The small seaside town of Portofino, Italy has a number of restaurants begging tourists to visit them, but Chuflay Bar & Restaurant at the Hotel Splendido Mare doesn’t need to beg–instead, it woos its patrons.
Chuflay, which got its name years ago from shooing flies away from the gorgeous food, is in a fantastic location–right along the water’s edge in Portofino, providing some fantastic views of the harbor, but set back far enough that you won’t be bothered by the hustle and bustle of the influx of tourists.
Friendly waitstaff decked out in white suits rush to your service, offering menu suggestions and wine pairings. I was so overwhelmed by the many choices on the menu, wanting to taste each and every dish available. But sadly, I’ve neither the stomach nor the wallet to support that, so I narrowed down my selections.
After a glass of Prosecco, I began with the grilled vegetables, including zucchini, eggplant, and tomato, drizzled with extra virgin olive oil. This is one of my all-time favorite starters in Italy, because it’s so perfectly light and simple.
Next, I was brought a surprise tasting of the chef’s famous pesto gnocchi. Pesto originates from the Liguria region, having been invented in Genoa (just 40 minutes away). I hadn’t had gnocchi since the first time I tried and hated it in Rome seven years earlier, but since it was complimentary I thought it best to give it a try. And I am so glad that I did, because it was amazing. I seriously could’ve eaten a bucket of it because it was that tasty.
After I stuffed myself with my starter and surprise gnocchi, my main was served. I am a total sucker for penne all’arrabbiata–there’s something so spectacular about having a spicy pasta dish. To ensure that I got every last bit of that delicious sauce, I did as the Italians do: fare la scarpetta, or literally “to do the little shoes”. This basically means you grab a piece of bread and load it up with the remains of the sauce on your plate that you’re unable to pick up with your utensils–a tradition I plan to adhere to for the rest of my life!
My meal at Chuflay Bar & Restaurant was easily one of the best meals I ate when I was in Italy, and I am honestly still dreaming about that pesto gnocchi. If you have a chance to visit Portofino and are looking for a great meal in an excellent location (and don’t want to get suckered into paying an €7 seating fee/person), this is the perfect place to take a load off and enjoy some of the specialties of the region.
My meal at Chuflay Bar & Restaurant was courtesy of Hotel Splendido. As always, all opinions are my own.
ooooh I love anything pasta! That looks delicious
Max Arthur recently posted..otl sports review
It was sooo delicious!
I read your review and went there for dinner tonight (June 10, 2016). FYI, they now charge a 6 euro a person service fee. Dinner for two was $400 euros.