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Ratings and reviews

Travelers' Choice2023
RATINGS
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere

Details

PRICE RANGE
$10 - $44
CUISINES
Mediterranean, Italian, Seafood, European, Ligurian, Northern-Italian
Special Diets
Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Gluten Free Options
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meals, features, about

MICHELIN Guide's Point of View

Situated on the street that heads down to the port in charming Riomaggiore, this lovely, well-kept restaurant offers a small selection of dishes split ...
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Reviews (1,020)
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All reviews tasting menu seafood calamari cinque terre fine dining fish of the day beautiful view outside seating friendly service courses primo secondi prosecco
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Reviewed February 4, 2024 via mobile

Place has very mixed reviews so I thought I’d try to help. The seafood tasting menu is really good. Some of the best cooked seafood we ever had. Definitely give it a go if you have the money. A little expensive, service okay, not bad,...but maybe not great. Wine seemed overpriced. Would really have liked some less expensive beer or wine options. I can see how the food is basically Michelin quality but the total package not quite there, but they are trying. The service etc. isn’t bad, just a little less than you’d think from the price.More

Date of visit: October 2023
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Reviewed January 25, 2024 via mobile

We enjoyed a day trip to Riomaggoire and found this charming restaurant for lunch. Our server was positively delightful. He made recommendations, had a great sense of humour and showed appreciation for our visit. Lunch was portioned to “not fill” you, was fresh local fish...(a little bland for my tastes … I had higher expectations) our recommended wine was lovely and best part of our meal was our dessert. All in all, our afternoon was spent exploring a peacefully perfect seaside terra and enjoying some local cuisine. (During our time there most of the restaurants and cafes are closed for the season)More

Date of visit: January 2024
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Reviewed January 5, 2024

We ordered the degustation menu, which was a little hit and miss. 3 out of 7 courses were very good, 2 were good and 2 were OK

Date of visit: January 2024
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Reviewed October 23, 2023

My husband and I were recommended this place and the tasting menu, and although a bit skeptical, (having never tried something like this before), it was such a cool experience. Lovely flavors and great service 👌 60 euro/pp however seemed reasonable for what we recieved....Surprisingly full and satisfied by the end of our meal.More

Date of visit: October 2023
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Reviewed October 20, 2023 via mobile

Please, please...just go to bed hungry. We made the mistake of going to this restaurant as they stay open late and we were interested in tasting menu. €60 for microwaved fish and "chef" specialties. It was bad. We wish we would have said something but...hoped the next plate would be better, and it progressively gotten worse. Fish was chewy, shrimp was mushy and gritty, sauce was mayonnaise. The staff was lovely, but to have this listed anywhere near a Michelin list is shocking. I'm convinced they took the sticker from another restaurant and placed on window. I don't normally write reviews like this, but felt robbed of money and my evening in Riomaggiore. At least it's an entertaining story for the kids.More

Date of visit: October 2023
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Reviewed October 12, 2023 via mobile

Beautiful small restaurant near the waterfront. The food and service were amongst the best that we had experienced in the cinq de Terre. The entree of the fish with eggplant and homemade mayonnaise sauce was unique and delicious. The three of us that ordered it...agreed that it was exceptional! The staff was helpful and charming. The quality justifies the higher cost - Definitely Michelin worthy!More

Date of visit: October 2023
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Reviewed October 11, 2023

Extremely disappointing...a restaurant that offers more on the surface presented by its fine exterior than what it has. To begin with, the pasta dishes are severly lacking and one could easily cook up something much tastier at home in half the time. We even gave...them the benefit of doubt and politely requested if they could help us with the UnderCooked pasta, but all we got in return was some 5 min microwaved creation which came out exactly the same as the one we had sent out, only hotter. The one reedming quality of the place is the friendliness of the waiters. Do not be fooled by the former Michelin Guide, its glory days are long gone and all that remains is a dark hollow shell is what its supposed to be.More

Date of visit: October 2023
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Reviewed October 1, 2023

We love this restaurant so much that we went twice in three days - would have been more but we had to leave Cinque Terre! The food was delicious and beautifully presented. The desserts were the best that we had tasted anywhere! The waitstaff were...all fabulous and made us fell like we were part of the family. A great location - we won't forget this restaurant in a hurry.More

Date of visit: September 2023
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Reviewed September 26, 2023

Well worth the climb to the top of the hill. The view overlooking the water is a stunning. The Manager recommended a five course Tasting menu for 60 euros. Sounds expensive, but well worth the money. Each course came with a smile, a joke and...excellent service from our waiter Edward. Lunch is served with small bread rolls warm from the oven. Courses included Tuna, steamed prawns. Scallops, pasta with squid and finally scampi. Finished off with lemon sorbet. Very generous tasting portions. One of our group is gluten intolerant, this was not a problem. Gluten free options were happily provided. Thanks Edward for a wonderful afternoon. We would highly recommend this restaurant.More

