We went here three times in 3 days! The owner is one of the most fun and personable people ever and…read morehe doesn't even speak English! Go here when in Cinque Terre! You won't regret it!

Focacceria IlFrantoio is kind of hiding: tucked in a narrow alley off the main drag, but you'll…read moresmell that fresh-baked focaccia the moment you walk nearby. Even if you don't see the sign, follow your nose. Inside the little place, there are only a handful of tables, so most people grab a slice and go. They do those classic Ligurian-style focacce: some round like pizzas (but no sauce) and some square or rectangular slabs. The difference is more than shape, focaccia isn't pizza. It uses dough with more leavening, so it stays thicker, softer, and airier than typical pizza crust, and it gets dimpled and drenched in olive oil before baking. Because of that, the focaccia from Il Frantoio feels pillowy inside but still crispy at the edges -- perfect base for whatever topping they throw on. Go for a classic plain‑olive-oil slice if you want something simple and salty. Or, if you're up for a punchier flavor, try their anchovy version: salty, briny, and made for a beach‑town afternoon. Honestly, it's the perfect snack to grab before hiking to Vernazza -- light, filling, and full of energy for the climb. Bottom line: Focacceria IlFrantoio isn't fancy. It's small, kind of hidden, and not Instagram-flashy. But if you want a genuinely good bite of Ligurian comfort food, warm focaccia, salty anchovies or olive-oil-rich crust, handheld and cheap, this spot hits exactly right.

We're walking into Old Town Monterosso back to our apartment and notice this man sitting alone…read moreenjoying his pasta. I double take and look at his carbonara. It looks amazing at a quick glance. We walk a few more steps and then turn back around to see it again and ask the man working if he can seat the 3 of us. He looks around at his tables (there are only 6-8 tables) and tells us to come back in an hour which seemed a little off putting at first. He tells us to try any of the restaurants next door because they are all his. But my mind is stuck on the carbonara. So we ask if he offers takeaway for his meals and he agrees to our carbonara and pizza order. Later I realize he's the owner and just very busy and focused on taking care of his customers and actually friendly. While we're waiting, the solo Italian man raves about the carbonara. Says he's an advertising salesman who travels often to the area and eats out often and this carbonara is the best. He liked that he focuses on quality, not quantity. Sold! It was one of our best meals on the trip. The bacon was cooked perfectly and crispy. Pasta cooked perfectly and sauce delicious, just clung to the noodles. Pizza devoured and he actually cut the pizza slices so we could share easily. I'm sad it was our last night, otherwise I would've gone for a second time. I'll be thinking about that carbonara for a while. Definitely worth a stop in Old Town Monterosso.

If you are in this city, you MUST eat the pasta here! This quaint little spot has just a few…read moretables... if you have to wait, then wait. The owner is hustling and makes sure to serve only best. I wish I could eat here every day.

Splendid Italian meal and wonderful ambiance. We got lucky and were able to get a table for 4…read moreright away but the food and service were great. Food quality here is high and well made. Waitress spoke English and helped us with ordering and was very kind. It is a slow paced meal but the experience was fantastic. 5 stars!

Our Airbnb was just around the corner from Da Eraldo and I had discovered them based on their high…read morereviews. As we walked by, we noticed some of their employees inside so we asked if we could make a reservation for dinner for 6pm or 6;30pm. They recommended 6pm and took my name. We arrived promptly at 6pm and were the 2nd table seated. I'm so glad we came early. Over the next few nights we noticed so many people waiting outside all night long. I will tell you that my branzino was amazing. Fresh and cooked perfectly. I really enjoyed my healthy meal and I don't mind deboning a whole fish myself. My daughter had the linguine with clams which was also very delicious. My son had the pesto lasagna which was so-so. We were expecting red sauce bolognese so it could just be that we just had different expectations. He also ordered the steak and enjoyed it. My husband had the fruitti de mare and thought it was just okay. Something to know is that because they are so busy with so many people waiting, they like you to order everything together. We noticed a server who got frustrated with another table who tried to order apps, and then tried to order the main meals after they finished them, then dessert. These employees are hustling and trying to turn tables, as you see the queue outside waiting. It's a tiny cozy restaurant with a lot of demand. I would recommend this place for certain dishes, especially the fresh fish.

Ermg this gluten-free pizza was mind-blowing amazing. We had just finished the Blue Path hike, and…read morewere in dire need of some calories. This place popped up with good reviews, so we stopped in to order take out. It's in the old part of the city and very small, so after ordering we waited outside. After only about 5 mins, our hot delicious pizza was ready! They even cooked my gf pizza in its own container and didn't cut it to prevent cross-contamination. We took it back to our hotel room and just devoured it.. was seriously so good. I'm forever ruined to American gf pizza thanks to this experience.

GF PIZZA was good, not great-4 euro extra was not obvious, but was on the menu, a few pages later…read more Red table wine very good! I did get GF Pizza

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!

