The food and ambiance are wonderful at il Pirun. There is no view but you have a cozy feel of a local owned restaurant which uses great care to deliver excellent food read more

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During our 3 night stay in Manarola, we had lunch twice at Il Pirun in Corniglia. AMBIANCE: 4.5. Casual, unique and comfortable, reflecting the eccentricities of the owner. There are two floors; we lunched on the first floor both times.Bottles of wine and spirits line the walls. There are photos of the owner over the years posted here and there, and if one squints the face on the painting of Bacchus on the ceiling resembles him. Italian jazz/blues music at comfortable volume. FOOD: 4.5. - Insalata Marinara: 4.5 - Seafood tasting menu: 4.5 - Tagliolini Pesto: 4.5 - Taglioline Pomodoro Pesto: 4.0 - Spaghetti Polpa (Octopus) Riccio: 4.5 Plenty of wines to choose from, including the local white. A good beer ("Birra Media" on the receipt) available. SERVICE: 4.0. Prompt and direct. read more

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We had the salmon gnocchi, the pistachio and butter cream ravioli and the rose pepper beef filet. Every single dish was outstanding, and we would return to eat them any day. We had a fun experience drinking the house red wine from a decanter that the owner and waiter provided for us, with a fun history and story behind it. Hold the decanter the highest and you win! The owner will beat you ;) Highly recommend! read more

Il Pirun - Salmon gnocchi, pistachio and cream ravioli and red house wine - Italian Near Me - Corniglia, SP

Don't hesitate to eat there while in Corniglia. Mario welcomed us at 6:30 (little earlier than he would have preferred but he understood we were starving!). Primo I had spaghetti alle vongole and husband had anchovies. Both delicious. Secondo we had steak fillet (good) and swordfish so fresh and so tasty. It's a must. With bottle of wine all was 90 euros. Highly recommend: great food, great service, romantic ambiance. No pictures... sorry... we were really hungry! read more

The best caprese salad I've had in Italy so far, and the mussels were so fresh and prepared very well! We also ordered the house white wine which was delicious, and made in corniglia which is hard to come by. It was a very special bottle, and had the owners face on it! Felt more personal. read more

Il Pirun - Mussels - Italian Near Me - Corniglia, SP

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Good food. Wonderfully located on the main alleyway. We enjoyed the pesto pasta and the prawn pasta. It was a bit too al dente, but didn't ruin the taste. Solid meal. read more

Given that this was our very first meal upon arrival in Corniglia, is it really any surprise that we over-ordered... excessively? The two dishes we intended to be our mains ended up being our starters (some absurdly massive mixture of green beans, olives, octopus, and capers; and an enormous bowl of pesto pasta). Which left the one dish we'd ordered, thinking it would be an appetizer, a misto di mare, showing up late to the game and finishing us. I mean... just look at that monstrosity: http://bit.ly/oVnJyq - now imagine eating a full meal before starting to dig into that thing. Hellloooo, distended bellies! As far as the restaurant experience goes, you're unlikely to leave hungry, that's for damn sure. As per most typical dining establishments I encountered on our journey, the service is... unhurried, let's call it. Which was fine for us, being on holiday and all. As a country, Italy will teach you to slow down and smell the roses. Or smell your neighbour's food, at least. Visiting Cinque Terre just shy of peak season and actually renting a flat in Corniglia meant not having a problem scoring a seat at il Pirun, however I could see this place getting rammed later on into the summer, as there are only ten tables, perhaps. In addition to offering a cosy dining establishment on the first floor, the ground level serves as lovely enoteca, where we were quick to purchase a bottle of a Sciachetrà to take away. It's apparently a renowned locally produced wine. Again, I've never considered myself much of a wino, but it was quite lovely for sipping on its own, and quite syrupy sweet, not unlike a port. If you're bedding in Corniglia, your dining options aren't that abundant, and this was one of the better restaurants we encountered in Cinque Terre. Definitely take advantage of this local gem - if for no other reason than to sample some of the fine vintage of the land. And hey, if you're in for a beer and a belly full of pasta and fish (and come on, what's the point of coming to Italy if not for pasta and fish), il Pirun will do just fine for that, as well. read more

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THE best pesto pasta I have ever had! The server recommended that and I am so glad I took him up on the suggestion! The ambiance is wonderful. read more

