Lunch deals at a "tavola calda" in the larger Pescara area (1 of 2)…read more I didn't even know about this place. I saw it occupying several adjacent openings between columns in a corner location in an indoor shopping mall named Centro Commerciale Il Delfino. It was close to lunch time. I asked a nearby merchant what they thought of it and got sort of a shrug. Yet I kept on looking at this place - Sarni Ristorazione - and saw a few packaged lunch specials and that there were decent prices attached to this "pranzo italiano." Sarni is also a company that has gas stations with attached food service in autostrada service areas. Here, I learned that they also have stand-alone restaurants in shopping centers and in neighborhoods. This one is such a location. I looked at the "pranzo di terra" combination, which means "lunch of the land," meaning that there's no fish, but meat or poultry. That said, the lunch deal is composed of a meat or poultry entree, a plate of pasta (that does not have fish), a side, a bread roll, and some base mineral water. First, the ladies who work at this Sarni are very helpful. After a few times of getting mostly the same things, they knew that my side of choice was the spinach and that they'd have to prep it a little. Along with that, I usually had a chicken breast, which they prepare and is very tender, along with a plate of pasta, of which there are various choices, one of which ought to satisfy a person. You pay at the end of the counter and then take a seat. With you comes the buzzer that tells you when meat or poultry items are ready. You sit in a well illuminated area and the tables are cleaned fairly regularly. If it sounds cafeteria style, it is. The Italians call this concept a "tavola calda," which literally means a "hot table." When I was a kid, I thought this was so funny. I thought that they were referring to the actual tables being hot. So I would then say, "La tavola calda, dove ti siedi e ti bruci il culo." That means, "the hot table, where you sit and burn your rump." I didn't get in trouble and I would periodically make this remark upon mention of a "tavola calda." My parents just gave me the look that I was being ridiculous. You've got a lot here at this Sarni Ristorazione in the shopping center. There's a variety of good food, portions are hearty, prices are fair, and the employees are reliably pleasant. It's far from fine dining, so the clientele is mostly local area folks. Note that if you come in later during the window of time for lunch, they may run out of the meat/poultry/fish or type of pasta you might have had your eye on.

THe place is first rate top to bottom. Specifically starting at the top with Nino the owner. He…read moreis so nice and friendly and very professional. HE and his staff make you feel so welcomed which makes the whole meal and experience better. Its a place you want to come back to over and over again. Food and service was great and reasonably priced. Yeah I will be back!!!

Had a lovely meal, 6 people all had starters and a main and 3 rounds of drinks, 100 euros, which we…read morethought was good value for the food we had

Pescara pairing (2 of 2)…read more - - - - - One day, I was walking down the street in the center of Pescara and I noticed a storefront that looked like it couldn't possibly be any further south than Italy's Sud-Tyrol. Yet, here it was, in East Central Italy. With its apparent decor, I wondered if there was a Bavarian beer hall inside ... or if they repaired cuckoo clocks. It was actually a restaurant named Il Ristoro Genuino featuring standard Italian food and I couldn't detect much of a regional bent. It's open for lunch and later into the evening, but they seem to do an especially good lunch business. I didn't notice table service as most people were opting for self-service, for which there is no such category that I could find. Based on its exterior, one would think they'd go in here and have an Italian facsimile of Dr. Ruth who would give you a goofy smile as she handed you the plates of food you point to. There's nobody like that here. They are just normal ladies from the area who try to be helpful. The service area is a tight U-shaped buffet line along which you push your tray. There are many things to try. I'm talking about pasta, "secondi," salads, desserts, and more. Drinks are available for purchase as you approach the pay station at the end of the queue. I like those "prix fixe" lunches they bill as "pranzo italiano" in this area because it has a formula limiting to you a specified number of plates from specific categories where you end up with pasta, beef/chicken/fish, a side dish, and bottled water and you know the price in advance. At Il Ristoro Genuino, the food is weighed. The pricing was standard but it turned out to be a little more than I thought it would, and it was mostly an issue of my lack of self control! There's a lot to choose from and, instead of putting down the fork, it's more of a situation where you need to push your tray along faster. Your tray might stop more than you had intended. I'm not going to deduct any stars because Il Ristoro Genuino weighs the food they serve at lunch. That's their business model and other self-service lunch places do the same. All the food on my tray was very good and the service was very pleasant. I only went once and that does not mean I wouldn't go back. I would. However, it would behoove the customer to study what they are offering that day so they can pare down what they choose to put on the their tray. Even though there was no Italian facsimile of Dr. Ruth, in my own head, this became "the Dr. Ruth restaurant." And if I walked by or thought about this place, I would laugh. I never remembered the name of Il Ristoro Genuino so I had to sleuth it out in order to write this review. Therefore, for being "the Dr. Ruth restaurant" and being just plain good, I'm going to go with four stars for those four words.

