PESCE BALLA — Restaurant in Sestri Levante

It all started almost promising at Pesche Balla. You’re greeted by a man behind what can best be described as a seafood counter, enthusiastically explaining the day’s catch and how it can be prepared. A complimentary glass of prosecco is offered — or rather, to one of us. Apparently, the others failed the prosecco eligibility test at the door.

And then… everything fell apart. The food arrived fast. Drinks, however? They must have taken a scenic detour via Genoa. After asking not once, not twice, but three times, they finally arrived — after we had finished eating.

Our poor server was clearly on their very first day not just in this restaurant, but possibly in the entire hospitality industry. Opening a wine bottle turned into a brain teaser on par with cracking the Enigma code. Help from more experienced staff? None. We eventually opened the bottle ourselves. So yes — it became an interactive experience, just not in the way anyone would hope.

To be fair, the pizza was good — credit where it’s due. Everything else? Middling at best, and nowhere near the standard this place pretends to offer (especially given the prices).

Bottom line: Pesche Balla is, sadly, a textbook example of how to take a lovely concept, fresh seafood, and a great location — and utterly drown it in catastrophic service, poor management, and a complete absence of follow-through. The experience became so absurd it was almost funny.

Recommendation: Avoid. Luckily, Sestri Levante has plenty of other restaurants where both the fish and the service are actually fresh.

– Family of 6 with children

Reply to the restaurant(ser below):

Thank you for your reply – it was both creative and entertaining, and probably deserves a small response in return. So here are a few simple clarifications:

Yes, when making the reservation, we clearly specified that we would be bringing a stroller. To hear that a Bugaboo Fox qualifies as 'roughly the size of a Smart car with four doors' was, I must admit, a bit surprising. Perhaps we have misunderstood what counts as a 'normal' stroller in restaurant terms.

We also requested a table on the edge of the restaurant — specifically to avoid noise and not cause inconvenience to ourselves or others. Somewhat ironically, we were placed right next to the kitchen — directly in the pathway where all the staff and service traffic passed back and forth continuously. As for the wine: it came with a perfectly ordinary cork. In fact, it ended up being opened by myself.

That being said, none of this is truly dramatic. We understand that evenings can be hectic, and misunderstandings happen. What’s a bit unfortunate, though, is that your response — while witty and well-written — somewhat reflects the same lack of humility and consideration that we experienced during our visit. As for our rating, it is primarily based on the overall balance between the food, the price, and the experience — with service naturally being part of that equation.

P.S. I have considered your comments regarding the rating and have adjusted it to two stars...

Magical Seafood Experience with Rooftop Views – Don’t Miss It.

We stumbled upon Pesca Balla during our evening walk along the promenade — and what a find! This gem of a restaurant truly delivers an unforgettable Italian seafood experience from start to finish.

From the moment we arrived, we were warmly welcomed and invited to choose our fish directly from a beautiful display of the freshest catch of the day. This interactive and fun ritual was a highlight, especially for the kids, who loved being involved in picking out what we’d all eat. It instantly made the whole experience feel personal and memorable.

The rooftop terrace is a must. The panoramic views over the sea as the sun sets are absolutely breathtaking. Be sure to request a table up there when you book — it elevates the whole meal to something really special.

Service throughout the evening was faultless — warm, friendly, and attentive without being intrusive. The staff clearly care about creating a top-notch dining experience.

And the food? Simply incredible. We started with grilled scampi and scallops — beautifully cooked and bursting with flavour. Then came the showstopper: fresh snapper for two, expertly grilled and served with delicate slices of baked potato. Every bite was delicious and perfectly seasoned.

If you’re in the area, don’t hesitate — Pesca Balla is absolutely worth the stroll along the promenade. Just make sure you head to the roof terrace for the best seat...

The only enjoyable aspect about this place is its beautiful terrasse. Your dining experience, however,gets ruined by incredibly bad service. Let me explain. When you arrive, they put a glass of Prosecco in your hand, nice gesture of course, but apparently, that is meant to make you more open to the rush that follows. The guy behind the fish counter speedily explains what's there to order and you need to be quick about it. No time to consider side dishes or individual preferences. Once you're seated, you're being told that you can only have wine in a whole bottle. I find that important to know. The first course was fine (I had raw tuna). The main course, though, arrived completely cold, which was no surprise at all, as they fillet the fish outside where it can geht a little windy as you're sitting on a roof top. I got my plate some important minutes before my boyfriend got his and yes, i waited for him to be served because that's how I was raised. The Pesce Balla's staff, however, had the nerve to tell me to hurry up and eat because yes, the food gets cold. Then the waiter rolled bis eyes on me. That was when I repeated my wish to have my food reheated. He came back with my food still lukewarm and a bottle of wine as a gift. I was not happy with all of this. The restaurant obviosly has high standards which they do not...