There aren't many places to have dinner in Corniglia, so luckily Il Pirun has pretty good food. It can get a bit pricey, though, depending on what you get and how much you eat. My wife and I ordered the frutti di mare - a seafood platter appetizer that was LOADED with really good seafood - anchovies, shrimp, and smoked fish. This is what made our meal worth it. We also ordered the Tagliolini with pesto and tomato sauce. The pasta was well-made and I really enjoyed the pesto. Corniglia is a small town where not everyone speaks English, so be prepared to do a little self-translating if you encounter one of the waiters who may not speak great English. read more

Il Pirun - Frutti di Mare - Italian Near Me - Corniglia, SP

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It's been a few years since we've been here but, to this day, it's my husband's favorite meal he has ever had. He ordered the linguine and clams and I ordered the gnocchi. My meal was excellent as well; however, I would order seafood myself next time. After walking up the million stairs to get to town, we just happened upon this place and I am glad we did. The owner was very funny and nice. He even shared lemon cello with us. The music and ambiance was very beautiful as well. The music was so great I purchased the CD. I will never forget that a woman sitting at a table next to us ordered the squid ink pasta... when it came out her face expression made it clear she was mortified to see pasta covered in black sauce! Lol! Enoteca Il Pirun is a quaint little spot off an old cobblestone road but pretty center in town. We have recommended it to our friends who have traveled to Cinque Terre and hope to be back ourselves soon. read more

The food was delicious, and it was reasonably priced. So why only two stars?!? Because they wouldn't make us change (They didn't "have any"), yet they would not take credit card. That means that we paid an extra 8€ish -- which is almost $10!!!! You might ask why we didn't just order something else. They make you pay downstairs, so we had already given up our table. TERRIBLE MANAGEMENT. I suppose since they serve tourists, they can take advantage of all customers -- revolving door. On another note, based on our experience, I would skip Corniglia all together. Nothing special there. We wanted to do all five towns to say that we had hit each one-- you are better off enjoying your time at one of the other towns. read more

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Unfortunately, I cannot recommend this restaurant. Upon arriving, a man eating downstairs yelled for someone upstairs and then waved us up the stairs. We went up the stairs and it was very hot up there, no AC and no fans. We waited at the top of the stairs for several minutes and then someone appeared and seated us. We did not feel very welcome. It seemed like all the tourists were sent upstairs in the heat, while the locals were seated downstairs. The service was horrible, although our server was trying. There was one server upstairs and she had way too many tables. We didn't get menus for some time and then it was a long time before we could order anything, including water. We waited a long time for our food. While waiting, the couple at the table were served. The woman received her food and the man was told they were out of his entree. He ordered something else and was rightfully upset that his entree did not come until she had finished hers. Finally, our food arrived. I had testaroli with pesto. It was very oily and did seemed like it was only basil, oil and salt. My husband had some "fresh" fish which was very subpar and did not seem very fresh. The quality of the food did not match the prices. read more

Absolutely Delicious! Very authentic Italian food at great prices! Get the Trofie Al Pesto! read more

Il Pirun - Italian Near Me - Corniglia, SP

I can't imagine why this place is less than 4 to 5 stars. The food was so high quality and flavorful. They offered things that were not on every single Cinque Terrre menu. I highly recommend this restaurant if you are visiting Corniglia read more

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"This is what poetry tastes like..." - me, feasting on the perfect Tiramisu We found this place through dumb luck so I almost feel guilty sharing this...but the food and service were FANTASTIC and it deserves the business. This is a small family-run cafe in Corniglia that is nestled among a few similar looking restaurants off of the main footpath that winds through town. The first level (street level) is a small bar that could accommodate maybe ten people. Ascend a spiral staircase in the corner of the room to access the main dining area. This floor is a bit more spacious - there are perhaps five or six tables. Ascend a third staircase and you will be in the kitchen...of his house. As far as we could tell his wife and children were cooking...and it tasted like it too. We started with bread and a marinated artichoke (cold) with balsamic, herbs and olive oil. She had a mixed salad - well made but unmemorable. Then came the gnocchi. It was served just the way I like it - more than al dente, but not gelatinous - bathed in a homemade pesto sauce. The savory dumplings vanished immediately upon being tasted, leaving only a hint of flavor on the palate. It makes you want to keep chasing them to experience the full taste. Her spaghetti in tomato sauce was good too. Afterwards, we asked for the check. That was almost a huge mistake. She asked me "are you sure..?" and after a slight deliberation, I ordered the Tiramisu. It was simply amazing - the first bite sent me reeling. "This is what poetry tastes like..." Is all i could stammer out. It was phenomenal - rich, moist and savory. Just a flawless combination of taste and texture. Its what I've been chasing for years, and I finally found it - right off the coast of the Ligurian Sea in someone's home. And to think that I almost skipped dessert. read more

