I'Il Grotto isn't really an "overlook" restaurant in the traditional sense-- you wont find the…read moredramatic, panoramic sea views that some of Riomaggiore's restaurants are known for. Instead, its charm comes from being right in the heart of the village, with a cozy, intimate atmosphere that lets you soak in the energy of Riomaggiore and indulge in a little people watching. And honestly the food was a very pleasant surprise. I was craving steamed mussels, and theirs were absolutely delicious-- fresh, flavorful, and cooked just right. For my main, I went for something simple: a sea bream fillet with garlic and olive oil. It was beautifully prepared and delicious. My husband had the seafood spaghetti, which was equally satisfying packed with the flavors of the sea without feeling fishy or overly heavy. It's the kind of place that reminds you that restaurant doesn't necessarily need a spectacular view or a complicated menu to leave an impression. The cozy setting, quality of ingredients, and straightforward, well executed cooking were more than enough. A very pleasant-- and unexpected-- surprise in Riomaggiore.

I am obsessed with this place! My sister and I were looking for nice dinner close to where we were…read morestaying in Riomagiorre, and I'm so glad we stumbled upon this spot. First off, everyone working there was genuinely kind. My sister and I were set on trying the octopus however this was an appetizer item, and we knew we wouldn't be able to finish an appetizer and two entrees. A lot of places sometimes get mad if you order just an appetizer and an entree to share, however they were very understanding and even brought out extra plates for us. We also got the mussel ravioli, which was to die for! Of course we had wine as well, which was also delicious! Love this place and would give 10 stars if I could!

Nice restaurant spot on the water in Portofino. Delicious fresh pasta. We had the pesto pasta and…read morethe penne pasta with tomatoes, olives and eggplant.

Walked to this charming trattoria on the Main Street in Santa Margherita. We had a reservation…read more(necessary!) and we're given a cute patio table with a view of the passersby. Service was prompt and efficient, prices super-reasonable, and the food DELICIOUS! I had linguine vongole and my daughter had the fish. The bread was so good - little rolls that were crunchy outside and soft interior. (They have a 2nd location in Portofino)

Excellent restaurant right off the Main Street of Monterosso Al Mare. Fresh and expertly prepared…read moreseafood dishes. Efficient and responsive waiters who serve with a smile and allow you to enjoy your amazing dinner. Octopus appetizer was excellent... tender, well-seasoned and delicious. Walnut ravioli was rich and tasty. Fish of the day (sea bass) was cooked perfectly and seasoned to perfection. Baked local anchovies with potatoes and tomatoes was excellent. Don't frown at the house wine - we had the white and it was excellent.

We stayed in town 3 nights and came here all of them. The ravioli is wonderful. The pasta was…read morestuffed to the max. We had it 2 nights. The desserts are to die for. The owners wife is the awesome maker. And he is just the kindest man. We had the chocolate pistachio cake twice ! Definitely a must taste experience.

Our first time in Vernazza and we wanted to get some lunch. We got Caprese salad, spaghetti…read moreBolognese, and breaded veal (Milanese). It was delicious!!! I'm married to a Sicilian, so I know what great Italian food tastes like. I was really surprised to see 3 stars on Yelp! The waitress she was managing multiple tables, so the service was not ideal. The restaurant is nestled in a perfect spot with a beautiful view of the marina. We would definitely return! I wish I captured pictures of our food!

"The tale of two different waiters" was our experience as we dined two night at Gianni Franzi…read morerestaurant in the fishing village of Vernazza. We were staying at the hotel with the same name. We made reservations and came down to be seated in a beautiful town center over-looking the ocean. The weather was perfect and multiple colored umbrellas kept us in the shade. The place was busy and this is by far the best food in Vernazza. The physical setting is idealic and screams beautiful Italian dining. A man near the water was playing musical instruments to famous songs, an absolute "perfect" setting. We will start with the food. Bread is always provided and the accompanying balsalmic vinegar and olive oil are a hit or miss, no consistency. Our first selection was the penne com scampi with a good briny tomato sauce, shrimp, white wine, brandy, curry and salsa pomodoro. A very good taste and perfectly prepared penne. Our other dishes was the black flat spaghetti with garlic, tomato sauce, salted anchovies and red chili flakes. A absolutely delightful dish. We also have not had any American food for 10 days and caved in for an order of french fries, decadent. The food our second night was different and equally good. Service is where the Jekyll and Hyde brings us consternation. The first night was lovely and the young man serving us was on task and providing us excellent service before it was needed. The experience the first night led us to eat here again, two night later. Here is where the tide turned. The owner's son was our waiter the second night. The wine was delivered after the meal was served. A salad was ordered but never delivered and asked about twice. The young man scolded us for asking for EVOO and balsalmic vinegar. He then proceeded to lecture us on added parmesan cheese after we tried the dish. He explained that the dish was perfect and we should not drown it in cheese. Our bill came 40 minutes after we requested it and was wrong. 3 separate diners next to experienced the same lousy service and arrogant attitude. You cannot go wrong with the setting at Gianni Franzi restaurant for view, ambiance, color and food quality. The service makes one question is it worth it? The owner's son needs to find another career chioce or take some customer service training classes. His is arrogant and I would guess in the job because of his family. He has no right to tell people how they should enjoy their food. The real disconnect was after the bill was corrected, he had the gall to ask for "American gratuity". I would of given a five star review but his attitude can not be over- looked. The family needs to cut the "cord".

