Yesterday I went to the Mostra d'Oltremare at NauticSud, and at lunchtime, looking for something to eat, I called a dear friend, Glauco, to recommend a restaurant, and he suggested La Tortuga at Porto di Baia. When we arrived, Claudia greeted us with a disarming smile and ushered us into the outdoor seating area. There were two of us, and we asked to sit at a table for four for more comfort, and we were granted our request. While Claudia, stealthily and invisibly, cleared the other two places to give us more space, Anna explained the house dishes and gave us excellent advice on what to eat and drink. We chose a house appetizer consisting of several individual portions: salmon rolls, octopus on a bed of potatoes, tomato bruschetta, a cod meatball sandwich, a crostini with a cloud of whitebait, and many other small delicacies. We ordered two first courses, but asked if they could be served as half portions, and we were immediately and kindly obliged. We were able to savor the delicious tagliatelle with fried artichokes and shrimp, followed by mezze maniche with monkfish sauce. In truth, the two half portions weren't really half portions: they were practically two whole plates, lovingly prepared and carefully polished off. We sent the plates back thoroughly cleaned because the sauces were so good that we had to mop up the bread with it (the homemade bread was also delicious). Meanwhile, another sweet girl, Erica, appeared, hovering silently between the tables, making sure everything was in order. Finally, we ordered a half portion of caprese and a good coffee. We truly enjoyed ourselves. We felt pampered. It even started to rain, but the sound of the raindrops on the roof of the outdoor seating area made being inside and eating in the warmth even more pleasant. Once we entered to pay the bill, which was fair and absolutely proportionate to what we had eaten and drunk, we were delighted to meet the owner, Antonio, Chef Giuseppe, a handsome and genuine young man with a round face, and one of his assistants, whose name, alas, I don't remember. They were all delighted that we had enjoyed their cuisine. Antonio kindly offered us an amaro, and while we sipped it, we chatted about this and that as if we had known each other forever. We also had the pleasure of meeting Antonio's sister, Valentina, an exceptional woman with eyes as deep as the sea you'd want to drown in, and his mother, Amalia, whom we thanked for having given birth to these two wonderful children.
I can't attach photos of the dishes because we were hungry, and after seeing them we didn't waste time taking photos and immediately gorged ourselves on them, but I'll attach one photo: the one of the empty, carefully cleaned plate, which is the only one I managed to take.
In a world where appearances reign supreme, La Tortuga Restaurant in Baia seems to be an exception. Here you eat well, pay fairly, and they pamper you like a king.
At La Tortuga Restaurant in Baia, you feel at home and cook with heart: they use an extra ingredient, called Love.
pierluigi lapolla
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08 Febbraio 2026
10,0
Beautiful location and enchanting view, but the service was inattentive and inattentive (the outdoor area was cold, with only one gas stove turned off) and the portions of the first courses were truly meager. On my €19 (!) plate of paccheri with amberjack, I counted exactly eight half paccheri. Spaghetti with clams was lightly seasoned and lacking in clams, and the fried food was good but not excellent. €40 per person for three first courses, two fried dishes, two glasses of wine, and two bottles of water seemed truly excessive.
UPDATE AFTER YOUR REPLY: Thanks for your feedback. It was a sunny day, but in January, sitting in the shade, turning on a couple of gas stoves would be enough to make customers more comfortable. I have no doubts about the quality of the product; I just take issue with the ridiculous amount of pasta for a €19 dish, that's all. I should have photographed it to better illustrate the point.
Simon Cittati
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27 Gennaio 2026
6,0
Warm, Christmassy atmosphere...and always an excellent selection of ingredients.
A pleasant variety of appetizers, all delicious. Excellent first courses, plentiful and well-prepared.
Polite and friendly staff.
Antonio, the owner, is the perfect host, able to advise you based on your tastes and the catch of the day.
Titti O.
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14 Dicembre 2025
10,0
This is my third time back at this wonderful restaurant, where you can experience true passion and love for food and, above all, for the customer.
Everything is truly exceptional; their appetizer is sublime, while the spaghetti with sea urchins is truly unique and has a unique flavor.
Compliments to the highly professional and attentive service.
If you want a unique experience, I recommend LA TORTUGA BAIA. BELIEVE ME, YOU WILL RETURN.
Aldo Annunziata
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07 Dicembre 2025
10,0