Dann and I wanted to go to a more fancy dinner while in Milan, and what better place than along the river in Vicolo dei Lavandai! There was tons of night life in the area, lots of different restaurants, but we walked along until we saw El Brellin tucked away, with upscale Italian food. Previously, this building was an old grocery store, where women who washed clothing would grab supplies. The layout hasn’t changed much, still showcasing the 1700s fireplace and coffered ceilings. We were excited to try the menu after seeing some of the selection. They have an ever changing menu, so I cannot find an accurate menu of what we had, so these names may have changed.
A Selection of Cold Cuts, Cheese Flan, and Venison Sausage
To start with, Dann really wanted to try some cured meats. There is something about trying cured meats in another country that he found interesting – so we got a little platter with some different salami and ham slices, along with a few bits of cold butter and a sort of side salad of some fat and meat chopped up. Dann quite enjoyed these meats – I tried a few but found the cut up fat thing to be a little strange! Speaking of a little strange, El Brellin had a dish on the menu that said it was “cheese flan” – which was very interesting in concept and taste. It was an extremely cheesy, slightly dense cake that had a cheese cracker crumbled on top and a creamy sauce. It was unlike anything I have ever eaten before. I also really wanted to try the venison sausage, which came with a sweet puree. They were perfectly seasoned and delicious – something I have thought about several times since.
Pumpkin Ravioli and Steak with Pea Puree
Dann, in predictable Dann nature, ordered some of the steak off the menu, which was huge and came in a very savoury gravy. There was a pea puree and some pickled cabbage as well, brightening things up. I had a bite of his steak and it was delicious! I had some pumpkin raviolis, which were in a light sauce that sort of just tasted creamy, with dollops of pumpkin around it too. These were a lot – like the flavor was very overpowering, but delicious too. It was an interesting mix.
El Brellin did feel quant, small, and like it was set to be romantic. The staff brought us out blankets, as we wanted to sit outside, when the wind picked up. They were kind and attentive, and the inside had some decorative nods to the history of the place. If you are looking for a romantic, candlelit dinner right by the water, it’s a lovely place to eat.
Everything looks sooooo delicious….The steak with pea puree looks out of this world…So good….
This certainly looks like the ideal place for a romantic dinner the food looks amazing and how nice of the staff to bring you out blankets
The food looks so good, and the atmosphere is so romantic. I would love a date night there with my husband.
It sounds like you discovered a great restaurant there. The steak looks quite substantial. I recon that might have been a peppercorn sauce.
This looks like a cute little restaurant with a really interesting selection of food. I do enjoy cured meats so I would have been wanting to taste all of those too.
What a wonderful dining experience. You captured the elegance and charm of El Brellin so vividly. The way you described the dishes made me feel like I was savoring every bite alongside you. Definitely adding this restaurant to my must-try list when I visit.
This sounds like such a charming spot! I love when restaurants keep that historic vibe. Plus, blankets for chilly evenings? That’s such a thoughtful touch.