Il Genovese

Il Genovese is a small, cozy two-story spot that feels very local — mostly locals eating here, which is always a good sign. It’s also an easy walk from the cruise port, making it perfect for a port-day meal. We had the gnocchi, which was really good — soft, comforting, and full of flavor. For dessert, the fried sweet milk was such a treat and totally worth ordering. The complimentary bread was perfect too, which always sets the tone. The menu has lots of options, and prices for both food and wine are very reasonable. Simple, relaxed, and satisfying — a great stop if you want good food without anything fancy or touristy.

Genoa is known for the origin of pesto! Restaurant is very cozy and solid. We got the pesto pasta and the pansotti in walnut sauce which were both great. The cheesecake is made from local cheese as well. Service was very fast. Come early or make a reservation as the restaurant gets very busy.

Loved it. We sat outside which was a relaxed vibe. The pesto - as expected in Genoa - is top tier. We had one of the cheaper white wines, but it was still great paired with the gnocchi. Definitely would return here and recommend to everyone :) Grazie !

Thanks Stanely Tucci for recommending this place. A fabulous down to earth local experience. It was a perfect lunch menu. Of course we ordered the local dish of pesto pasta with potato and beans as well as the best minestrone soup ever. Great prices too!

The pasta with pesto was poorly prepared because they overcooked the pasta and it turned into a mess. For Italy, it was a failure. The second dish was not bad, the meat and mushrooms went well together. For dessert, we chose a cake that was supposed to be creamy, chocolatey and melt-in-the-mouth, but it turned out to be a dry, uninspired piece of cake. I've never had such a nasty dessert in my life. The restaurant is highly overrated. It's better to go to MOG, buy some pesto and pasta, and make yourself the dinner of your life. I do not recommend it. To the owner: I know what photos I added. Pesto was not worth to be photographed.

Very crowded with a potential wait. Quick service and nice decor. That said, the homemade beef ravioli was disappointing; it was overdone and stuck together (There were some burnt bits). The red wine was rather average at best.

I tried two dishes: the potato ghanache with pesto (which Genoa is famous for) and the meatballs. I thought the pesto wasn't as good as another place I had tried the day before. The meatballs were tasty but could be cooked a bit more I thought.

The food is really good and the pesto testaroli were amazing (the pesto itself tastes great). The staff is really nice and helpful and the piazza where we dined had a really good vibe. Felt like a local and had a really good time