Deliciousness - 4/5 Happiness - 3.5/5…read more At the end of the main street of Riomaggiore lies an overlooked gem. It's well worth visiting at the top of the hill for flavorful classic Italian food in Cinque Terre (for those in need of a break from the fish dishes offered by most restaurants). Their pizza list is quite extensive and ranges from Italian specialties to American favorites like chicken and peppers. I got the tuna pizza (never knew that was a thing) and it was really good. The cheese was the perfect consistency and very flavorful (ditto with the buffalo mozzerella appetizer we ordered). The tuna added a unique flavor to the pizza, though I wish there had been more of it added to the pizza. My wife got fresh made pasta and pesto that was also mixed with roasted potatoes (carbo load!). Although the pesto was delicious, the dish was too one-note. Without tomatoes or some other acidic side, the singular pesto flavor simply overwhelmed the pallet. Again, it was a good flavor, but it just needed something to break through the basil. I know this sounds crazy, but make sure you order the seltzer (or in Italy, fizzy) water. They make it in-house and it is hands down the best sparkling water I've ever had. It never lost its effervescence throughout the meal and really energized me. The service was just OK. They never served us the bread that went to other tables (not that we needed more bread, but it was still a somewhat strange oversight) and they rarely came by to see how we were doing. Not unfriendly, but definitely not the most hospitable either. All together, this meal left me smiling and satisfied!

Everything we ordered tasted amazing and the service was great! The owner really made us feel at…read morehome and welcomed.

Amazing restaurant in Monteroso al Mare…read more Great pasta and appetizers Service is also amazing

Loud heavy metal music....No Pizza, owner stated he no longer makes Pizza due to competition using…read morefrozen non fresh ingredients that he cannot compete against and make any profit .

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.

Visiting Cinque Terre in mid-November when the weather is cold and most shops and restaurants seem…read moreto be closed means limited options overall. On a Thursday evening in Vernazza, where we were staying, we really only had four open restaurants to choose from for dinner: Vulnetia, Gianni Franzi, Taverna Del Capitano, and Il Baretto. Il Baretto had the best reviews on TripAdvisor, its average 4-star rating exceeding the mediocre 3-3.5 ratings of the other three. However, I really wanted to try Tegame Vernazza, a local specialty of baked anchovy with potatoes, as well as a pasta I hadn't tried before. Vulnetia had the best combination of menu diversity and reasonable prices. Under other circumstances during the regular season, we probably would have avoided all four restaurants. Alas, we made do. My husband and I were delighted to discover that at the least the ambience was beautifully decorated and warm inside. The cover charge of 2 euros per person included bread--stale white bread without any condiment of EVO, butter, or balsamic vinegar. We ordered the tegame Vernazza (15 euros) and the pansotti with walnut sauce (14 euros). Both were good, not amazing, and both portions were on the smaller end. The walnut sauce, plopped on top of the stuffed pasta, was not terribly flavorful and was stingy in amount, not enough to fully mix the pansotti, much less to sop the bread with. The dishes came out suspiciously quickly, but did satiate the curiosity if not the appetite. Service was extraordinary slow, even though we were one of a handful of parties there. In the evening, it was nice that the waiters weren't rushing us to leave, allowing us to take our time.

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!

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,

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'.

We visited Trattoria All Inferno this evening. It was really good! Fabulous Tagliolini with…read morePesto, and delicious grilled vegetables (peppers, eggplant, capers). I'm a fan of pesto and pasta; this was close to the best I've had. And the service was just as good, the staff was helpful, courteous and efficient.

I love pesto, but this place has mastered it. Tagliatelle was AMAZING. I could eat it for…read morebreakfast, lunch, and dinner. The portion was perfect. I should have stopped there, but the roast pork with potatoes are on the way. The pork and potatoes arrived...and I'm speechless. It's delicious. I didnt think I was going to have room, but it was way to good. Everything was tasty down to the last bite. Reservations aren't necessary, but helpful. This seems like a favourite not for tourists, but for the locals as well. The owner is amazing. It is stressed to let your waiter know of any food allergies. I am allergic to all seafood., but Gianluca was attentive in going over the menu of things I could have. Never had to use my EpiPen. Thank you. Leaving out to pay for meal, you can see into the kitchen. The staff was laughing..that's the reason the food was so good. Happy cooks create good meals. Small note, but not a deal breaker. The air conditioning was on, but it was still warm. I always have a small hand fan handy. I still enjoyed my meal.

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.