Taverna del Capitano — Restaurant in Vernazza

Whenever I think of Cinque Terre my face lits with a big smile. Not only this amazing area allowed me to see some stunning images, little colored buildings, fishermen's boats painted in all colors, beautiful small bays and waves hitting the shore over and over creating such an amazing sound, but also when I think of this area I think of the food I tasted here.

Until this day I have not eaten a pizza like I tasted here(more in a future post) and until this year the pasta I ate here was without hesitation the best pasta in the world.( I will review later 2 restaurants, one in Bari and one in Lecce where I tasted something incredible).

After a long day exploring the small villages that are Cinque Terre, my feet took me Vernazza where I strolled on the main street admiring the buildings until I reached the harbour.

Before going on this trip I read that a special dish for this area was the pasta con pesto( trofie al pesto if I remember corectly) so I was really itching to taste something from this part of Italy.

My luck made it that the first time I ever tasted such a dish was at Taverna del Capitano in Vernazza.

Unlike my usual reviews where I use bullets for different aspects of the review here I will skip such an approach due to the fact that I did not have the chance to visit the restaurant inside and also I ate only one dish and didn't interact with the staff too much.

Before starting this review I would like to mention the fact that the Taverna del Capitano restaurant proudly displays the logo Cucina Tipica on their site and on display at the location, granted to those local businesses which guarantee their dedication to traditional methods and the high quality of their products.

I came across this information while I was searching for the restaurant's site so if you consider it of any help or would like to know more about this type of logo feel free to search it on Google.

The place is split between an inside area and the terrace which oversees the small harbour of Vernazza. I had the luck to find a small table outside where I was able to enjoy my glass of house wine while waiting for the pasta to arrive.

The pasta, my dish, con pesto was simply amazing. The pasta boiled a bit al dente it left you chewing slowly while flavours filled your mouth.

Until then I must honestly say I never tasted something so good made from only two or three ingredients.

I was surprised by how well the flavors matched and went with the wine the staff reccomended.

Even though just a house wine, I must say it could hold its own against many bottled, more expensive wines.

The bruschette before the pasta were good, I really enjoyed them as an appetizer and even my friend's pasta was ok but what really struck gold was this amazing dish I have ordered. Unfortunatelly for me, I have tried the same dish in one or two more places(will review those aswell) but they were nowhere near the dish I got that day.

Before the final conclusion I must say that the prices were very Ok, I remember paying not more than 10-11 euros for my pasta, which was a great price considering how rich in tourists Cinque Terre is and how good the food was.

In the end I must say that after a day of beach and exploring small villages this came like a blessing. To eat a delicious meal, to drink a good wine, outside, watching the harbour in Vernazza, people moving around, all happy,exploring, discovering this area, is a feeling one must try.

So if you're ever in Vernazza give this...

Location is prime and food was good. What was memorable for me though was the bad treatment me and my boyfriend received from the staff. We just arrived by boat from Monterosso where we went swimming for an hour or so, when we decided to cool off with some drinks and apps. We noticed this place had a lot of table available at the time, so we approached a wait staff to ask where we could sit. He replied with, are you buying drinks?, to which I replied yes, and he immediately followed that with, if you’re only buying drinks then you can’t stay here, I told him that we’re going to order food as well. He then showed us to our table. A few moments later, a different wait staff approached us for our order and while I was still perusing the menu, my boyfriend told the man what we will have for drinks, he nodded and said we have to order food now as kitchen will close in a few minutes. I asked for mussels, and when I did, he huffed, and made an annoyed expression before leaving our table. I wondered why he was so annoyed we ordered mussels when i noticed another table had the same order. While waiting for our order, I noticed an older couple in our tour group also get a table. Suffice to say they had their apps and mains before we did. And the two middle aged ladies to our right who also just showed up, had a stellar welcome and service by these same men who looked at us, as if we were stains at the bottom of their shoe. I am not confrontational, so I did not say a word, but I do remember every treatment...

On a hot day, after just arriving via ferry, this place was a welcomed respite from the scalding Mediterranean sun. Outdoor seating offered full shade under a plethora of umbrellas. While nice and not baking in the sun, do not be fooled: there is little to no breeze, and the still air gets warm rather quickly, especially with patrons sitting closely packed and smokers at the outdoor tables.

The service was nice, as it seemed to be just one man serving each and every table there. He was patient and spoke good English to explain dishes and answer questions about the history of Vernazza. The food that came out was fresh from the sea and tasted wonderful (contrary to other reviews of this restaurant). The gnocchi with shrimp and zucchini was especially pleasant, as both the pasta and sauce were rich and creamy.

The cost of the meal is not competitive, as it caters to tourists and those who have been basking in the sun. You will find better bargains in the sandwich shops, but the quality of the seafood could not be matched in Vernazza. You pay the price for what you get. Our large party of 13 easily spent upwards of 240 Euro during our 90-minute lunch. After baking in the still air, the gelateria across the square offers good gelati at fair prices (though avoid the white mint unless you love the taste of cold candy...