Trattoria Da Paco - Livorno Now Gourmet Club review

Simple, welcoming decor, Da PacoPaco and his father (‘ir su Babbo’ it says on the sign outside!) run this busy restaurant - Trattoria da Paco -  located close to the Accademia Navale and the coast road, about 3km from the centre of Livorno.
It was a Thursday night and the restaurant’s two dining areas were busy with a generally young crowd. We managed to persuade the waitress to give us a table in the inner room which we liked more than the area at the front of the restaurant.. it was cosier, and more welcoming, though still buzzing with chat and activity. 

Trattoria Da Paco e ir su babbo

 work on the walls, and various paraphernalia hanging from shelves around the restaurant.
The menu: Paco has come up with the original idea of presenting an all-inclusive menu for 20 euros. You can spend less, but never more than that - the full works including antipasto, pasta, main course, dessert, and coffee comes to 20 euros a head, which we thought was a pretty good scheme. Needless to say, we went for the full works!
Acciughe sotto pesto, Da PacoWhat we had: an appetizer of ‘acciughe sotto pesto’ – (perhaps a little over-) salty anchovies with garlic and parsley (while Lori went for a simple platter of prosciutto and cheese), followed by 'pici  al cacio e pepe’ – a hearty pasta dish that originates from Rome and is made with pecorino romano cheese and lots of black pepper and olive oil. Normally served with spaghetti, Paco used the thicker version known as pici, from Siena. Simple, tasty and satisfying! As a main course we went for the tangy calamaretti - baby squid - with a fresh tomato, and for dessert, the very Tuscan almond cantuccini biscuits with potently sweet Vinsanto wine.
Great casual dining at an affordable price, and you won’t leave feeling hungry!
Wine: so so house red
The Bill: €20 per person
Overall score: 4 out of 5:
Atmosphere & Decor 4
Service & Cordiality 4
Food 4
Wine 3
Value for Money 4.5

Trattoria da Paco
Via B. Brin 3, Livorno
Tel. +(39) 345 6528937/3924129355

The Livorno Now Gourmet Club visited Trattoria da Paco in April 2011