Bar Smile In Taggia

01/06/2026: In Bordighera Alta, where the setting itself invites you to slow down, La Gritta Bordigotta offers simple, measured seafood cuisine, without unnecessary complications. The menu isn't overwhelming: just a few dishes, well-focused. And for me, that's already a plus. I prefer a short, thoughtful menu to endless ones that often lose the cuisine's identity. I started with the raw fillet of the catch of the day: clean, fresh ingredients, showcased without overshadowing them. A seemingly simple dish, because when working with raw fish, the quality of the fish must speak for itself. And here it does. For my second course, I chose the mupa fillet, prepared with the same logic: linear cuisine, respect for the product, and clear flavors. There's no pursuit of special effect, but rather an attention to the ingredients that is visible and, above all, tasted in the quality of the dish. As a gourmet, I also treated myself to dessert: dark chocolate fondant with pistachio ice cream. A delicious, intense, yet balanced finish. A pleasant, yet not overpowering finish. For the pairing, I chose a Greco di Tufo DOCG – Cantine di Marzo dal 1647. A well-structured white wine from Campania, fresh and savory, with a pleasant mineral and citrus note. Cantine di Marzo recommends that this Greco be aged on its lees for at least seven months, which contributes to its complexity and body. With the raw fish and mupa, it proved to be a perfect pairing: upright enough to cleanse the palate, yet with enough substance to accompany the main course as well. Overall, a very pleasant experience: a few dishes, good ingredients, simple yet thoughtful cuisine. One of those tables where you don't feel like the fish is over-interpreted, but rather respected. And for me, when it comes to seafood, that's an important quality.

24/05/2026: A truly wonderful restaurant! We had a fantastic meal, and the atmosphere was lovely and romantic. A great place to remember.