Stylish seafood dining, right on the water.
Pier the Roof - Trieste
On Saturday Marika and I decided to catch the train to Trieste. It was a late summers day which started off tumultuous and cloudy but soon began to beam in hazy sunshine.
I love to wander through a city's streets, going wherever looks interesting and the maritime capital of Trieste provides quite the resplendent amble!
This prominent city sits on the Gulf of Trieste as the capital of the north Italian region of Friuli Venezia Giulia, and breathes the sea. Into the grand urban centre flows a short canal, dotted with fishing boats and lined with busy cafés where people cluster to sip a coffee or an aperitivo, depending on the time of day. Trieste is a deep water port and a stop on every cruise ship calendar, thus droves of holidaymakers fill the large, dockside piazza but hardly touch the sides, for Trieste is wide and grand and glorious.
With all of the beautiful food the region of Friuli Venezia Giulia has to offer, when in Trieste, seafood reigns supreme.
And no place seems closer to the sea than Pier The Roof.
As we're seated at a small table, one of ten, a welcoming sea breeze blows through the waterside, shaded terrace. Pier The Roof is perched right at the end of Pier Venezia where a small sign steers you in the right direction, because if you didn't know where to go, you'd miss this gem of a place. Recommended by our friend Lorenzo who studies in Trieste, luckily, we knew exactly where we were heading.
Pier The Roof is decorated in watery greys and blue tones with a minimalist decor which lends only to the flight of gulls and steering of boats that sail past your outdoor table. Simplicity and taste feature in this charming spot, extended over the gently lapping waves.
The menu naturally embraces food from the sea with a range of seasonal antipasti from grilled octopus with squid ink purea, confit tomatoes and stracciatella to pickled mackerel with pine nut crema in a puffed-rice basket.
Primi are seafood based like clam linguine, fresh mussels or homemade gnocchi with scallops and aubergine/basil cream but Marika had been mentioning 'frittura mista' all morning so was thrilled to find her favourite on the menu - an abbondante plate of freshly fried culinary delights - squid, seabass, sardines all coated in crispy batter, she said was incredible! I opted for the fish of the day: grilled seabass, perfectly accompanied by a roasted mix of potatoes, peppers and seasonal vegetables, all prepared simply, with a focus on taste and fresh flavours.
Impeccable service, fair prices and an attention to every need, we couldn't find fault in Pier The Roof even when a summer storm unexpectedly blew in and people were quickly accommodated inside.
For dessert we decided on gelato with a wander through town but could have easily chosen from a delectable 'dolci' menu including tiramisù, sorbets and gianduia semifreddo with salted caramel sauce.
After our meal, Marika sighed contentedly over her perfect coffee - Trieste is, after all, the home of Illy.
Pier The Roof is named after their roof terrace. With extra seating and a stylish bar, it's popular at sunset for 'aperitivo time' when golden-hour strikes orange Aperol Sprtizes and music beats softly to the roll of harbour waves.
We dined outside for lunch but walking through the restaurant, you take in a casually refined interior with elegant touches of maritime decor, spacious and calming, large windows look out over bobbing sailboats moored nearby and cruise ships in the port. I personally love the sea in winter and can picture sitting here with dark skies and moody weather, all cosy inside around a table of delectable food, good friends and good Friulano wine - what a perfect way to spend an afternoon in Trieste, I look forward to my return.
PIER THE ROOF:
CONTACT +39 040 322 9296
ADDRESS MOLO VENEZIA 1 34123 TRIESTE ITALIA
OPENING TIMES 11:30 -15:30 18:30 - 22:30