Tuscan seaside

Off the beaten pass – Hosteria Alicina – Porto Ercole Tuscan seaside

Tibor M. Kovacs
I have to admit we like to use Michelin guide for finding good places. But it has some risks. You would never enter in a restaurant like Hosteria Alicina if you follow the guides. Actually even if you judge by the outlook you might avoid this place. It is not more than a small glass cage. It does not look fancy at all but if you enter and taste the food  you change your mind surely. Porto Ercole is part of the Tuscan seaside. The very southern area near Grosetto. It is a island like peninsula with exceptional natural beauties. It this area you find very posh places like Il Pelicano with rooms over 500 Euro and dinner over 400. The „island”is good especially for boating around and snorkeling. Porto Ercole is an elegant port and even this restaurant does not look elegant it serves the highest expectation of good Mediterranean seafood It is a real good experience. The sun is shining through the glasshouse windows and you are sipping a Tuscan vermentino with your octopus salad. What else you need? Good company I guess. They do not have a website but have a Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Alicina-Hosteria-222248974633219/
As you can see from the decor they deal mostly with fish.
Octopus salad

Melanzane (eggplant) with cheese. The classic.

 

A beauty. Vegetable soup with fish.

 

Amazingly crispy.

 

That is what you call real fruity the mare.
And to finish with.

In the name of fish – Osteria del Mare – Tuscan seaside Castiglione Della Pescaia

Tibor M. Kovacs

Osteria del Mare is the best restaurant in the town and the chef probably had a fish as a symbol in kindergarten. It is all about fish from decoration. Do not expect anything else.

The town itself is surprisingly charming. Of course every Italian town is nice but this quite far from the main road and not only a lido (beach) but a town and it makes much different than northern Tuscan lidos. Small beaches big port under the medieval castle a little main square with busy restaurants and bars. Ideal with kids because the parents can have fun too.
The town was built on fishing the river like port is full of tiny fishing boats. They unloading their catch in the evening. It is worse watching. They serve as a guarantee for good food in the restaurant.

Home


https://www.facebook.com/Osteria-del-mare-135595226615184/

They have sing like this. Saying the catch is sold in local places. And the unloading, real attraction!

 

Now back to the restaurant! They have a terrace but if you want to have a table there you have to book in advance. They are quite busy. On the menu hard to find anything else but fish.

Every part of design is about fish!
 

The raw plate (Crudo) is the most important at good fish restaurants. They have a wonderful one. Of course from these fisherman they get good daily supply. 

 

Raw plate/ Crudo

 

 

Perfectly done tuna. 

 

This one is an exiting dish. Fish panzanella (bread salad)!

 

Highly recommended town and restaurant!

Vada? Theres is no place in Italy without a good restaurant

Tibor M. Kovacs

Tuscan seaside is considered rather fancy but it has many different style. Among those Vada is an exception of everything. Very small hard to find village and not at all fancy. It is practically a port a beach practically together.

Hotels are cheap but would not suggest a long holiday.
They have a hotel and restaurant on the beach. Called on a fairly simple name: Bagni di Lido
http://www.hotelbagnilido.com/en/hotel-tuscany/
The village can be way too simple but to sit on the terrace of this restaurant and eat their food makes you have the feeling than nothing is better then the Mediterranean life.

Everything simple natural and good. Local Tuscan wine local fish and vegetables. What else you need. They even speak English.

The terrace in sunset

 


From the other side
Tuna is fantastic
A simple pasta 🙂