Il Portale

After years of pilgrimages abroad (in Germany and in the East), 16 years ago for Massimiliano (Max) Celeste the lake meant coming home to his Verbania. First, he worked in the kitchen of a hotel, and then he started his own business at Il Portale, a charming, small and intimate place.

Year after year, his favourite scope of action has always been seafood, in all its shapes, even when it implies adding local ingredients, though the sea always has the main role in the menu. The wine list has a reasonable focus on white wines and bubbles.

Gualtiero Spotti

giornalista per riviste di turismo ed enogastronomia italiana, ama le diverse realtà della cucina internazionale e viaggiare