Il Merlo In Camaiore

We returned for dinner last week. It's hard to ask for anything better. High-quality fish, meticulous attention to ingredients, warm hospitality, and prices in line with the excellent cuisine.

My husband and I went to this place for Christmas and paid a small fee. We ate reasonably well. I asked for shrimp and they were dirty with intestines. This is a place like this. I didn't expect it to be a disappointment, even with very small portions. Perhaps it was too crowded? Well...

Excellent cuisine, high-quality traditional dishes. Nice wine list, more original than the local ones. We really enjoyed our stay.

An exceptional evening in a heavenly setting. Everything is perfect, the meal, the setting, and the ambiance. The servers are discreet, smiling, and very pleasant. Go there with your eyes closed.

Every summer we return to this restaurant expecting the same quality as previous years, but this time we were quite disappointed, especially with the service, which didn't live up to the final bill. On the same evening, in no particular order: - the waiter serving the raw fish couldn't explain what all the fish on the plate were. The second waiter couldn't help either. - while waiting for everyone else to arrive, one of us asked for a glass of prosecco that was never served. - halfway through the meal, having finished the first bottle of wine, we asked for another, but, on her own initiative, she was brought a different, "similar" one, the waitress said, because the wine we ordered at the beginning of the meal was unavailable. Perhaps the wine list should be added. In previous years, there was a competent sommelier in the dining room, but he is no longer there. One of us asked the same waitress, the one always somber—perhaps a smile wouldn't hurt—if the dish he wanted to order, "rice and curry-gratin scampi," was, as he claimed, a historic Viareggio dish (incidentally, it was a staple on the menu of the then-famous Zi'Rosa for several years). The waitress replied with a firm "no," adding loudly that if anything, it was an Indian dish, but that customers were still asking for it... We found the response inappropriate, both in its manner and content, and demeaning of the dish itself. In the final bill, we noted that four glasses of Prosecco at the beginning of the dinner cost us 48 euros. Perhaps it would have been kind of the waiter to inform us of the price when we ordered, and perhaps suggest a bottle instead of four glasses. Compared to last year, we've noticed that prices have risen significantly (for example, the raw ham, now on the menu at 45 euros, was under 40 last year). The place is always very nice and the chef's greeting at the end of the evening is very welcome and friendly.

One of the best menu’s I have had for a while! We had the oysters (AMAZING!) and the raw sea food platter for starters and the sea food risotto as primi. And all were of the highest quality. Great wine pairing and deserts made it a perfect evening! HIGHLY recommended!

A beautiful seaside restaurant, open year-round. The seafood is top-notch, with special mention for the fried sole, the wild herb salad, and the catch of the day. It's a shame I've never had the spaghetti with clams, but perhaps that's also a sign of the quality and freshness of the cuisine. The wine list is excellent, and the service is always very courteous and friendly. Perhaps a little overpriced.