the acidity and structure required for paniscia, braised meats, salumi and mature cheeses.
Why the Province of Novara Matters
Few Piedmontese provinces offer this degree of contrast within such a compact territory. Novara itself represents rice, Gorgonzola and traditional city cooking. Borgomanero brings its own distinctive culinary history. The countryside preserves historic trattorie. Lake Orta provides an entirely different gastronomic landscape crowned by one of Italy’s most famous restaurants. That combination makes Novara far more important gastronomically than its international profile suggests.
ZAFFERANO & CO. DESTINATION SCORE
Food Quality: 9.5/10 Wine Culture: 9.4/10 Regional Identity: 9.7/10 Restaurant Diversity: 9.5/10 Traditional Cuisine: 9.7/10 Fine Dining: 10/10 Value Across Categories: 9.2/10 Overall Destination Score: 9.6/10
How to Read the Province of Novara Through Its Restaurants
A restaurant guide to Novara works best when the province is understood as more than the city itself. The territory stretches from the rice-growing plain toward the lakes and the Alpine foothills, so menus change noticeably as you move north. In the lower areas, risotto, rice, braised meats, salumi and rich sauces are natural reference points. Closer to the lakes, freshwater fish and lighter preparations become more common, while cheeses, mushrooms and mountain products gain importance toward the foothills. The strongest restaurants are usually the ones that cook in a way that makes sense for their immediate landscape rather than trying to imitate a generic idea of Italian cuisine.
What to Look for on a Serious Novara Menu
Quality in this province is often visible in restraint. Look for careful use of local rice, properly made risotti, regional cheeses, seasonal mushrooms, cured meats, slow-cooked beef or veal, freshwater fish where appropriate, and desserts rooted in Piedmontese technique. A menu does not need to be long to be convincing. In fact, a shorter menu that changes with the season is often a better sign than a broad list built to satisfy every possible request. Service should also be able to explain where ingredients come from and why a dish belongs to the area.
Rice, Gorgonzola and the Agricultural Plain
The agricultural identity around Novara is essential to the local table. Rice cultivation has shaped both the landscape and the regional kitchen, making risotto one of the most useful dishes for judging technique. Texture matters: the grains should remain distinct, the cooking should be controlled, and the final mantecatura should create cohesion without turning the dish heavy. The province is also closely associated with Gorgonzola, whose richness can appear in first courses, sauces, polenta, meat dishes or cheese selections. Good restaurants use it with balance rather than allowing it to dominate every other flavor.
Wine: Keep the Pairing in Northern Piedmont
Restaurant choices in Novara become more interesting when the wine list reflects northern Piedmont. Nebbiolo-based wines from the Alto Piemonte zone can offer perfume, acidity, savory structure and a more linear profile than many visitors expect from the grape. These wines work especially well with risotto, braised meats, mushrooms, aged cheeses and dishes built around butter or stock. A serious local wine list should show some awareness of the vineyards north of the city rather than relying only on the most famous names from Langhe.
City, Lakes and Countryside: Build the Day Around Geography
For travelers, the province is easiest to enjoy by grouping meals with geography. Use Novara city for historic cafés, traditional dining rooms and contemporary restaurants; combine the lake areas with seafood or freshwater-fish lunches; and reserve countryside meals for places where agricultural products and seasonal cooking are the main attraction. This approach also prevents the common mistake of driving long distances for a restaurant without understanding what else is nearby. A strong food itinerary should connect the meal with the town, market, landscape or producer culture around it.
How Zafferano & Co. Evaluates Restaurants Here
The most useful restaurant recommendations are not based only on luxury, price or fame. For Zafferano & Co., the important questions are whether the cooking is technically sound, whether the menu respects the territory, whether service understands the food, whether the wine list supports the cuisine, and whether the overall experience is worth the trip. In Novara, authenticity is often quiet: a correctly cooked risotto, a well-aged local cheese, a carefully reduced sauce, a seasonal mushroom dish or a bottle from northern Piedmont can say more about the province than a highly decorated plate disconnected from place.
A One-Day Restaurant Route Through Novara Province
A practical way to use this guide is to build a full day around the province rather than treating the restaurant as an isolated destination. Begin in Novara city with coffee and a walk through the historic center, then plan lunch around a restaurant that works seriously with rice, local cheese, seasonal vegetables or northern Piedmont wines. In the afternoon, move toward the countryside or lake district and pay attention to how the landscape changes: rice fields give way to wooded slopes, vineyards and eventually the Alpine foothills. Dinner can then focus on a different expression of the territory, perhaps freshwater fish, braised meat, mushrooms, cheese or a more contemporary interpretation of Piedmontese cuisine. This creates a much clearer picture of Novara than eating two similar meals in the same part of the city.
Seasonality Matters More Than Fashion
The strongest restaurants in Novara province tend to make sense in the season in which you visit them. Spring brings delicate vegetables, herbs and lighter preparations; summer opens the door to lake fish, tomatoes, fresh cheeses and outdoor dining; autumn is especially important for mushrooms, rice, game, richer sauces and structured northern Piedmont wines; winter favors braised meats, polenta, aged cheeses and slow cooking. A serious kitchen should not force the same menu onto every month of the year. When comparing restaurants, seasonality is therefore one of the most useful indicators of whether the cooking is genuinely connected to place.
Final Advice Before Booking
Before reserving, check whether the restaurant’s identity matches the experience you want. For a traditional lunch, prioritize regional dishes, local wines and a dining room that understands classic service. For a more contemporary meal, look for technical precision and modern presentation without losing the connection to Piedmont. If you are traveling specifically for food, build the reservation around the rest of the day: markets, rice-growing areas, vineyards, lake towns and historic centers all add context to the meal. Novara rewards travelers who slow down enough to connect the plate with the province around it.
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