The story
That line, drawn from La Poesia's own kitchen philosophy, captures the spirit of what Chef Graziano Lomonte has built on Avenue du Chablais in Lausanne. A native of Gioia del Colle in Puglia, Lomonte cooks the food he grew up with — generous, sun-drenched, rooted in tradition — and transplants it, with full conviction, to the shores of Lake Geneva.
The menu moves through the rhythms of a proper southern Italian table: delicate antipasti, slow-simmered mains, fresh handmade pasta, and desserts made in-house. Every plate, as the restaurant puts it, is shaped by the chef's childhood memories and whatever the season is offering. There is nothing contrived here — this is Apulian cuisine as it has always been eaten, honest and generous in equal measure.
At midday from Tuesday to Friday, a business menu makes the kitchen accessible without compromise: a starter and main for CHF 34, or a main alone for CHF 26. On evenings before hockey matches at the nearby Vaudoise Arena, the restaurant extends its service from 18h to accommodate the crowd — a small but telling detail about how La Poesia fits into its neighbourhood.
Gambero Rosso awarded La Poesia 2 Forks in its 2026 guide — recognition that places this Apulian cuisine firmly among Switzerland's most credible Italian tables. The distinction reflects what regulars already know: that the cooking here is consistent, personal, and genuinely rooted in a place and a person.
The restaurant is also notably relaxed in its welcome. Pets are allowed in the dining room, a private room is available for groups, and the bar rounds out the offer for those who want to linger. Parking — both private spaces behind the building and public lots nearby — makes it easy to reach by car, while the M1 metro stop at Malley is just 100 metres away.
Recognition
Ambience
Details
History
2 Forchette
Consistency and class. That has been the hallmark of Italian cuisine at La Poesia for years. The menu in this unassuming spot, with its relaxed atmosphere and warm service, remains largely unchanged—and in an era of fleeting trends, that stability is a welcome relief. The harmonious carpaccio of sea bass, tuna, and dorade receives a freshness boost from ginger oil, a crisp crunch from fennel, and a touch of sweetness from orange. The Acquerello rice, tinted black with cuttlefish ink, strikes a masterful balance with Apulian pancetta and the briny, iodine-rich essence of sea urchin. The pasta is always a surefire hit: consider it tossed in a hollowed-out wheel of Parmesan and generously dressed with truffle shavings, or served as rabbit-stuffed ravioli in the Bergamasque tradition with thyme butter. Equally understated and elegant is the oven-roasted veal chop resting on basil cream, accompanied by a seasonal vegetable jardinière. To finish, a dome of lemon mousse paired with strawberry macedoine and foamed limoncello delivers a perfect conclusion. The wine list is meticulously curated and distinctly Italian, offering a thoughtfully chosen selection of cru wines by the glass.
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