We went to this restaurant having read many good reviews, but what a mistake it was: 1) Anchovies- ok, highly acidic dish(containing 5 small pieces), good for the start 2) Duck- 4 small pieces of duck swimming in the pool of starchy sauce, inedible 3)...Pork-they said it's gonna be with cheese, but in reality it was similar to duck dish: small amount of actual food sinking in the sauce All dishes came without garnish After that we felt that we were still hungry and decided to order more food 4) tagliolini: horrible!!! Pasta with porcini and tomato sauce, with DRY porcini- it's september, how dare are you using dry mushrooms in Italy where you can easily buy fresh. Also, how can you possibly combine mushrooms and tomatoes??? 5) Veal brain-5 pieces of brains(yes, they love this number), deep fried and served all alone without sauce. What can I say, 60 euros for such boring food. You decide.More

In a small village of the mountains, we have found this restaurant from our guide book Inside is very nice decoration, silver cutlery I recommend the tortellini (really delicious) as starter and the osobuco! A delight Staff speaks a bit English but enough to be...understood As for the house wine, but disappointed as it was oxidizedMore

If you want picturesque villages clinging to cliffs, but without having to elbow yourself through crowds of fellow tourists, head up into the mountains above Sestri Levante. If you are not driving, you will have spectacular views all the way. If you're driving and have...to watch the road, you should stop from time to time and have a look around. And then you come to the calm little town of Varese Ligure, where you will find first class traditional food in a hall that could as well be from a pension in the 19:th century. This is slow-food at its best. Local ingredients, traditional recipes, calm friendly service by the family, you are surrounded by locals and Italians from further away who know where to get really good food. When you leave, you feel you have finally been to ITALY, in the best sense.More

Thank you, to the family and staff at Amici. We were unable to make our final reservation due to illness, and we are still sad about it. Our previous four meals were wonderful. The food was great, the gentle manner of the owners was welcoming,...and the atmosphere was traditional but not stuffy. I have been lucky to have had a few meals in my life that surpassed the few we had here (and to which I would give five stars) but they came at much greater cost and much more pretension. And I would gladly trade one of those for a meal at Albergo Amici. Grazie mille.More

This fabulous restaurant is a haven, time stands still, all is calm, all is good with the world. The food is just perfect, the wines good, the service is charming. In some ways it is modern, in others it recalls a slower age. It's been...here, run by the same family for over 250 years - and it will be here in 250 years time.More

just sorry it closes for Christmas on 23/12. I was planning to take my wife and kids so impressed I was. Discrete but friendly service and the food was excellent. We chose dishes from the area - tagliatella ai funghi, ossobuco and roast veal. The...chef avoided plumping for generic "savoury" flavours - you could taste the fresh mushrooms and the sauce that came with the veal had real depth and complexity. Side dishes of sauerkraut and boiled beets and chick peas, a quarter of a litre of local red (I was driving) and blackcurrant tart made with the most mouth-watering shortcrust pastry came to just shy of 60 euros for two - or less than we would have paid at Franky & Benny's in Ashton-under-Lyne. Fabulous.More

In the center of beautiful Varese Ligure, this old charming hotel. We did not know it, arrived at lunch time and had a great meal, reasonable prices and a friendly, fast service