Now that I have Alba restaurants out of the way I'm on to my next task -- restaurants for our stay in SML. I'm starting with a blank slate here so any suggestions would be helpful.

Carole

My sister is in SM right now and here are the recommendations I gave her from a 2004 trip:

Santa Margherita: Il Nostromo
Via Del Arco, 6

Terrific Ligurian food, moderately priced in a friendly setting

We liked this restaurant so much that we ate here twice on our 4 night stay in Santa Margherita Ligure. Both the spaghetti vongole and amatriciana that my husband had on separate nights were delicious. I enjoyed a fabulous mixed grill of seafood and heavenly gnocchi. The setting was a typical Italian trattoria, with friendly service, English menus and a nice mix of locals and tourists.

da Laura in San Fruttuoso-a nice ferry ride from Santa M to this spot.

This is a very small open restaurant on the right as you get off the ferry. Open kitchen. The best spaghetti vongele of all our trips to Italy!

Il Castello in Vernazza (one of the CT towns) in the castle overlooking the water, up lots of stairs but worth it. A lasagne to die for I think.

She may have more suggestions when she gets home.

Colleen, thanks for the recommendations. Looking forward to your sisters.

Carole

We will be in SML in a few weeks and these are the restaurants that I have in my notes: Ristorante da Michele on Amandola, Ristorante a Lampara on Via Marafiloni(soup, pasta, fish and poached pear) Il Faro, Trattoria Da Pezzi on Via Cavour 21 (no menu--choose from display) and Trattoria Baicin. Also Gelateria Centrale just off Piazza Veneto for gelato dipped in chocolate. I cannot vouch for any of the above as I have not yet been to SML, but have gleaned this info from forums for whatever that is worth. When we you be in SML?

Two restaurants mentioned by Kathy G were good choices on our visit a couple of years ago - da Michele and a Lampara. Not sensational but we enjoyed both.

For a very good seafood restaurant if you travel to Camogli, Ristorante da Paolo on Via S. Fortunato 14 which is behind the touristy sea walk. Outstanding fresh fish selection.

Kathy, we'll be in SML June 6-11. How about you?

Carole

Carole, We will just miss you as we will leave on June 4. I am so looking forward to it! We are celebrating our anniversary. Hope you have a great time!

I am so glad this question was asked. I will also be in SML this summer (June 23 for 7 nights). Too bad I will miss everyone. If you discover any other great finds, please add to this when you return.

I can recommend Manuelina in nearby Recco for their focaccia (focaccia col formaggio).

My sister has returned and loved Santa Margherita. She said she enjoyed Da Biacin, especially the fish, but found A Lampara dissapointing. I seem to recall that I wasn't that impressd with it either.

Is La Lampara the one down by the docks? If so we had a really good meal there last month. Baicin was okfor the pasta but the fish wasn't anything special.

But a little known place I loved was La Solita Zuppa. Very good for meat (recommended to me by a florentine, no less) and they have a wonderful pasta of veggie ravioli in pinoli sauce - their specialty.