Trattoria da Armandino
Armandino, tall, tanned and with the unmistakeable, ruddy complexion of a fisherman, greeted us with a smile and a quiet welcome when we sat at one of a few outside tables of his eponymous restaurant in Praiano. We were famished and at the same time, dazzled by the restaurant's spectacular position tucked beneath the cliffs at the very edge of the sea.
Once we had a few minutes to peruse the menu, he approached us again and asked "what were we in the mood for? Some fresh fish, some cool wine, some salad?"....We felt immediately cared for and relaxed while we allowed Armandino to compose a selection of light fresh foods to enjoy while we languished in the sounds of the lapping waves and the smells of the cooking food. While we sipped local wine, we watched as the arriving fisherman pulled in their boats, mended their nets and young children and mothers called to one another.
Armandino's restaurant was rustic by any stretch of the imagination, but his slow, gentle yet professional manner and his fresh local, delightfully presented dishes made our visit with him a memory we will never forget.