Ligurian specialties @ Antico Borgo, Levanto (Italy)

After a big day that involved a 2.5-hour hike between Monterosso and Vernazza, and then exploring the remaining Cinque Terre villages, we were happy to finally sit down to dinner at Antico Borgo in Levanto. I can't remember why we chose this restaurant, but I think it was one of the few that was opened for dinner service at 7pm (most others operated only from 8pm). And the menu looked pretty good to us. There were a few tables out the front for al fresco dining, which was the perfect option for that mid-summer's evening. Service was pleasant, friendly and helpful, and we got to sample quite a number of regional specialties that night.

The entrance to Antico Borgo:

At the doorway looking inside the restaurant:

Gattafin, indigenous to Levanto. Deep-fried savoury pastry stuffed with chard and cheese. Quite rustic, very delicious:

The gattafin filling:

Prosciutto and melon - always a good albeit safe combination:

Scampi penne. This was on the daily specials menu, made with scampi caught that day off the coast of Levanto. It was delicious, but fiddly with the shelling:

Deep-fried Ligurian anchovies, also freshly caught that day. Very moreish:

Salad, to offset all the two deep-fried items:

Lasagna al Forno - made with seafood, it was lighter and possibly more tasty than the traditional beef mince. A nice improvement to my favourite Italian dish:

Our meal at Antico Borgo was rustic and hearty, and we enjoyed everything we ordered. This is a good choice to try all the Ligurian and Levanto specialties.

Antico Borgo
Via Garibaldi 49
19015 Levanto
La Spezia, Italy
Tel. +39 0187 800159