Il Gabbiano — Restaurant in Sorrento

This is the first restaurant we have felt provided a true Italian dining experience. I'm actually torn about suggesting this place because I don't want it to become another tourist trap!

The bad first. The only issue we had applies to many restaurants here; the seafood is superior to other kinds of meat. So if you're a meat eater don't expect to be blown away by any land food option. That said, the best beef we've had the past 3 days has been here.

Now the best parts. The view was stunning. The catch of the day was fresh and delicious. The kitchen was accommodating, letting me purchase a fillet of the catch of the day instead of the 2 lb. $110 menu option, since the menu option was meant to be shared and my partner does not eat seafood. The staff was kind and hospitable. They were attentive, pouring our wine and water when our glasses got low for instance, without being pushy. They were also able to provide true wine pairing options instead of the usual suggestion of the first or second white or red on the menu. I greatly appreciated that. Finally, what set them apart, was their presentation, allowing you to experience the wine by smelling the cork, swirling the wine, and advising you to let the wine breathe.

Reserve a spot. Don't let the # of reviews deter you. In fact, I think I'm going to start looking for restaurants with less reviews for my last 2 days...

Although the name above shows II Gabbiano, we know this restaurant as Calypso Restaurant Sorrento. We were in Sorrento in mid-September this year and had a 7 pm reservation for a Sunday night. We got the best seat in the house...corner table on the balcony with views of the sea, coastline, and Mt. Vesuvius.

Our waiter was an older gentleman who was funny, friendly, and informative. He suggested a bottle of wine when we told him our tastes preferences, and it was perfect! We shared the tuna tartare (outstanding), the pasta with lobster and cherry tomatoes (also very good) and their catch of the day with baby potatoes (also wonderful!)

All of the food was amazing! In between courses we also received little dishes, compliments of the chef. The service was impeccable...never an empty wine glass, continual exchanging of dining utensils after each dish, and constant attention without feeling we were being bothered.

With the bottle of wine, the three courses, and coffee for each our bill was just over 100 euros. We thought this was extremely reasonable because back in the States, for that kind of service, we'd pay over $200. Everything from the view, to our waiter, to the food and service..5+ stars!

Hope to get back to Sorrento someday and will definitely go...

We visited here to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary on 16th July- we had the most perfect evening, staff made our evening unforgettable. The food, atmosphere, scenery and the location was perfect. Nello was so kind, there were other staff that were so kind, we sat outside having drinks later on watching the sunset, just taking in the beauty on the Sorrento view from the balcony. The best lemoncello spritzer I have ever tasted. We were surprised when the staff sang to us with a celebration tirumsu with a candle on to celebrate the special occasion. Sorrento holds a special place on our hearts, we will be back next year. We definitely be visiting here again. Thank you to everyone for making our 25th wedding anniversary so special.

Julie and Dave...