Trattoria Da Emilia — Restaurant in Sorrento

Really fresh seafood restaurant right on the waterfront with simple preparations. We walked up without a reservation and for a Monday it was packed and a line waiting for tables. But everyone seems to want to sit in the front row on the water and we were happy to be seated immediately under the awning. We ordered the caprese, the mussels in tomato sauce and the mixed seafood grill and a half liter of the house white wine. The mussels were definitely the highlight - plump juicy mussels swimming in a tomato based broth with tart cherry tomatoes mixed in. The spongy bread that is served at the table was perfect to stop up every last little drop. The fish on the seafood grill was also so fresh and delicate. It was some sort of herring I believe. The seafood grill also came with one prawn and two large pieces of cuttlefish. The cuttle fish flavor was good with that slightly charred taste that I love from the grill. But they were a little over cooked and would have been better pulled off the grill a little sooner. Or maybe pounded a little more. The one prawn was cooked perfectly. I would say I would have rather had more fish or more prawn than the cuttlefish/squid for 20 euros but it was all fresh at least. The caprese was okay. I would say the tomatoes were outstanding but the mozzarella was a little rubbery, not the kind I typically like with my caprese. This was more the kind I like on a pizza. The service - they sat us immediately as I mentioned. Silverware and serve ware came out. They took our drink order quickly, water and wine were served. and the food came out in the correct order very quickly, piping hot. They checked on us several times through our meal. I know these seem pretty basic but I have to say this is very rare for restaurants like this in Italy. It's more common in very high end places. They were friendly and efficient and the place was really well run. All in all a...

Da Emilia came recommended and since we were sleeping right around the corner it felt only natural to try our luck here. Let's start with the positives, mostly because they were few and far between. Da Emilia is a popular spot on the picturesque marina grande. Because of said popularity queues form and let it be said, their queue management was great, maybe even impeccable. We got a table within no time at all. This should have been a warning sign of what was to come. From here on out the cozze al pommodoro (mussels with tomatoes) was the only positive, because it was tasty and actually warm, which is something to treasure at Da Emilia. The antipasto di mare was tasteless, rubbery and thrown together. Pretty sure this was not fresh. The fact that your food arrives right about two minutes after ordering is a dead give away. Before properly finishing antipasti the plates were taken away to make room for the arriving seconds, a very cheesy and oily melanzane parmigiana (a lot of mozzarella inside for some reason) and mixed fish from the grill, which were again rubbery and tasteless. The white house wine was rubbish and to top it of everything is quite expensive. But more than all of this it is the rushed, impersonal treatment of everything here, the food and the guests, that makes this the quintessential tourist trap. Just before leaving my girlfriend remarked that she felt like a product being squeezed through a greasy, oily machine instead of an...

Really bad experience. Not just bad food, but even worse service. We ordered a sea food pasta and fried calamari and prawns that were served maximum 5 minutes after we have ordered. Of course the pasta was soggy and steaming hot from the microwave. Sea food all overcooked and none in their original shell. The fried starter was also overcooked and chewy. The only thing we could eat wS another boiling aubergine that we had to asked for bread to have it with (never offered despite it's supposed to be included in the €2 service charge). Then when we returned our terrible food to the staff no one really apologise. We requested to pay just what we had consumed (wine, bread, water and hard boiling aubergine) and was accepted, though not very friendly. Then when we were leaving and asked to have a word with the manager we only got from her a "whatever " and shrugging shoulders...which really demonstrate they don't care at all about the customers!!! So please, do not go there. The day before we try the spot exactly next to this one (porta marina) and cannot stop recommending it. It is not only way much better and really good quality Italian food, but also cheaper and amazing service. The only reason we tried Emilia's was that the other was full and no tables available....and being right next to this one, what could be wrong? Well...certainly it was. So please wait a bit until you get a table at Porta Marina...but do not ever go to...