Nino - Osteria Con Cucina
Diego Rossi (of Trattoria Trippa) osteria with a 1,500-label wine cellar and draft cocktails; the twice-an-evening "rice on call" served only at 8:30pm and 10pm
A modern Milan osteria on Via Nino Bixio that skips the rigid appetizer-first-second-dessert format, letting guests order freely and putting honest Italian ingredients front and center. The room is striking, with high ceilings and a green, beige and deep-red palette, and it serves mainly dinner with Saturday lunch as well, so reservations are recommended.
In Porta Venezia, Milan. Easy to fold into a morning or a longer afternoon; there's usually something else worth a stop within a few minutes' walk.
Owner is friendly to walk-ins; ask about the off-menu items. Reservations recommended Fri–Sat; walk-ins welcome earlier in the week.