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!

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".

I had a hankering for meatballs, and we stopped by after seeing them on the menu…read more The meatballs were delicious! They came with a heaping amount of sauce for dipping. We also had pasta & wine. Everything was tasty and came out hot. If you're looking for a great meal in Riomaggiore this is it! Service was great. The food does take a time to come out but remember, this is not fast food-it's good food!

Arrived in Monterosso around 2pm and was looking for a place to eat. Many restaurants are closed…read morebetween their lunch service and dinner service. This was one of the only restaurants we found that were open for dining. We ordered off the daily special menu - meat lasagna and spaghetti with mussels. Both were tasty. My husband mentioned his lasagna was hard/had "a crunch on top" that he didn't quite like. I loved the mussels in my dish. The staff were ok. The lady that greeted us told us we couldn't be seated outside facing the main road because there were only 2 of us. I'm pretty sure that I saw other outdoor tables with only 2 guests. Oh well, got a restaurant to be open when we needed deserves a 4 star review,

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.

Good quality food and excellent service. Came to eat here twice during our visit in Manarola and…read moreenjoyed both times. Would recommend to others looking for a quick meal.

Our visit to Cinque Terre was short, just one afternoon and night, that's all it took to walk…read morethrough the five towns... we didn't do extensive hikes. We stayed in Manarola. Our dinner that evening was at La Scogliera and was wonderful! We ordered Seafood Salad, Fish Ravioli, Pesto Ravioli and a lot of wine. The flavors in each dish were wonderful... even excellent. The menu was large, choosing was difficult but our choices made us very happy. The staff was friendly and accommodating seating us without a reservation. The restaurant seats indoor or out, it was drizzling so we opted to dine 'in'.

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.

Vernazza is amazing ! We arrive to our hotel ( Albergo Barbara) and this restaurant was right…read moreoutside. Perfecto ! I'm pretty sure we met the owner. The staff is wonderful and the food is out of this world. we had the stuffed mussels, warm seafood salad and ravioli with walnut sauce.

Service was really awful (I don't love Italy's "whichever waiter decides to ask takes part of your…read moreorder") We had three waiters take our order drinks/appetizers/dinner and they seemed really annoyed at us when they forgot stuff... the octopus salad was the best thing we got- tender and interesting- the walnut cream pasta was good- pizza was alright but very Italian with spotty cheese and runny tomato sauce. Aperol & lemon cello spritzes we're heavy handed with liqueurs, so very bitter and thick. Don't think I'd come back- Luca was better across the way. Okay if you can't go elsewhere.

This restaurant had a nice little dining room tucked into the cliffs halfway up the Main Street in…read moreriomaggiore. The staff were all so helpful and friendly. For my meal I had the pesto pasta. It was just ok, probably my least favorite of my meals in Italy. I did taste my wife's shrimp risotto and that was pretty tasty though so I might have liked it a little better if I got that.

On our first night in Riomaggiore we tried this restaurant on the basis of a recommendation from…read moreour B&B. I believe the rabbit Ligurian-style was the best meal I had in Italy. So flavorful and tender! I only wish rabbits were bigger, so I could have eaten more. My wife had the house lasagna, which was good, but nothing great. We sat in the outside seating area, which was very nice. The servers and wait staff were friendly and very attentive.