Il Gabbiano

This friendly Nagasako family run Italian restaurant serves up wonderfully healthy and simple dishes on a beautifully open and peaceful terrace.
Nestled in a sleepy Hakushima neighborhood near a small park and a couple of blocks from Yasuda Elementary School, Trattoria Il Gabbiano has grown from a small take-out cheese shop into a spacious restaurant due to its many loyal customers including many dedicated fans in Hiroshima's foreign community.

As well as providing wonderful meals, Il Gabbiano serves as a supplier of great cheeses, deli and imported provisions.

The inside of the restaurant is cosy with seating inside, on a semi-open terrace or on a open air terrace wonderful on sunny days in this quiet neighborhood venue.

The staff at Il Gabbiano are helpful and willing to accommodate for different preferences as well as make recomendations to enhance your meal. The owners wife told me that she has learned to differentiate between Vegan and Vegetarian which demonstrated to me a willingness to accept their customer's dietary concerns and choices.

It is also a very kid friendly place and they will make food to order for your childrens' tastes as well as your own.

Eat-in or take-out is available for their daily specials displayed in a chilled fridge at the counter. For lunch, choose pasta, risotto, lazagne or the lunch of the day.
Add dessert to any lunch set for just a bit extra.

The dinner courses are delectable and often change depending on the freshest of ingredients and seasonal changes. Dinners can be ordered in advance if you have something particular in mind that you would like to have.

• Reservations accepted.
• Parking available.
• Credit Cards accepted.
• Take-out cheeses and deli available.
• Seating for 53 people.
• Japanese Menu.
• The Japanese Owner & Chef speaks Italian, French, English and a bit of Spanish.
• Non-smoking area available.

"good, but not Italian"
Anonymity Personified.Tue Mar 2010
I am Italian. I went there for lunch, unfortunately lasagna was finished (they have only 10 portions!!) but pasta was good. Anyway, it's not real Italian food.

"Quality and Ambiance"
Keeley - Fri Apr 2008
Contrary to previous reviewers, I had an excellent experience at this restaurant, and the wait staff were a particular highlight - They are trained in proper wine service, unlike most other moderately-priced places in Hiroshima. The reds are never chilled, and there is a nice selection. The food was not amazing, but compared to many other pasta places, I found it quite satisfying. Atmosphere is great, and it's not packed all the time.

"OK Italian"
JAAJ - Thu Feb 2007
Having read the other reviews thought should add something. It was a while since we have been there but we had dinner and it was pretty good. I would agree that it wasn't amazing or a place you would force people to go to but I remember leaving happy apart from the cost relative to the food.

"Not again"
Anonymity Personified.Sat Sep 2006
I agree with the previous reviewer: no better than Skylark, as well as typical small portions. But what really ruined it for me were the intellectually-challenged staff, and the most peculiar smell I have ever experienced in a restaurant. I could only describe it as a pet shop odor. My girlfriend thought it was the Italian cheeses, I thought it was the air-conditioning. I am not overreacting when I say it made me want to hurl. Lovely interior though.

"Deo"
Deowrat - Wed Feb 2006
After reading details and last review. At last I went to this place in the afternoon. It is very good interior and atmosphere. However, food was OK, not better than Skylark chain. But paid 1000 yen for small pasta, two small bread, and for salad which dressing was readymade.. nothing special. The old guy on counter say he do not except credit card at lunch because he think lunch is very cheap. (my rating: I would not visit again even he charge me 700yen). I said charge me 500 extra and accept card. He said "Thank you" I was shocked. I asked him please write it on receipt "OK I will". I said " thank, I will claim it later because there is no indication you do not except credit card at lunch". Old guy " Anata tadashii, I will accept it now and put on paper no credit cards at lunch". I do not want to visit this place unless I want to take someone on date to show new place. Food is eatable!!

"Elusive but Delicious"
C52 - Wed Apr 2002
Thank god for the map you put up, this place wasn't the easiest to find, but now that I have found it, I will definitely go back.