Ristorante Vecchio Frantoio - The Old Olive Mill - Diamante

 

If you fancy a short walk before and after lunch this restaurant fits the bill.

Park in Diamante under the SS18 near the bus park (NOT the bus station) and then follow the red tiled path up the side of the river.  It’s about 1 kilometre but it’s very easy walking on a footpath and will take about 20 minutes depending how often you stop to survey the scenery.

The trail leads you past some spectacular cliff formations as well as some very pretty landscaped areas.  Even in summer there is always plenty of water in the river – but in the winter it can be very fast flowing and turbulent.

You arrive at the restaurant over a rickety rackety looking bridge, conjuring up visions of Billy Goat Gruff living underneath!

The restaurant is set on the side of the river with a large car park to the side of the wedding area.  If it’s a nice day eating outside at the tables set amid the trees is very relaxing.

Should you choose to eat in the restaurant, it’s a light and airy building retaining many of the features of the old mill.  It has been converted in a very tasteful way and has some quirky artefacts around the walls.

Even the toilets are a delight to visit. They are very clean and modern.

The menu includes all the normal dishes of the region, all of which are cooked and presented beautifully.  My personal favourite is the local sausage. The flavours are fabulous.  They have a novel take on chips here which may look odd at first but are delicious.

The beer served is Birra Morretti, which makes a nice change from Nastro Azzurro.  The wine is local and again very good.

The people however are just as important as the food and they present a very warm welcome whatever time of day you arrive.  They are attentive without being intrusive and strive to ensure that the whole experience is as perfect as they can make it.

If it’s night time, or too hot to walk, the trip in the car takes about 10 minutes on a rough track. You arrive slightly shaken and, if you’ve been foolish enough to forget to close the windows, dusty!

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La Perla del Tirreno

Whilst the location is picturesque right on the beach, this restaurant offers so much more than just a romantic setting.  

Owner Antonella and her daughter Federica are excellent hosts and will give you a warm Calabrese welcome. Federica speaks English if your Italian might not be up to scratch and there’s a menu provided in English and Russian as well as Italian. 

Specializing in fish, the menu offers a wide selection of choice and the food is always tasty and of great quality. The tuna steaks being one of my favourites. If you prefer meat then you won’t be disappointed. La Perla’s meat menu is of no lesser quality. With angus steak you won’t go far wrong. The menu consists of the usual antipasto/starter, primo/pasta and secondo/main. If you have a big appetite you might want to try a three course meal. For those of us with a less ambitious palate then something more modest like a second/main would be more than enough.

La Perla isn’t the cheapest place in town but it is probably one of the best. The quality is never in question. 

Not only a restaurant, La Perla offers a beach lido service with sun loungers, parasols and cabanas with hammocks. There is a waiter service from the bar area. It really is a great setting and worth a try. 

Finding La Perla is easy just look for the blue light box near to the London bus Pub. 

Travelling south from Scalea town centre the entry to the beach area and La Perla is just past the London Bus Pub. Travelling north from Santa Maria del Cedro, opposite hotel Felix. La Perla is open all year. 

Il Corsaro

Over the coming months I am going to share the vast fountain of knowledge I have amassed over the last 10 years or so, living here in Scalea.

I know,I know, it’s just the sort of bloke I am. Forever giving and sharing. 
Has there ever been a Saint Tony?

First on my list is one of the most popular restaurants in Scalea, Il Corsaro. 
A family run eatery with both a pizza and restaurant menu. 

Owner and head pizza chef Gianluca, head waiter Cesare and the team will
ensure you’ll have a pleasant experience in typical Calabrese fashion. The food is 
consistently good quality for a great price. 

The table wine (red or white) is local and inexpensive and goes down well …. Too well sometimes. If beer is your poison, then either Peroni/Nastro bottled or draught beer is available. 

This restaurant is not only popular with tourists, but very popular among the locals as well. 

My personal favourites here include tuna pizza, penne pasta with pancetta and a creamy sauce (my mouth is watering just writing that) and chicken in breadcrumbs covered with a cheese and tomato sauce. 

The finishing touch can be added by a lemon sponge cake. You will thank me after, believe me.

You can find Il Corsaro on Corso Mediterraneo as you enter Scalea from San Nicola just before the traffic lights on the left. You’ll find me here most Sunday evenings, but don't let that put you off.

Il Corsaro Map