Ristorante Taverna Colombo — Restaurant in Santa Margherita Ligure

Despite the high ratings, our visit to this restaurant left us rather confused From the start, there was a language barrier - either we needed to learn Italian, or the staff needed to learn a little but more English. This made communication and ordering quite challenging The confusion began when we tried to order a steak, but after a rather complicated explanation, we ended up with a schnitzel instead (name in the menu of course was another). When we told that explanation of the dush, were a little bit confusing and could they told us that it is just "schnitzel". We were told that "schnitzel" is a German word that only German speakers might know (which seemed odd, since it’s quite an international dish - I even googled it to check!). After more discussion, we finally learned that we could indeed order a simple steak, which - when it came - actually excellent. To their credit, they did not charge us for the dish swap, which I appreciated since the mistake was partly due to a misunderstanding on my end as well. Moving on to dessert, ordering was just as confusing. Apparently, their Creame Caramel is actually a piece of cake. When I asked if it was like a crème brûlée, they said it was similar but without the wine - at this point, I probably should have known what to expect! The dessert, unsurprisingly, was not what we imagined. For a bit of comic relief, while my friend was in the restroom for a few minutes, another guest started very aggressively banging on the door. Not quite the restaurant’s fault, but it added to the oddness of the evening. To finish things off, we asked for a latte, but were told it wasn't on the menu. So, we settled for cappuccino and asked for less coffee. In the end, we were charged for two cappuccino, and I’m still not sure why, because we only wanted one with less coffee. What’s stranger is that all of these issues mostly happened with my friend - it almost seemed like the staff didn’t like her (though I can’t say for sure). On my part, my fish dish was excellent, the tiramisu was also wonderful, and the wine recommendations were great.

In summary: If you’re planning to order classic, well-known dishes for you, you’ll probably be satisfied (especially with the fish and desserts). But if you decide to venture beyond, be prepared for some unexpected surprises. Overall, the place is acceptable, but I can’t say it lived up to its...

From the moment you step inside Ristorante Taverna Colombo, it takes your breath away. The design and furniture create a space that feels both stylish and inviting, setting the perfect atmosphere for a memorable meal.

The food is nothing short of spectacular — every dish is bursting with fresh, vibrant flavors and beautifully presented. It’s clear that each plate is crafted with care and passion.

The staff are wonderful: warm, attentive, and genuinely invested in making guests feel at home. And the owner is simply delightful — their love for the restaurant and its guests shines through in every detail.

This isn’t just a place to eat, it’s an experience filled with beauty, flavor, and heart. I left with a smile and already can’t wait to return. Grazie tutti ❤️ (Wish i knew how to take...

We have been dining at Ristorante Taverna Columbo for over a decade. The Santa Margherita location is lovely, and we enjoy dining al fresco there, but the reason we keep returning despite the many choices in the area is two-fold: 1. The food is consistently delicious - we have tried many of the pasta and fish dishes and can recommend them all. 2. The Staff gets our top rating for being very friendly, accommodating and efficient - we always feel incredibly welcome there. As an added bonus, though we are foreigners, we like to practice our Italian. The Staff is very patient helping us learn as we try, despite the fact that they all speak...