Hotel Ristorante Il Gambero

Everything was perfect.

The meal had some real highs: the polenta and cod starters were excellent, as was the first course, and the dessert was outstanding. Those dishes seemed less affected by frozen ingredients. Other plates were bland and forgettable, and the main course included a shrimp that was smelly and impossible to eat. The shellfish dishes were disappointing too. For an event serving fish to more than a hundred people, a menu relying on frozen seafood from around the world can't deliver the authentic flavors our sea offers. I understand the restaurateurs are trying to satisfy diners who keep asking for shellfish, even though our seas can't supply enough, and I don't blame them for that. Still, the menu choice showed the limits of feeding such a large group this way. The restaurant itself is a big, characterless room; the outdoor area is nicer, but the place only just measures up beside newer, better furnished restaurants in more striking settings. I was there for an event.

The restaurant is upscale, though I found the prices a bit high. I didn't stay in a room.

We had a New Year's Eve dinner booked for six, at €125 each, and had to pay as soon as we arrived 🙄. We were meant to have fish, but there wasn't even a menu on the table. The servings were small, and I suspect the food came from the freezer. The live music was far too loud. A lot of money for a disappointing evening.