My wife and I ducked in here by chance looking to sample some wine and get off of our feet. The bar area was quaint (fancy word for small) and charming (fancy word for interesting and agreeable), and has the allure that gives you the impression that poetry has been written on one of it's small, candle lit tables by a brilliant mind wielding a quill pen in one hand and a glass of brandy in the other. I imagine this is the kind of place The Most Interesting Man in The World cools his jets in. Unfortunately, we didn't order any food. I see from all of the other reviews and pictures that the food seems great and the tiramisu is something special. I'd kill a man for great tiramisu. I'd even kill a man I really like for it. "I don't always drink wine, but when I do, I enjoy Il Pirun". read more

This was our favorite meal in Italy so far. The ravioli was obviously made in house and was rich, tender, and delicious in a creamy pistachio sauce. The tomatoes tasted like they came out of the garden, sweet and full of actual tomato flavor. The bruschetta had a creamy artichoke spread (you can get yours with bacon). We enjoyed and savored every bite. The music playing was from a cool Italian funky jazz concert and the sound system was full and rich so it felt like we had a live show going on. Our only sadness is that they had no tiramisu. We got all that plus frizzante water for $28. So you can eat for a reasonable price if you wanted. We both we stuffed at the end. read more

Il Pirun - Ricotta spinach and pistachio raviloi, pomodoro and olive salad, and artichoke bruschetta. - Italian Near Me - Corniglia, SP

Worst pesto... ever. Worse than from a jar and Not even remotely fresh (basil is in season right now). Also, Grumpy service and stale-ish bread. Walnut paccheri was so-so. Not even a view to make the experience worthwhile. read more

The food was alright but the management was awful. When we entered we were not greeted or offered a table as the manager was eating his own meal. Before deciding to eat there we spoke with the manager to confirm they accepted a credit card. After rolling his eyes and confirming "of course they accepted it," we ate our meal, which was fine. After the meal, we were told to pay at the front but when we tried to pay with our card the same manager told us they no longer accepted card, and we would have to pay with cash. When we explained that we weren't carrying cash as we only came to Corniglia for dinner, he was unwilling to work with us and we were forced to go to a local market to make a currency exchange (we are tourists). After graciously helping us, the person in the market warned us that the manager was likely taking advantage of the fact that we were tourists to evade taxes by not reporting them and only accepting cash. I would not recommend this restaurant as it was a much larger hassle than it was worth for the quality of the food. read more

Wonderful lunch in Corniglia! The owner was very welcoming and the food was some of the best my husband and I ever had. Adorable little spot and very authentic. Worth a visit for sure! read more

Super cute place in the alley way between the main square and the inner square of Corniglia. Good quality service and food! Everything we had was amazing. The waitress worked her tail off and was attentive for Italy standards! Reasonably priced for Corniglia. Highly recommend! read more

Lovely lunch here. Just a great place to relax after hiking 3 hours. Very good pesto. Lovely wine. Try it the shrimp and bean salad.

Ducked in here on our first night in Corniglia as most places were closed. My wife and I each had a pasta and a side dish. Both the pasta dishes (she had trofie with pesto, I had spaghetti with clams) were very tasty. The side dishes (preserved artichokes I think and mixed salad) were okay. Didn't get the tiramisu like others (ah regrets!), but next time we're in the area! read more

Great pesto pasta and swordfish. Affordable prices too. White wine is fabulous (13 euro for a bottle). Our waitress was super nice! She made us feel super comfortable while we were there. I would definitely recommend this for those visiting Corniglia in Cinque Terre. read more

So so so so amazing. The food is as good as it gets, freshly made daily and freshly caught seafood. Amazing service and a great family or couple setting. 100000/5 stars. read more