Il Caminetto
Via Lungomare Gramsci, 283,
Porto San Giorgio, Italy.
We have been eating at Il Caminetto for about 12 years. In addition to being one of the best restaurants in Italy, it is also a comfortable hotel (approximately $85.00/night) situated about 100 yards from the Adriatic Sea.
Il Caminetto specializes in fish dishes. They will make a steak, but anyone ordering steak here is looked at a a bit odd,
It is very difficult to choose a "best" dish. The easiest course of action is to let the host and proprietor, Mario Bagalini, choose for you. The usual courses are: Cold antipasti consisting of sardines in oil and a tad of vinegar, a crab meat salad, cold langostine which have been grilled and seasoned with olive oil and salt, and a delightful salad of crab, calamari, and the freshest white fish caught that day. A few pimentos and parsley provide color.
Next come the warm antipasti. These consist of mussels in a light tomato broth, tiny snails (a toothpick is used to remove the meat), larger conch in a heavier tomato sauce, and at least 500 small clams.
Numerous pasta dishes (Primi Piatti) are available. We enjoyed spaghetti with clams or salmon. The clam sauce is simply prepared with garlic and oil, while the pasta with salmon is served in a light tomato-cream sauce. Spaghetti with crab or langostine is also very good.
If one prefers rice rather than pasta, the risottos are excellent at Il Caminetto. They can be ordered with just about anything one wants.
The choice of fish for the secondi (second course) are varied. The best dishes are grilled . When last there, we were served a platter of grilled prawns, squid, cuttlefish, merluzzo (a medium sized white fish) and rombo (Turbot)
If one prefers, the same fish are served baked.
The food at Il Caminetto is simple and perfectly cooked. All of the fish is amazingly fresh, more often than not caught that day. The service is good, and unobtrusive. Mario is a fine host and raconteur.
Desserts are gelato, a variety of torts and our favorite, lemon sorbet topped off with a touch of vodka.
The cost of the above dinner for two, everything described including wine, mineral water and tip was approximately $55.00.
Last updated on: 06/03/99 12:51:01 AM