Fabulous food, beautiful beach front location, friendly generous and gracious owners and staff,…read morefair prices. My two sisters and I loved eating here almost every day during our stay in Francavilla al Mare.

La Sardella was the best seafood that we had in Italy. Just a cafeteria with locals but wow was…read moreeverything local, fresh, well prepared and the kind of food that makes angels sing over your head! I live near the beach in Florida and I'm yet to find a place that is half as good. It is not fancy, and you won't sit on the dock but you have the beach view and you get to see the food in the glass case and order what you want. They serve your food as you order it and ring you up and then you find a table on your own. If you order fried food, they tell you when it's ready to pick up. I feel like this is the best way to get the same as what locals eat. The young girls worked hard to cook, serve, and ring up customers. Many locals were drinking beer so why not. I had a lemon Peroni and it was the perfect beverage to go with the seafood dishes that were having. Knowing that I can't get this food just anywhere, I ordered more than enough. Our favorites were the octopus salad and the bacalao salad. The octopus was tender and flavorful with boiled golden potatoes, black and green olives, celery, olive oil and salt and pepper. The stuffed mussels were delicious and super filling. They come in a red sauce that you will want to dip the bread in. The stuffed calamari was something that I have had but this had tons of filling so if you are hungry order this dish. The fried calamari was good and definitely fresh but needed more lemon or red peeper rings to bring out the flavor. They also had farro with shrimp that looked so good. If you are in the area, don't hesitate, go here. You will have a wonderful meal. If only they could open up a franchise here in Ft. Lauderdale. Oh well, there will always be another visit.

Best Restaurant ever!…read more From the entrance you will get a good idea of the kind of food served. This is "slow food" Italian style. All ingredients are local and the plates taste the way that Mamma made it. If you are looking for a great spot,with the best views, and the kind attention of Maria Pia ( restaurant owner) look no further. Recommendation: Focaccia Maria Pia Enjoy !!!

Once again: staff does not speak English. Few random word, but not enough to get clarifications on…read morethe menu. So we chosen the set menu for €30 that included a seafood nest for starter (a single filo leaf that contained few stripes of cuttlefish, one mussel and some sprinkled greens. It didn't seem much, but it was pleasant. First dish was seafood spaghetti. It actually was a mild aglio olio & peperochino with oysters placed on top... including the shells that kept me busy for few minutes to clean. The pasta was one minute more al dente than my preferences, but very balanced and nicely cooked. Second plate was a fish (which we never found out what kind) on warm greens and white beans... to die for! They missed couple of small fish bones, but nothing to give you a new piercing. Desert was a cream Catalala, served with some blackberry (I think) sauce which didn't go through a sieve. Maybe it was intentional, ro give some texture. Absolutely indifferent desert! So the food was overall very nice. Service was also good... when there! FYI: there were only two other tables while qe were there. There was quite a waiting time to give our order and a long waiting time to get the bill. Then they really took their time to come back and get paid by card. But I have to admit that they were pretty fast with food serving. The venue is very beautiful and the location awesome (1st floor one the riverside, with access for disabled). The also had facilities for changing a baby, but they had no baby chair!!!

I have been eating at Il Saraceno since 7 years now, and I always left this place with please, joy…read moreand a full satisfaction for what I was served. Bruno is a bit traditional in respect of hid menu, in fact it didn't change that much since I met him the first time. However he tries to respect the seasonality as much as he can. The wine list includes a nice selection of local wineries, surely not all the ones that Abruzzo have but some of them are exceptionally good to dine the exquisite fish-only courses served by Il Saraceno. I strongly advice to book in advance!