N’Joy Villa Olmo

Yet again Italians chose an English word to typify their restaurant business — how strange! Gioia might have sounded better to us. But what’s in a name? This place is indeed a joy to visit. Within the grounds of the Public Building, the Villa Olmo, a lakeside restaurant has been completely renovated and relaunched, offering charcoal-​fired pizze and a comprehensive a la carte menu, with fresh daily fish.
The restaurant has an outdoor terrace perched on the shore of Lake Como, and equally splendid views are available from within via the large windows. The restaurant is a half-​mile walk from the town centre, so has pitched its prices to be accessible to all comers, specifically setting out its stall to attract the younger generations. There is a carpark alongside (1,50 euro for six hours) so you can park up, dine at leisure, and then enjoy a lakeside stroll to work off the calories.
And work them off you will surely have to do! Portions are colossal, but without sacrificing quality. A Linguini all’Astice turned out to contain a complete half-​lobster and enough pasta to fill four people. The lobster juices and some red flesh had been reduced to a thick sauce with cherry tomatoes. The raw Tuna Carpaccio was simply dressed in lemon and oil and had the texture of velvet. A lasagne primo sufficed as a meal in itself. The ‘Lake Risotto’ consisted of the creamiest canaroli folded into four fillets of Perch. Tagliate di Manzo were cut from the finest beef. Five of us ate like kings for 50 euro per head, including aperitifs all round, copious wine, and grappe with coffees.
The restaurant buzzed with local people, and it was a pleasure to be served by the gorgeous Avanta, who upon cross-​examination proved to be a Sri Lankan lady cricketer! Being cricketers ourselves, it was no surprise that Avanta was showered with offers of marriage from our group, but she had the good sense to decline!
If in Como, go to Joy! You will be happy you did so.