Bread, butter, and anchovies. You order it at a counter just a stone’s throw from the Colonne di San Lorenzo, and it’s served up by the kitchen of a chef who offers €140 tasting menus on Via Mercalli.
“Seen it before, eaten it before”: what’s on the menu
They use this slogan themselves, and it says it all. No frills, just things you already know: classic toast, bread, butter, and anchovies; platters of cold cuts and cheeses from small producers.
There’s also something for those who don’t eat meat or fish, with a crostone topped with artichokes, valerian lettuce, Gargano goat cacioricotta cheese, and lemon zest.
There’s just a hint of fine dining, “borrowed” from their restaurant back home: the pigeon macaron, the chef’s signature dish straight from [bu:r].
How much does it cost?
Prices announced on the eve of the opening: €9 for toast, €18 for a charcuterie platter, and €6 for desserts. What Boer and Perilli ironically call the “damned little plates” range from €12 to €16 and are meant to be shared.
The bill, according to the owners’ estimates, should come to around €30–35 per person, wine permitting: with a premium bottle, the price goes up.
Over 120 wine labels and just three cocktails
At Burbero, it all starts with a glass of wine. The wine list features over 120 labels from Italy, France, and the rest of the world, selected from small producers and winemakers based more on character than fame.
The cocktail menu is concise: Negroni, Americano, and Sbagliato. It doesn’t get more Milanese than that.
Sixteen seats and an open kitchen
In 40 square meters, there’s no room for a separate kitchen, so the dishes are prepared right in front of you. The result: sixteen seats, all with a view of the stoves.
The interior was designed by the KICK.OFFICE studio: resin, stainless steel, and marble. A custom-built wall displays the bottles and openly pays homage to Milan’s old wine bars.
Who’s the gruff one, and who keeps him in check?
The name isn’t a coincidence. “Boer” is pronounced “bur,” and those who know him describe him as a rather rough-and-tumble sort. Of Ligurian-Dutch descent, he worked atArnolfo and St. Hubertus before coming to the city.
If the place is less gruff today than it used to be, the credit goes to Carlotta Perilli: wife, business partner, and maître d’, who came to the dining room from a career in communications. Gambero Rosso awarded her the Special Hospitality Prize in the 2026 Ristoranti d’Italia guide.
The two venues remain distinct. On Via Mercalli, you sit down and let them tell you about the dishes; here, you order a glass of wine and a toast, and you decide how long to stay. Among this fall’s new openings in Milan, it’s one of those spots perfect for a “quick stop after work,” rather than a dinner you have to book weeks in advance, as is the case with so many new restaurants in Milan.
When to go and how to get there
Burbero is located at Via delle Pioppette 3, in the Vetra neighborhood, between the Colonne and Parco delle Basiliche. It’s open Tuesday through Saturday from 6 p.m. to midnight, and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
You can walk there from the Ticinese neighborhood or take the M4 subway to the Vetra stop. With only sixteen seats, there’s just one piece of advice: don’t wait until Saturday night.
