I am taking my kids down to Genoa to see the aquarium and then Pisa to see the tower. I will greatly appreciate advice for these two cities for simple counter service or grab and go type restaurants. As much as I would enjoy a nice meal, going solo with a 2, 7, and 9 year old means that I get to manage, not enjoy the experience. I will also appreciate any advice on where to get quality, local wine and fresh pasta.
Thanks!
Dan
Genoa is well known for its fresh pasta al pesto genovese.
Pesto genovese is typically made of locally grown basil and pinoli nuts which grow on some Mediterranean pine trees and parmiggiano cheese.
Pici pasta is also well known in Toscana.
If you have time and are in Pisa, try to go to Lucca, it’s a small wonderful town. Not to far from Pisa, direction Livorno with children, it might be nice to get to Piombino Porto and get the traghetto to visit Isle of ELBA and Napoleon’s home (Napoleon was deported by the French To Elba). Portoferraio is really nice - fantastic ice creams)
If you want to eat well and cheap in Italy:
Go and buy tomatoes, mozzarella di buffala and prosciutto crudo toscano and some fruits, have some plastic plates and cutlery with you and eat them on the steps of some church.
Try lunchtime menu cheaper than dinner menu
Choose trattorias instead of restaurants
Look that the place you visit are full of Italians and not tourists
Go to village bars where you will have to choose generally between a meat or fish meal for 8 euros or pasta for 6 euros.
There us an Eataly close to the Aquarium. It will have several informal places for a simple quick meals or snacks. Pasta Genovese will be available, as all Eatalys have a pasta bar along with pizza slices. My memory of the Eataly is that it has informal eating areas with great waterfront views.
