Rio Bistro — Restaurant in Riomaggiore

The experience was, quite frankly, deeply disappointing. My mother and I had planned to enjoy a light lunch and, upon entering the establishment, hoped for at least a modestly curated menu. Unfortunately, what we encountered was quite the opposite — a selection so uninspired and unappealing that I immediately considered leaving. However, out of courtesy and a desire to give the place a fair chance, we decided perhaps a dessert might redeem the experience.

Before we even had a chance to settle, our server rather presumptuously attempted to upsell us on a $70 prix fixe lunch for two — which felt entirely out of touch with the setting and offerings. We politely declined, opting instead for water while we reviewed the possibility of a simple dessert. Rather than responding with professionalism or even basic hospitality, the server responded with an unspoken but unmistakable scoff, retreating wordlessly to the back.

What followed was frankly unsettling. She returned with a man whose demeanor was both condescending and vaguely menacing — not something one expects, nor accepts, when it is simply a mother and daughter seeking a quiet midday refreshment. His tone was passive-aggressive and laced with superiority, as if he believed we were somehow unaware of how a restaurant functions.

For context: my family is composed of medical professionals — we are well-traveled, well-read, and fully capable of discerning quality, both in service and cuisine. The only reason we remained at all was out of a genuine desire to give them the benefit of the doubt.

To add insult to injury, we were later charged $14 for what was essentially bottled tap water — unrequested, and certainly not worth the cost.

All in all, it was a regrettable experience. You would do far better enjoying thoughtfully prepared food and authentic kindness at a local market or street vendor. Quality is not always found behind a façade of pretension. If it were possible to leave a rating below one star, I assure...

I’m writing this to help others avoid the same disappointing experience we had.

This restaurant was recommended by our hotel and is mentioned in the Michelin Guide, so we booked despite some mixed reviews. Unfortunately, it ended up being one of the worst meals we had on our trip.

Of the four things I consider when dining—food, atmosphere, service, and price—only the atmosphere was acceptable. The food was average at best; the fish was overcooked, and nothing we ordered stood out. Service, however, was the biggest issue. The waitress pushed the three-course set menu and reacted coldly when we ordered à la carte and declined a wine bottle. When we asked about table wine, the response was simply, “We don’t have table wines,” with no effort to suggest alternatives.

One person in our group of six politely asked for pasta to be cooked slightly longer and was met with a dismissive, “So you want overcooked noodles—sure.” Another dish listed as linguine was served as spaghetti, without explanation or apology.

Worse, the timing of the meals was chaotic. Dishes came out unevenly, and one main course was never served at all. When we followed up, the waitress claimed we had asked for it later—but she never checked in, and by then, everyone else had finished. Honestly, I had lost my appetite anyway, which says a lot.

This restaurant seems to rely on its location and reputation, but based on our visit, it doesn’t live up to either. With high prices, indifferent service, and forgettable food, I would not recommend this place to anyone. There are far better options nearby that actually care about their guests and the quality of...

Awful service! Dirt in our water glass, which the server apologized for and brought a new glass. Then, there was dirt in the wine glass - to which our server said - ‘it’s nothing’ even after we showed him the dirt speck. Then he poured the SAME DIRT IN WINE into a different glass.

The WORST part was when our duck appetizer arrived it came with PLASTIC (a plastic pull tab from a package/container) and the restaurant’s response was to BLAME THE CUSTOMER. We asked to see the manager and they sent out a server/hostess who first apologized for the plastic in our food, then informed us that the dirt sometimes ‘drops from the ceiling into the glasses’ and asked what they could do to make us happy. When we replied that we would like the rest of our meal dirt and plastic free, the server informed us that they CANNOT do anything to make us happy. We asked to speak with the manager again and the server informed us that the manager was ‘too busy working on the others’ food’.

While the duck speck was good until we found PLASTIC IN IT, the bread was cold and stale. We decided to leave and eat street food to be happier than eating the contaminated food Rio Bistrot served without care or repair.

So disappointing - especially after booking our reservation months in advance through a local resident and eagerly anticipating a great experience!!!! We wouldn’t want this to happen to anyone else expecting a lovely meal at this highly...