The Nicotera promenade in Acciaroli

by Enrico Malgi

Patrizio Oliva has something in common with Luigi Di Laura: both were boxers renowed all over the world and played in the Italian Amateur Boxer Team.

Luigi Di Lauro with his wife Virginia

Luigi Di Lauro, who comes from Vietri and is the first of nine children, has been the Italian light heavyweight champion and arrived here in 1984. In Acciaroli he met Virginia, they fell in love with each other, got engaged, got married and had two children. They opened this restaurant.

A view from the restaurant

It seems to be an old American film by Frank Capra or Otto Preminger. Luigi left boxing in 1986 and started to work in the catering field. He bought these rooms with his savings. The restaurant looks like a Saracen tower and is located by the Acciaroli uncontaminated sea. The four rooms include 420 seats.

The dining room

In summer evenings you can enjoy a striking and refined view from the terrace on the last floor. It is perfect for an unforgettable romantic dinner. In summer you can also enjoy a special pizza on the ground floor, just on the beach with the waves lapping on the shore.

A view of Acciaroli

Luigi is a plain, friendly, toughtful and communicative man and hasn't strange ideas. He is in the kitchen and is helped by his wife and a skilled staff. The home speciality is fresh seafood which Luigi himself chooses with great care every morning.

Antonio Sorice and I came here in a bright and warm day at the beginning of February.

We started our meal with raw saddled bream, prawns, apples and artichokes.

The raw saddled bream, prawns, apples and artichokes

The saddled bream was very fresh and I really apppreciated the mix of the sweetish taste of the prawns, the slightly acid taste of the artichokes and the crisp consistency of the apples. Really very good!

The saddled bream

Then we had croquettes stuffed with boned anchovies, potatoes and aubergines. It was a very good dish. The third starter was roasted razor-clams, octopus marinated with Barbera wine and marinated zucchini, on the whole this was a perfect and intriguing dish.

The razor-clams, octopus and zucchini

Regarding the first courses I had homemade ravioli with buffalo ricotta cream, Porcini mushrooms and shrimps which was a simple but extraordinary dish.

The ravioli with ricotta, prawns and Porcini mushrooms

Then I had a risotto with artichokes and shrimps from Acciaroli, a classic dish of the local cuisine.

The risotto with prawns and artichokes

I enjoyed rice, razor-clams and green pistachios from Bronte. What luxury! It was like a Schubert's symphony. Regarding the main dishes there was tasty grilled seafood, then a lot of fruit and a delicious ricotta and pear cake. Of course I finished my meal with a good coffee. These dishes were paired with two very good Fiano wines from Cilento: the Kratos one produced by Maffini and the S. Salvatore one produced by Giuseppe Pagano. I also drank the Selim sparkling wine produced by De Conciliis and homemade limoncello. What a sumptuos lunch!

A view from the north side

You will roughly spend 40-50 Euros, including drinks. This is a very fair price considering the location and the quality of the food. You will also enjoy the lovely hospitality and of the good manners of Mr and Mrs Di Lauro.

A view from the outside

The Acciaroli harbour

Pictures by Antonio Sorice

Restaurant and Pizzeria Mediterraneo – Via lungomare Nicotera - Acciaroli di Pollica (SA) – phone and fax: +39 0974 904747 – www.mediterraneoristorante.it – Closed on Tuesdays.

Traduzione in italiano su http://www.lucianopignataro.it/a/acciaroli-di-pollica-sa-ristorante-mediterraneo/20336/