Lavatoio Bistrot · Santarcangelo di Romagna
This morning at the counter we found something we didn't yet know what to call.
Romagna, in the imagination of outsiders, is piadina and ragù. Fish is eaten on the Riviera — in Rimini, in Riccione, along the seafront. Santarcangelo is inland, ten minutes from the sea, and those who don't know it tend to think that fish is a beach-related affair.
That’s not the case. Not here, at least.
The cold and warm starter, the mixed grill
Anyone who eats fish in Romagna knows the ritual. Cold starter — seafood salad, prawns, baby octopus. Hot starter — fried fish, gratin mussels, fried anchovies. Then the mixed grill: seabass, seabream, cuttlefish, king prawns. It's honest, it's generous, it's what you expect.
That is not what we do at Il Lavatoio. Not because there is anything wrong with that way of eating fish — but because it is not our way.
The Counter — different every day
In the morning, before the restaurant opens, Giorgio goes to the fish market. Not with a list in his hand. With his eyes. Whatever he finds — whatever is fresh, whatever is worth it — comes back with him and becomes the evening's special.
His name is The Bank — and it is the dish that more than any other tells how we treat fish here. It's a tasting of raw seafood for two, served in the centre of the table. Tartares, carpaccios, ceviche, whipped fish — the composition changes every day based on what arrived from the market that morning.
There is no fixed menu for Il Banco. There is what is available today.
How we treat fish
Lavatoio fish doesn't just end up on the grill. We cook it using a dual-cooking method — first slow, then on the plancha — to achieve a texture that direct cooking simply can't provide. We marinate it, let it rest, and pair it with things you wouldn't expect: aubergine hummus, polenta crisps, molecular guacamole.
Not because we want to impress. But because Adriatic fish deserves more than just a bit of salt and lemon.
Santarcangelo and fish — an unexpected pairing
Il Lavatoio is located in the historic centre of Santarcangelo di Romagna — ten minutes from Rimini, five from the sea. Close enough to have fresh fish every morning. Far enough from the Riviera not to have to compete with the classic seafront fish trattoria model.
This gave us the freedom to do things our own way. Veg and fish cuisine — fish and vegetables treated with the same care, without distinction, with neither playing second fiddle to the other.
If you want to see what’s on the menu today, the full menu It's here. You can find the desk in the evening specials — but it changes every day, so it is worth coming to see for yourself.
Those who believe in fairy tales know where to find us.
Your table is at the link — or call us on +39 328 262 2180.