Date of visit: September 2023
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Reviewed September 24, 2023

When I booked I was asked to arrive on time at 7pm sharp, which we did, as did the other 5 tables booked for the terrace. We were all attended to at a similar time & my husband & I commented that we were all...being advised to have the taster menus, I think 4 out of the 6 did this. We were served with the same dish at the same time. It was not until our bills started arriving at our tables before being requested & the waiter arrived with the card machine before we’d even finished our coffee and tables were quickly being re laid, that we realised there was a second sitting at 9.30pm. We were clearly being ushered off the premises as others were queuing on the steps outside for our tables. Not what we would have expected from an up market restaurant with a Michelin Award in 2020 and charging high prices for a high class meal. We did enjoy the food, ambiance & knowledgeable staff but felt totally let down & disappointed as we left.More

Date of visit: September 2023
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Reviewed September 19, 2023

Ambiance, 5/5…music 0/5….service 1/5….food 3/5…. Not worth the effort. We picked out a wine that was from the Piedmont region after the server said he picked out the wine menu, to find out it’s not even from Italy. Not worth the hype. Staff and service...is below par.More

Date of visit: September 2023
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Reviewed September 13, 2023 via mobile

It was hard to get into this restaurant, and we experienced a bit of rudeness trying to reserve a spot. But once we were in, my husband and I had a lovely dining experience. Beautiful fresh seafood and meat options. Delicious and creative meals in...a lovely setting. I also enjoyed the plating style and presentation of the meals. Our waiter Eduardo was awesome.More

Date of visit: September 2023
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Reviewed September 6, 2023

Awful service! Dirt in our water glass, which the server apologized for and brought a new glass. Then, there was dirt in the wine glass - to which our server said - ‘it’s nothing’ even after we showed him the dirt speck. Then he poured...the SAME DIRT IN WINE into a different glass. The WORST part was when our duck appetizer arrived it came with PLASTIC (a plastic pull tab from a package/container) and the restaurant’s response was to BLAME THE CUSTOMER. We asked to see the manager and they sent out a server/hostess who first apologized for the plastic in our food, then informed us that the dirt sometimes ‘drops from the ceiling into the glasses’ and asked what they could do to make us happy. When we replied that we would like the rest of our meal dirt and plastic free, the server informed us that they CANNOT do anything to make us happy. We asked to speak with the manager again and the server informed us that the manager was ‘too busy working on the others’ food’. While the duck speck was good until we found PLASTIC IN IT, the bread was cold and stale. We decided to leave and eat street food to be happier than eating the contaminated food Rio Bistrot served without care or repair. So disappointing - especially after booking our reservation months in advance through a local resident and eagerly anticipating a great experience!!!! We wouldn’t want this to happen to anyone else expecting a lovely meal at this highly recommended restaurant.More

Date of visit: September 2023
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Reviewed August 23, 2023 via mobile

This small restaurant in Riomaggiore earned a Michelin star in 2020, which is not the reason we ate there but did set expectations higher than if we had made a reservation at one of the handful of high-end restaurants in town. The staff were great,...friendly and hard-working. Eduardo was especially helpful and we enjoyed his company. Giovanni, one of the other waiters, served the best Negroni of our trip; it was perfect. The food was good, but the menu was small, portions smaller, and since they did timed seatings (which you need to make a reservation for) the pace was a slow. Considering several of the other dining options in town are not as good but in a similar price point, it may be worthwhile. But don’t set your hopes too high… order the Negroni to soften the blow.More

Date of visit: August 2023
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Reviewed August 22, 2023

Chose the 7pm sitting on the balcony so we could see the sunset. The degustation menu was fantastic with the cuttlefish and calamari outstanding. We matched the dinner with local wines which added to the experience. The service was friendly and the whole night memorable....While the night was a pricier option it was worth it for a treat.More

Date of visit: August 2023
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Questions & Answers
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Robbie M
October 3, 2023|
Answer
Response from Andrew F | Reviewed this property |
No, no dress code but because it is a Michelin Star restaurant, everyone seemed to be pretty nicely attired… As an Australian would say - no thongs allowed mate!
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Lauren G
June 12, 2017|
AnswerShow all 2 answers
Response from walk46 | Reviewed this property |
+39 0187 920616 Call them and make arrangements. If you wish a particular dish do ask and they shall help you.
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helenrQ4625IF
April 5, 2017|
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Response from Pamela S | Reviewed this property |
Can't answer because I was a reviewer and am not the restaurant. Question was directed to the wrong address
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RIO BISTROT, Riomaggiore - Restaurant Reviews, Photos & Phone Number - Tripadvisor

Frequently Asked Questions about Rio Bistrot

Rio Bistrot is rated accordingly in the following categories by Tripadvisor travelers:
  • Food: 4.5
  • Service: 4.5
  • Value: 4
  • Atmosphere: 4.5