The chicken salad, focaccia and 1/2 liter of sangria was perfect after a long hike. I definitely…read morerecommend this restaurant.

Came here for dinner after hiking from Monterosso, as we were seeking a casual place to eat. This…read morerestaurant is located right near the train station. We were seated outside and our waiter was very friendly and welcoming. For an appetizer we got the stuffed anchovies. Definitely something I would have never tried back home but was recommended to us and we definitely enjoyed them. It didn't taste too fishy and was a good light appetizer to share (comes with 5 pieces). For dinner my husband and I split the seafood spaghetti (minimum of 2 must be ordered) and it was amazing!!! The seafood was fresh and the tomato sauce was delicious! This was one of the few pasta dishes I've had that didn't make me feel full and heavy afterwards. This is definitely a dish I would specifically come back for in the future!

After a long day at sea and sightseeing, we were starving. It was packed outside so we decided to…read morecheck out the inside. Thankfully there were three levels of seating inside and they were able to sit us on the bottom floor. Everything at others tables looked really good and smelled even better. We ordered... LEMON SPRITZ HUGO SPRITZ TAGLIOLINI MEZZ'ASTICE (LOBSTER PASTA) TROFIE AL PESTO (PASTA WITH GREEN BEANS AND PESTO) Both our drinks were very crisp and refreshing. But my husband and I loved Hugo Spritz more. My lobster pasta was incredible! My husband loved his pasta as well. It was definitely a great choice to eat here. There's a restroom for males and females in the basement. It was for one person at a time and led to long lines. The staff are very welcoming and pleasant. We were charged 6€ cover charge. If you end up here via boat or train, do yourself a favor and eat here.

We had amazing service and the mushroom risotto was incredibly creamy. The walnut cream ravioli…read morehome made pasta was delicious!

Absolutely my favorite meal in Italy!!! This spot in Monterosso was so tasty. We opted for a…read moremorning hike from vernazza to monterosso and got to this restaurant right at opening. My seafood pasta with clams, mussels, calamari was one of the best dishes I've ever tasted. I kept saying the mussels were the best mussels I'd ever had. My friend got a seafood platter and loved it. We also decided to share the pesto because everyone said we needed to get it in that region of Italy! Service was great and we sat outdoors as I think they don't have indoor seating. It was nicely covered and shaded

Went here based on good recommendations on Yelp. Cosy little inside space. My husbands pesto pasta…read morewas very good but could have used some chicken or shrimp in it. My spaghetti with mussels and clams was just ok. It was kind of dry and the clams weren't opened and were tiny. I would try it again but not order the spaghetti with clams and mussels.

Best meal we had in Cinque Terre! Saw good reviews on Yelp. Off the beaten path. Great old…read morefashioned atmosphere. Great service. I was craving grilled fish and boy did this deliver. Delicious grilled sea bass - best seafood I've had in years and only 25 euros! A bargain. My husband really enjoyed his spicy salami pizza too. Saw they had tasty looking steaks and pasta as well. Highly recommend!

On the positive side, the food was decent and met my expectations in terms of quality and taste…read more However, the service was significantly lacking, which really impacted the overall experience. Throughout our meal, it was difficult to get any assistance. Most of the waitstaff appeared to be disengaged, spending their time watching videos on their phones with AirPods in rather than attending to the dining room. I want to give a special shout-out to one gentleman on the floor who was the only person actively working and checking on tables. He was professional and clearly trying his best to cover for the lack of attentiveness from the rest of the team. It's a shame because the kitchen is clearly doing a good job, but the lack of service standards makes it hard to recommend a return visit. I hope management addresses the staff's focus, as it currently feels like the front-of-house team is not prioritizing the guests.