Il Nido in Sorrento
by Nicki Zinni
(Bay Village, Ohio)
The Il Nido is a wonderful little restaurant in the hotel of the same name (click for details). All home cooking by family members.
We have stayed there on two different occasions and absolutely LOVED the food.
On our first visit we were there for ten days and had dinner there nine of those ten days! The only reason we didn't eat there all ten days is that we were embarrassed to come home & admit that. On our second trip we did try other restaurants for lunch just to compare.
The idea was that if we liked any of them we would go back for dinner. However, while they were good, none compared to Il Nido and we were back for dinner for entire stay!! Food is fresh, delicious and fairly priced...you can't go wrong!!
Also, the hotel is great & Dino & Johnny are the best of hosts. Best service of ANY hotel we have stayed in in 2 separate trips to Italy totaling over 2 months in all.
Try the Il Nido, you'll love it!
Andrew's reply: The Il Nido sounds absolutely fabulous. I really appreciate your taking the time to share it with us.
You remind me a lot of my wife Maria, Nicki. If she discovers a really good family run restaurant (always the best restaurants in Italy) she will return night after night until we leave the town or city where we are staying.
Nothing wrong with doing that either - whatever others might say.
It is actually pretty common practice for Italians. Most Italians couldn't care less for Michelin stars or what the guidebooks say and if they find a good restaurant they'll keep going there.
They know what good food is. They know that it is made with seasonal and fresh ingredients. They know that portions should be decent and they know that family run restaurants are where you are most likely to get that.
In fact many Italian's would say that the very best place to eat Italian food, even better than any restaurant, is in someone's home. Once you've had a real Italian nonna (grandmother) cook you dinner in Italy your life will never be the same :-)
Next time you come to Italy though you really must come up north and visit regions like
the Veneto and Piedmont. Piedmont in particular has superb food - in my view it's the best in Italy!
If you're not sure if these regions are for you why not
try our quiz and find out. You might be really surprised at the result you get!