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. 

10 Things I've Learned in Scalea!

Time for a great post from our guest blogger Amie at Dimplebug! 

You’re probably reading this because you’re interested in travelling to a little town called Scalea. Or maybe you’ve heard of it and you want to know what it’s all about. I mean, it isn’t exactly one of the most ‘well known’ places in Italy. Whatever your reason, I’m here to help! I’ve visited this wonderful place many, many times over the years (seriously, I’ve lost count), so there’re a few things I’ve learned along the way. Without further adieu, here are 10 things I’ve learned in Scalea:

1. You Only Need One Drink to Fill Up on Snacks

If you fancy a snack, you only need one drink and you’re well away. Even better if you’re in a large group of people; everybody buys a drink and you have 6 or more different bowls of snacks to choose from. You can get some regular tasty peanuts or things a little more ‘out there’, like aubergine in brine-type stuff. Places like Bar La Playa do great snacks. Just be warned; you’ll probably think twice about having that big plate of pasta for dinner! 

2. Don’t Judge a Stray Dog By Its Cover

If there’s one thing that makes me sad, it’s the stray dogs you see roaming the streets. However, you must not let their scraggly appearance put you off giving them a little fuss. They are nearly always the most loving little things ever! Sure, you might get a few flea bites from petting them, but what’s a little itch to make a homeless dog happy for a while? If I ever bought a place out here it would be overrun with dogs (and I’m pretty sure I would be known as the crazy dog lady).

3. Italian Gelato Blows Regular Ice Cream Out of the Water

You haven’t had ice cream until you’ve had Italian gelato. It’s made differently to regular ice cream, or so I hear. My personal favourites are pistachio and hazelnut.

4. You Should Prepare to be Stared at

Italians have a slightly different culture to ours. They like to stare - a lot. Take it as a compliment! They think you’re interesting. Don’t be offended. They certainly don’t mean any harm by it! In fact, learn a little Italian and say hello. Even strike up a conversation. You’ll hone your language skills and make some authentic Italian buddies! Even if you have no idea what they’re saying, just smile and nod. They’ll love you!

5. Drink Your Wine Slowly

The wine over here is delicious; but lethal. Savour it and drink it slowly, because if you don’t you’ll be wonky eyed quicker than you can say ‘Jack Robinson’. It’s difficult, I won’t lie, what with it being so darned yummy. But if you value your dignity, it is imperative that you take your time. Most of it is homemade and unique to each restaurant!

6. All of the Eggs Are Happy

If I had to write a list of things that made me happy, happy eggs would definitely be in the top 10...dare I say it, even the top 5! What’s a happy egg? Eggs with vibrant yellow/orange yolks! None of that pale yellow business for me, thanks. If you love happy eggs too, or you’re just curious to know what one tastes like (hint: much better), then you better get down to the Interspar sharpish.

7. Italian Beer Rules All

I’m not a beer drinker, usually. I like vodka. I love a good glass of wine at social gatherings. I enjoy the odd cocktail on days ending in ‘Y’. But honestly? Italian beer rules all. I never drink beer back home because it just doesn’t do it for me. As soon as I tried a Peroni, I had a new favourite tipple.

8. They Take Their Pizza Seriously

Pizza fans rejoice; you can get pizzas as big as your head in just about every restaurant you visit. They are like flying saucers, literally. You can’t call yourself a true pizza connoisseur until you’ve had a real Italian pizza, stone baked and served fresh out of the oven. Toppings? Try the seafood, or even the sausage and chips - yep, chips on a pizza. It’ll change your life!

9. You’ll Wear Shorts, They’ll Wear Coats

I went to the Interspar one day for a spot of food shopping and wore shorts. It was a lovely temperature, and I was thoroughly enjoying getting some sun to my pins, feeling smug that all of my friends were getting caught in torrential rain. Picture the scene: I strutted through the entrance pushing my trolley, on the verge of an evil cackle as I pictured my friend’s back in miserable England, when I was met with a lot of staring (see point 4). That’s when I realised everybody was pretty much dressed for winter. I reassured myself that they’re just used to the climate, and continued to browse the aisles in what was seemingly my underwear in comparison. I won’t let it put me off though!

10. You’ll Love it

Yes, you’ll probably put on a few pounds thanks to all of the delicious, carb loaded (and sometimes cheese drenched) food. Yes, you’ll drink far too much wine and wake up with a raging hangover. Yes, you’ll get stared at. And my god, you’ll have to drive carefully. But when all's said and done, whether you’re enjoying a breakfast muffin and an Americano at Carmelo’s beach bar, Lido da Pietro, or reading the latest works of JoJo Moyes in the sun as you listen to the sound of the sea; I’m certain you’ll love Scalea - and Scalea will love you too.

Thanks Dimplebug for a great insight into our little piece of paradise here in Calabria!.....

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