Adrian's food & wine experiences — Restaurant in Santo Stefano al Mare

We visited this restaurant with high expectations after reading so many glowing reviews. I went with my husband and our toddler, excited to enjoy what we hoped would be a memorable meal. Unfortunately, it was a real disappointment from start to finish.

We ordered the "Gran Fantasia di Pesce Crudo Adrian" and mussels to start. As a big fan of raw seafood, I was especially looking forward to the tartares—but they were bland and lacked the freshness or flavor I usually associate with high-quality crudo. Nothing stood out.

For our main courses, we had the "Tagliolino all'Astice" and "Tagliolino Gamberone Viola di Sanremo." Both were extremely underwhelming. The pasta dishes were poorly executed—sauces were nearly nonexistent, flavor was missing entirely, and even the lobster was tough and tasteless. Even the lobster cracker tool was of such poor quality that I couldn’t properly crack the shell and enjoy the food. I even asked my husband to take a photo of it to show in this review—it was that bad.

The only positive aspect of our experience was the service. The waiters were very good and attentive, which makes it even more of a shame considering the poor quality of the food we were served.

We ended up finishing the "trofie al pesto" our toddler left behind, which honestly was the most enjoyable part of the meal.

We were shocked not only by the quality of the food but also by the prices. Charging €30 for dishes so poorly prepared felt outrageous. We left feeling frustrated and genuinely surprised at how this place has received so many positive reviews—perhaps there has been a recent change in the kitchen.

I suggested my husband mention our experience to the manager while paying, but he chose not to, which I accepted, although I still feel it should have been said.

All in all, I would recommend thinking twice before dining here. For half the price, you can find much more flavorful and authentic Italian...

From the moment we stepped in, we were instantly greeted with a warm and friendly welcome. The friendly staff is truly the heart of this place, showing great enthusiasm, professionalism, and readiness to assist.

Our culinary journey started with the Fish of the Day, which was presented at our table to demonstrate its freshness. After cooking it was plated for us at the table as well. The fish was cooked to absolute perfection, accompanied by a delicious medley of potatoes, olives, and vegetables. You can tell the chef is passionate about his work.

We followed this main course with a diverse selection of fine cheeses, because why not. A great selection with homemade marmalade and honey. But the final sweet note was what completed our meal in grand style - their desserts. They are amazing!

In summary, this place is a gem, offering a great dining experience. I recommend this restaurant to anyone...

Grandi speranze, piuttosto disattese. Certo, niente a che vedere con il tremendo ristorante che c'era prima, ma nemmeno l'entusiasmo che le recensioni lasciavano presagire.

Inizio buono, in realtà. Millefoglie di patate e polpo ottima (un pelo fredda) di antipasto dopo un amouse bouche di jamon serrano e melone con prosecco (che a ben pensarci dice molto della cucina).

Primi altalenanti. Ravioli al nero di seppia buoni ma che avrebbero richiesto più pomodoro e trombette per equilibrare il piatto. Gnocchetti farinosi e soprattutto con gamberi di Sanremo sfortunatamente interi, invece che a tartare come sarebbe stato necessario per renderli parte del piatto.. spaghetti alla carbonara (piatto non ufficialmente nel menù, piu fatto per i bambini che altro, ma tant'è) obiettivamente impresentabili,con pancetta dolce, zero pecorino e parmigiano al tavolo.

Come secondo, scartata la proposta del pescato del giorno (filettino di orata come pescato a 30 euro pare un po una presa in giro, e ancor più un branzino di allevamento a 25, porzionato), guardiamo alle proposte più ardite e prendiamo l'involucro di spada e alga nori, con caciotta verdure croccanti. Un piatto bello, ma sbagliato. Il formaggio copriva tutto, annullando il pesce spada, e le verdure croccanti erano in realtà fritte. Fritte bene, ma che rendevano il piatto più grasso invece che più fresco. Davvero peccato. Non abbiamo preso dolci, negli altri tavoli vedo che includeva anche un pre-dessert. Nel complesso, considerando gli oltre 100 euro per 1 antipasto, 3 primi e un secondo, non torneremo (non che Santo Stefano offra chissà che alternative, ma a Riva un ristorante di livello c'è). Servizio incerto. Camerieri bravi, forse un po' untuosi ma ci sta nel contesto di un posto caro. Cameriera invece disattenta, inadatta a come il posto vorrebbe essere. Ambiente concentrsto nel dehor dove però sarebbe necessario un trattamento contro le zanzare. E certo fa piacere l'accoglienza ai cani ma meno che questi segnino il territorio sui pali di sostegno delle coperture nell'indifferenza...