Decent good spot in a nearby alley away from the touristy spots. Still on the pricier side, but…read morewhat do you expect! Three of us stopped by for lunch and were seated immediately. Got the tuna steak, seafood pasta (in a foil swan), and fish, and a couple glasses of wine. Straightforward but friendly staff. Worth a visit if you're already in the area!

The food was amazing my husband got the burger (delicioso) and I had the eggplant and peppers…read morefocaccia. They were both served with potatoes. Yum!. We were able to eat outside in the shade the temps were perfect!

DO NOT GO HERE. Incredibly rude and unprofessional staff both behind the bar and at the tables…read more Focaccia is bad. Go to Il Massimo della Foccacia instead which is amazing. This restaurant's staff turned their backs on us when we asked to pay the cover charge so that we could pay for the table we were at, after we'd already purchased 20 euros worth of food. They said no, and asked us and our small children to leave, and turned their backs on us. It was an extremely hot day. Another guest who was in line behind us was so astounded by their behavior that he came outside to apologize to us for what he had just witnessed. All of those staff would be immediately fired for their behavior if that had happened in England, the United States, Canada, or many other places. DO NOT GO HERE, SPREAD THE WORD.

A good stop for a quick bite to eat in a less congested area of Monterosso - had the trofie al…read morepesto and bruschetta. Reasonably priced for the area.

This little breakfast cafe was a welcome find. We had the full breakfast with coffee latte,…read morescrambled eggs, ham, cheese, toast and they also brought muffins and croissants out (we choose the outdoor seating with quaint city views). Oh, and fresh squeezed orange juice. A bit hard to find, unless you see the sign in the plaza leading up a cute little street and about 50' in. It was a great way to start a beautiful day in a fabulous place.

Great little place just past the entrance of Monterosso central. Very cute little quaint…read morerestaurant, with goods music, a decent number of patrons, and good pizza. The price / pizza cost is very good! (10€-15€ roughly) Most of the reviews you'll see a quite old, but still relevant. The pizza is infact unremarkable, but it does tickle your fancy when you're in a bind and need a quick meal, canned mushrooms or not. I'm still gonna eat it! My friend and I arrived on the northern-ish side of Monterosso near the train station walking the 10 minutes to the restaurant. Once inside we were immediately greeted, ushered to whatever table we desired and had menus in seconds, they got our order in, food out, and drinks served in under 15 minutes. The food is good, atmosphere pleasant and clean, the staff were warm and charming, and the restaurant was reasonably busy but not overwhelmed.

Gayle and I "dined" here on the 2nd evening we were in Cinque Terre. We had enjoyed a substantial…read moreLunch in Corniglia (after hiking there), and decided to "go easy" for Dinner. Our Rick Steves' book led the way (and just down from the Church). We were seated outdoors and under a canopy directly across the street from the restaurant proper. The Pizza was tasty, but along with the service was otherwise unremarkable. At the same time, we were happy enough to sit, relax, and take stock of a pretty remarkable day.

4.5 stars Located in Monterosso's Centro Storico, the patio…read moreat Emy's Way made for a nice setting to enjoy their handwritten menu of Piatti del Giorno (dishes of the day). In the Cinque Terre, one must-try item is the local anchovies, and this restaurant's Acciughe alle Erbe (anchovies with herbs) were simply cooked, seasoned with olive oil and herbs. We also had the ubiquitous Spaghetti ai Frutti di Mare, spaghetti with calamari, mussels, shrimp, and clams in a light tomato broth. The dish was on the bland side, but the spaghetti had a nice al dente texture, and the sauce was perfect for mopping up with the basket of bread. But the most memorable part about this restaurant was Emiliano, the friendly one-man-show owner and waiter, who served every table enthusiastically and passionately! He even obliged when I asked for a sample of their pesto sauce (a local specialty), which had a nice nuttiness from the whole pine nuts, balanced by the freshness of the basil and olive oil, and the saltiness of the cheese. What a friendly local restaurant, and everything came at reasonable prices too!

Great food & location. Located in old town Monterosso, great pizza, pasta, and fried calamari…read more Definitely recommend.

Excellent pizza spot right across from the beach! My husband and I had dinner here knowing we…read morewanted to order pizza. We were not disappointed! My husband had a spicy pepperoni pizza that was absolutely delicious; he felt it was the best pizza he has ever had- and we come from Chicago! I had a pizza with olives, artichoke hearts, prosciutto and mushrooms. It was very good- great chew to the crust and excellent flavor. The pizzas were also very big if ordering one per person, and we were stuffed! We also had a grilled octopus appetizer that was incredibly tender and tasty. The whole meal, in addition to a bottle of wine and water, cost us less than $55. I would definitely recommend a stop here.

THE BEST MEAL we had in Cinque Terre, by far…read more.. Pizza is delicious and wonderful. The gnocchi with house seafood sauce was one of the best things I've ever eaten - ever. I will crave it. We stopped here because they were packed at lunch - every table taken - while other restaurants weren't busy. Fair prices, good service and GREAT food.