La Saliera Da Mario - GAETA

We were walking through the old town yesterday afternoon, at a time when most restaurants are still closed (at least at this time of year). La Saliera was open, and while we were looking at the menu the waiter spotted us and came out to invite us into the restaurant. For 20€ you get a two-course meal (pasta or risotto with fish, followed by grilled or fried fish) as well as antipasto, side salad , side of fruit, wine, water, and digestive , which is an after-meal liquor. After discussing it we went in and found ourselves to be the only ones there. I 'm not sure why; it turned out to be a great value. The fish was fresh and tasted excellent. For antipasto you can choose either di mare (assorted fish) or di terra (mozzarella, prosciutto, bruschetta). For my daughters we decided to order something one plate from the regular menu; the waiter told us they could do something smaller for children, but their plates turned out to be larger than any of ours, which isn 't necessarily a bad thing. The point is that there is a separate menu and you will leave full regardless of what you eat. The fullness you feel isn 't a heavy feeling, either; more of a good one. The restaurant was very clean and nicely maintained. Despite being on the bottom floor of a building that 's probably centuries old, it didn 't smell of mold. We were the first to arrive, but after us came a group of four tourists, subsequently a pair of young locals (judging by how they spoke with the waiter) and later a small family. In Italian there are a lot of negative reviews, and I 've read through some, and in all honest I can 't agree; it seemed like a nice enough place to me. My only complaint is that it 's a fish place, and I 'm not so much a fish person, even less a shellfish person, and the tourist menu plates come with quite a bit of shellfish. But there are other options on the regular menu, also reasonably priced.

I took the set menu for 20 euros and had plenty of seafood plus a bottle of decent white wine (not the best, but was easily digested with the huge three course meal I had). Definitely I got much more than I bargained for and could only be very pleased. However this was during low season (mid-season) but not the super low season of winter either. I ate at other restaurants in that part of Gaeta and this was by far the best value. Service was fine (as the restaurant was not at all full) but I thought the attendant (the waiter) could be a bit more jovial. But I still would want to thank him for his prompt service and assistance. I did promise him a good review for the restaurant.

We tried having pizzas at the restaurant as well as to go and we were very satisfied. The staff was quick and took the orders without any misunderstandings though we didn't talk the same language. If we ever visit Gaeta again we would be happy to visit the restaurant again.