Lunch stop between Pisa and Como

Hi there. I'll be visiting Italy with my husband in April. I don't know if this helps you or not, but on the day that we leave Manarola and arrive in Rome, we'll be traveling by train and are planning on stopping for 3 hours in Pisa to see the tower and to have lunch. Have a fun trip! :-)

Rapallo and S. Margherita Ligure are similar, prettily painted towns on large harbors and with fairly large (paid) visitor parking lots. S. Margherita is in Rick's book. Rapallo is larger but you wouldn't really know it from the waterfront and it has an excellent cheese shop. Ritzy Portofino is smaller, further from the main road, and much more expensive to park in. I haven't stopped at any of the coastal towns north of this peninsula and would avoid the sprawling city of Genoa itself.

Lauren H., choose your Pisa restaurant carefully, most of the places near the tower are mediocre at best.

Zoe, I was thinking about avoiding areas right near the tower! I assume they are probably overpriced with not-so-great food!

I thought I would check out Tripadvisor to find well-rated restaurants and check them out on a map. That way, I'll make sure that they're not close to the tower. :-D

I am not sure how your timing will work in terms of where/when to eat lunch, but for a scenic coastal drive, I would make a detour at Sarzana and loop from Ameglia to Montemarcello to Tellaro to Lerici. There is plenty of good food in all if you wish to eat then.
If you are not ready to eat that soon into your drive, then I would investigate options near Parma.

It looks to me the shortest itinerary is through Parma that is an excellent lunch stop. When I stop in Parma I leave my car at Toschi underground parking and have lunch at Rigoletto, a restaurant near Teatro Regio.

If you want something more exotic, exit the highway at Fidenza and head to Busseto. Salsamenteria Verdiana only sells local salami with fried bread and it is a really non standard fast food joint. Lambrusco wine for people not driving. Be sure to reserve as it is tiny and packed most the time.

Google may show you a route on the A12 past Genoa and Alessandria - don't do it, although it may be the shortest distance. There are 54 tunnels between Sarzana / La Spezia and Genoa and you won't see much except trucks. After Sarzana go towards Parma on the A15 and join the A1 there. Depending on your timing, the little city of Pontremoli is a nice stop and you can have a nice lunch at Trattoria Busse.

thanks for all the help!