The story
In Lonato del Garda, just a short drive from Desenzano, Da Oscar is a trattoria that honours the authentic flavours of the past. Chef Oscar, the restaurant’s namesake and driving force, brings decades of experience to a kitchen that puts the highest quality raw ingredients first. His philosophy is built on three words: knowledge, passion, and simplicity. Nothing here sacrifices excellence for mediocrity — not in the dining room, and certainly not on the plate.
The menu is a celebration of the local land and lake. Pasta and bread are made in-house daily, and the meat-focused kitchen offers carefully selected cuts that recall the genuine tastes of the region. Standouts include the “Scottona” beef fillet with Nigra mustard and courgette ribbons, and guinea fowl breast stuffed with porcini mushrooms and potato cream. For those who prefer the lake’s bounty, there is pike alla gardesana with polenta, or the chef’s original “carbonara” made with house-smoked trout and lavaret instead of bacon and egg.
Da Oscar also offers a gourmet pizza — “Lievitata d’Autore” — made with carefully sourced flours and long leavening, topped with high-end ingredients that reflect the kitchen’s fine-dining approach. The restaurant is well-suited to private parties and corporate dinners, and caters to a range of needs with gluten-free options and wheelchair access.
The recognition from the Michelin guide as a Recommended restaurant feels earned: it is a place where the service is courteous, the setting is welcoming, and the cooking is honest. With outdoor seating in the warmer months and a relaxed, professional atmosphere, Da Oscar is a reliable stop for anyone seeking real Mediterranean and pizza cuisine on the Garda shores.
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