House classic
Lobster "Sette Otto"
Our historic recipe. Live lobster prepared the Barretta family way, since 1958.
La Maddalena, Sardinia · Since 1958
The seafood restaurant
of La Maddalena
Fresh fish from the archipelago every morning, authentic flavours of the sea, and nearly seventy years of family tradition just steps from the harbour.
1958
Year opened
nearly70
Years of history
4th
Generation in the kitchen
0 km
From sea to plate
Our story
A seafood restaurant with deep roots in La Maddalena
In 1958 father Antonio, mother Concetta and aunt Filomena opened the Trattoria La Grotta in this alley next to the harbour. They had come from Pozzuoli with their recipes, their love for the sea, and the conviction that Sardinian fish had no equal.
Today La Grotta is in its fourth generation. The recipes are the same, the fresh catch arrives every morning from the fishermen of the archipelago, and the thread connecting 1958 to today has a simple name: respect for the sea.
Read our storyOur specialities
The best of the Archipelago's sea
The menu changes daily with the catch. Alongside the classics, you'll find the dishes of the day, following whatever the sea brings in.
Seasonal · From the catch
Seafood antipasto
Raw and cooked selections chosen every morning. Whatever Sardinia's sea offers best at that moment.
Selection
Our pasta dishes
Selected traditional pastas enriched with seafood sauces prepared on the spot. Family recipes from four generations.
Dinner with us
What to expect when you come to La Grotta
La Grotta is not just any trattoria. It's a fresh seafood restaurant with nearly 70 years of history, where the catch arrives every morning directly from the fishermen of the Maddalena archipelago.
Prices reflect the quality of the product — and the owner is always available to guide you in your choice before you order, with no surprises when the bill arrives.
For a full dinner with starter, first and second course of fish (lobster excluded), the average spend is €60–100 per person.
At a glance
Price range
€€€€
Average dinner per person
€60 – €100
Cover charge
€5 per person
Cuisine
Seafood · Mediterranean
Fish
By weight · Daily catch
Reservation
Recommended in summer
Exclusive service
At anchor in the bay?
We'll come to you
If you're at anchor in La Maddalena's bay, you don't have to worry about a thing. We'll send our tender to pick you up and take you straight to Cala Gavetta, the picturesque harbour just steps from the restaurant.
No stress finding a tender berth, no worries about parking. You just enjoy a beautiful evening — we'll handle dinner and the rest.
Book and let us know your position1
Book your table
Call or write to us telling us you're at anchor — we'll confirm availability and pickup time.
2
Wait for us on board
At the agreed time we'll come pick you up with our tender, directly from your boat.
3
We arrive at Cala Gavetta
We'll drop you in the picturesque harbour of La Maddalena — the restaurant is close, just a short walk.
4
After dinner we take you back
The return is included. At the end of the evening we'll bring you back on board.
What our guests say
Voices of our guests
Over 400 reviews on Google · Since 1958, the best opinion is from those who come back
The lobster was absolutely fresh, cooked to perfection. We dined in the alley with outdoor tables — a magical atmosphere. Fernando guided us through the menu without rushing, with a knowledge of fish you rarely encounter.
Marco T.
Google · 2024
We arrived by boat — they sent the tender straight to our anchorage. Unforgettable experience. The fish was the day's catch, picked by local fishermen. The pasta with scorpionfish sauce was the best I've ever had in Sardinia.
Klaus W.
Google · 2024
We've been customers for years — every summer we come back and every time the fish is the same: the real thing, fresh, no compromises. Enzo knows our names and always saves us the table at the end of the alley. This is a real family restaurant.
Cristina M.
TripAdvisor · 2024
412+ reviews on Google · since 1958, our best advertising is word of mouth
The restaurant
Glimpses of sea and kitchen
See you soon
Book your table
Open for lunch and dinner. Reservation recommended in summer.