Ristoro In Sestri levante

02/05/2026: An experience not to be missed! Very friendly staff and spectacular dishes with a unique view

26/04/2026: It was certainly an interesting and, in some ways, enjoyable experience, but honestly, I don't think I'd do it again. Let's start with the location: we're in Portofino, so the setting is undoubtedly evocative. However, the restaurant itself didn't particularly impress me aesthetically, and more importantly, it was cold during dinner. The heating wasn't on, and virtually all the guests were sitting in jackets or sweaters: we never managed to remove our jackets either, which impacted the overall experience. Regarding the cuisine, there's nothing to complain about about the professionalism of chef Mattia Pecis: he introduced himself personally, and his great passion and talent are evident. A young but already highly skilled man, he's the restaurant manager and the mastermind behind the menu. I truly have great respect for him. The tasting menu is interesting, with some truly excellent dishes: especially the Russian salad and the "garden of the vegetable garden," both extraordinary and perfectly executed, in true Cracco style but with a lovely personal touch. Other dishes, however, were more divisive: the "eye" was difficult to appreciate, both in terms of taste and aesthetics, while the bitter orange risotto wasn't particularly well received at the table and was even difficult to finish. Overall, the use of very bitter citrus fruits didn't convince me. A very positive note, however, was the customer service: they were extremely attentive to my lactose intolerance, demonstrating care and professionalism. The service overall was impeccable, with friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable staff. The opportunity to tour the kitchen and receive explanations, such as how to dry-age the fish, was also greatly appreciated. One aspect I didn't like was the inability to choose different menus at the table: there were four of us and we were all forced to choose the same tasting menu, despite two options available at different prices. Finally, the price: definitely too high for the overall experience. We spent around €1,100 for four (a €210 tasting menu per person plus wine), and honestly, I don't think it was justified given what we ate. In short: an interesting experience, with its ups and downs, but not compelling enough to want to repeat.