Trattoria Piemontese In Calice ligure

05/12/2025: An exceptional fritto misto, in a place that had been pilloried by a pompous food critic for a "wrong" fish soup. We ordered it as an appetizer, along with a nice bottle of Bianchetta Genovese. Fresh fish (squid, shrimp, red mullet, baby octopus, sardines) lightly floured, fried beautifully, fragrant on the outside and soft on the inside. One of the best I've eaten in recent years. The first courses stray slightly from the purest Ligurian tradition (after all, the owner has Emilian origins), but they do so with essential creativity and good taste: cacio e pepe risotto garnished with shrimp tartare; tagliatelle with monkfish, cherry tomato sauce, and chili powder on the edge of the plate. Simple combinations, which nevertheless allow you to appreciate the freshness of the fish: quality that's not a given on the Ligurian Riviera, where everyone wants to eat fish like there's no tomorrow, but few restaurants manage to offer truly fresh and well-cooked produce. If I remember correctly, the menu also included a more traditional seafood spaghetti. And mandilli with pesto. A good pesto. The definitive confirmation came with the baked sea bream (catch of the day): very fine but flavorful, crispy meat, with an aroma that only wild fish possess, served with two delicious side salads. The dishes and menus were brought to us by a waitress; another lady took care of the wine; the owner took our orders. Since Luca Iaccarino's review also blasted the staff, I feel it's only right to add that all of them treated us with absolute kindness and even friendliness. When we asked for the bill, we waited a little longer than expected (which is perfectly normal and can happen). Being in a bit of a hurry, we asked a second time, and the owner immediately made up for it, making light of the situation with a joke. We said goodbye with a laugh, satisfied with a wonderful evening. A lovely place, worth trying.

03/11/2025: Superlative menu, especially for the price. Excellent service Pietro On Fire!!!!!