The old town and the streets around Piazza della Riforma are the best area to eat well in Lugano. Restaurants and osterie here serve risotto di pesce (lake fish risotto), polenta e spezzatino, and generous plates of Ticinese antipasti. Look for a grotto-style restaurant — often identified by stone walls, wooden tables, and a short handwritten menu — for the most local experience. Portions tend to be large, prices more reasonable than the lakeside spots, and the cooking firmly rooted in the Ticino tradition.