Garni Erta

It's a family-run place, and everyone was pleasant and courteous even though our Italian isn't very good. Our room was clean and spacious. The food was excellent, with generous portions, so go very hungry or stick to a main. Breakfast was very good too.

This relaxed family-run place has friendly staff and tasty Italian food, with plenty of vegetarian choices. There's a huge parking area that can fit caravans and trucks. The only downside is the chance of an occasional bad smell in the parking lot, possibly from a pig farm. For me, the food and service are worth that risk.

We were told to wait about 15 minutes for a table for two in the garden, which was our clear preference because of the weather. In the end, they offered us a spot inside in a very windy area, even though that table had been free since we arrived. The waitress's arrogance made it an even worse experience. Maybe Erta's food is great, but the service was the worst we had in Italy, and I'd avoid the place. We went to Bicigrill about 2 km away instead, and found decent service and delicious food.

There isn't a menu here. Once you're seated, they bring out fresh salad, tomatoes, and other basics, then offer a couple of pasta choices as you eat, followed by a couple of secondo piatti options. Everything was amazing. It's a local restaurant off the SP90 toll road, so you'll need to leave the road, and there are no signs, but it's absolutely worth stopping. It seems to be frequented almost entirely by locals. Don't miss it.