Le Case del Sole - Il Rustico

The Ricchebuono family has long been renowned for their excellent cuisine and warm welcome, and now that the couple’s two enthusiastic children have joined their parents at the restaurant, this is truer than ever. Father Giuseppe is the pivot here, a skilful and precise chef who creates elegant and minimalist cuisine from delicious local ingredients, such as fish from Noli which is listed on the menu in dialect (for example, “cicetta” is monkfish). His son and daughter work front of house alongside their mother, with Martina supervising the wine list (subdivided into three sections – Liguria;

Here, choose between the simply furnished, bright dining room with a proudly vintage feel that dates back to its opening in the 1970s and a tiny yet attractive terrace with sea views (there are just a few tables, so it’s best to book in advance). Fish has always been – and still is – the house speciality, with fresh, top-quality dishes simply prepared according to classic methods such as the barbecue grill visible in the dining room. The fish is so fresh that the handwritten menu changes daily.

Occupying a 17C olive oil press in the heart of a charming medieval village, this restaurant has retained its old stone mill and wooden press in its vaulted dining room, which provides the backdrop for imaginative fish and seafood dishes prepared using top-quality local ingredients. The delicious Italian-style ceviche is made from the catch of the day, while the Mare Mare mixed fish dish is baked in a casserole with cherry tomatoes, courgettes and bay leaves. If you’re looking for a simpler option, try the I Torchiettibistro on the corner of the same street.