Il Principe di Scilla

The setting was the best part of our late lunch. We got a fantastic seat right at the edge of the decking, and the view really lifted the experience. The service was acceptable and the food came out promptly. The meal itself was passable, the wine decent, and I also wondered about the freshness, as other reviewers have. We ended up here because the places we'd planned to try were closed by the time we got off the beach. Later, back in the UK, we watched Stanley Tucci's Italian food programme and were surprised to see an episode on Calabria where he visited this restaurant and sat in our exact seat. He seemed to enjoy it, and the owner seemed passionate about fresh produce, so maybe the kitchen was just having an off day.

A big group we guessed were the Vespucci crew joined the restaurant later that night. We'd found the place while looking for somewhere to eat the day before, and really loved it: superb food, wonderful people and a wonderful view. It was worth the price for such a one of a kind experience. We'll definitely come back next time.

The room's rustic feel added to the fun of our trip to Scilla. Everyone was really helpful and spoke amazing English. Breakfast was very good too.

The prices are outrageous for Calabria: €20 for a kids' portion of Pasta Vongole. If they're charging that much, the restaurant should live up to it. We were also left without bread, water and one of the dishes we ordered. Nobody apologized when we left; it felt as if I should be thanking them for taking the unserved dish off the bill. And while I was going in to wash my hands, I heard the waiters speaking badly about customers behind their backs, a group of four at another table. If you can, avoid this place.