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POZZUOLI, Italy — In the seaside resort town of Pozzuoli, finding a seafood restaurant is as easy as spotting Mount Vesuvius. Discovering a great one takes sleuthing.

Welcome to Ristorante Europa.

During the summer, the harbor-front restaurant’s seafood dishes are fresh and delicious. And while cooks can prepare a handful of meat- and vegetarian-based dishes for diners, fish remains their specialty, said restaurant owner Antonio Lubrano.

The restaurant opened 15 years ago under Lubrano’s father, and the younger restaurateur said he works to maintain a tradition of quality, fresh food in an upscale, yet relaxing, environment. The restaurant boasts three classy indoor dining rooms and an outdoor terrace that overlooks Pozzuoli’s harbor.

Unlike many other Italian restaurants, which close one weekday to give staff a day off for working weekends, Ristorante Europe is open seven days a week.

Diners can begin with the customary house appetizer sampler of more than a half-dozen morsels, including small octopus in fresh tomato-based sauce, octopus salad, fried whole baby squid, smoked tuna, deep-fried seaweed balls called zeppoline, crunchy bruschetta topped with fresh cherry tomato pieces and tuna, and cannolicchi or tubular-shape clams.

For the main course (if you’re still hungry), the chefs offer several fish-based pasta dishes such as spaghetti or risotto with clams and mussels, or topped with a delicate white fish, or a sampler platter with shrimp, prawns, clams and squid on a bed of linguini.

They also make use of the freshest catch of the day for main dishes such as grilled swordfish, shrimp or squid.

Or, out in front of the restaurant, lying in a boat-shape display case and on ice, customers can select the very fish they will consume for their meal.

Ristorante Europa Pozzuoli, Italy

Hours: Lunch, noon to about to 2 p.m. Dinner, 8 p.m. to midnight or later.Specialties: seafood dishes.Prices: A meal of the house appetizer sample, two main courses, a bottle of wine and a bottle of water cost 80 euros.English menu: There is no menu at all. Servers tell customers the specials of the day. Servers speak some English.Dress: Business and casual.Clientele: Italian.Location: Pozzuoli Harbor.Phone number: 081-526-1702Web site: None

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