Uliassi

The Adriatic Riviera, a picture-postcard summer holiday destination, is the setting for this fine restaurant run by chef Mauro Uliassi. Hidden among the private beach clubs that crowd Senigallia’s seafront, this three-Michelin-starred restaurant comes as a surprise, surrounded as it is by beach parasols and the sound of the sea lapping on the shore. The strength and originality of Uliassi’s cuisine lies in his ability to make good use of local ingredients, taking inspiration from the culinary traditions that have been so familiar and successful along this coastline over the past few decades and giving them a personal, creative twist. Fish and seafood obviously take pride of place, although there’s also room on the menu for meat, inspired by the Marche’s traditional game dishes, so that the sea and the mountains come together in a perfect reflection of the region’s soul. The dining experience here is enhanced by the owners’ warm welcome: Mauro’s sister Catia and his son Filippo work alongside the chef. It’s also worth mentioning that the restaurant is doing its bit for the local environment by banning the use of plastic and doing its utmost to persuade its fish suppliers not to use polystyrene to transport their fish.