A Temple of taste amid nature and wellness
Vecchio Ottocento, located at Viale Ticino 37/B in Gavirate (VA), sits just 100 meters from the northwestern shore of Lake Varese, in a beautiful natural setting with convenient access and two large parking areas. It’s not only an award-winning pizzeria, but also a refined restaurant that blends tradition, innovation, and a strong focus on food sustainability.
At the heart of the venue is a wood-fired oven, always burning, used to bake fragrant and easy-to-digest pizzas. The dough is matured over a long period and prepared daily using both traditional and alternative flours — such as kamut, black rice, spelt, and multigrain — including organic and gluten-free options, catering to people with celiac disease or food intolerances. The head pizzaiolo, Leone Coppola, world champion of classic pizza in 2013, has made innovation his mission: he was one of the first to introduce gluten-free doughs, and now experiments with flours enriched with JAXplus® soluble fiber to reduce glycemic impact — ideal for diabetics or those following a healthy diet.
The menu is rich and varied, suitable for all tastes. It features seafood appetizers (mussels, clams, shrimp, smoked fish, salads), land and sea first courses (linguine with seafood, scialatielli with crab, porcini mushroom 309 THE SILK ROAD VECCHIO OTTOCENTO THE SILK ROAD VECCHIO OTTOCENTO ravioli), as well as meat and fish main courses — from mixed fried seafood to sliced beef and veal scaloppine — with tasty side dishes like French fries and grilled vegetables. The offering also includes homemade desserts, such as berry cheesecake, traditional pastiera, and affogati, ensuring a sweet and memorable ending to the meal.
The venue is designed for any occasion: a spacious main hall with mezzanines and private dining areas perfect for business lunches or dinners with friends, a large upstairs hall ideal for parties and banquets of up to 200 guests, and a lush summer garden perfect for weddings or outdoor events, complete with elegant marquees. The restaurant also offers external catering services and home delivery for both lunch and dinner.
Vecchio Ottocento has built its reputation on high quality, friendly service, and attention to customer needs. On platforms like Gluto, it receives very positive reviews for its gluten-free offerings, scoring around 4.7–4.8 out of 5. It also stands out for its community initiatives — such as donating part of its pizza sales to the local Red Cross in May 2021 to help fund a new ambulance and defibrillator.
In summary, Vecchio Ottocento is a “temple of pizza” and a landmark restaurant in the Varese province. It offers a balanced mix of tradition (wood-fired oven, local ingredients), health (gluten-free and low-glycemic options), atmosphere (elegant rooms and garden), and customer care (events, catering, charity). Whether you’re celiac, diabetic, a seafood lover, a meat enthusiast, or simply looking for a quality meal in a beautiful setting, this restaurant in Gavirate is a highly recommended choice.
