Pier 26
Porto Santo Stefano · €€€ · Upscale
reliability high
≈ 45 € / pers.
9,2/10 travellers · 493 reviews
Poco Loco
Porto Santo Stefano · €€ · Mid-range
reliability medium
≈ 35 € / pers.
9,3/10 travellers · 48 reviews
Ruote libere
Grosseto · €€ · Average
reliability high
≈ 29 € / pers.
9,4/10 travellers · 103 reviews
Valbona
Castiglione della Pescaia · €€ · Moderate
reliability high
≈ 30 € / pers.
9,2/10 travellers · 385 reviews
The verdict
Ruote libere and Valbona neck and neck
7,9 versus 7,7: the gap is too small to separate them on the overall rating. The choice comes down to the criteria that matter to you, below.
Choose Molo 26 if…
- Molo 26 focuses on local fish and carefully prepared Mediterranean cuisine in Porto Santo Stefano, with products such as chianina and Gillardeau oysters
Its weak point in this head-to-head: rapport qualité/prix (7,2). Average of €45, secondi €26-32, crudi up to €50. Named products (chianina, Gillardeau) and carefully crafted plates; high prices but consistent.
Choose Poco Loco if…
- in Porto Santo Stefano, this table mixes fish and meat, with clam pasta, a grigliata mista and named Tuscan wines at moderate prices
Its weak point in this head-to-head: typicité locale (6,4). A few named Tuscan wines (Vermentino, Ansonica della Maremma, Pitigliano), but a mostly generic, largely Italian menu, with no identified regional dish from the Maremma.
Choose Ruote libere if…
- your budget matters: from €29 / pers., the lowest price in the head-to-head
- you trust travellers: 9,4/10 from 103 reviews, the best rating in the head-to-head
Choose Valbona if…
- valbona mise sur le poisson de mer, des pâtes du pastificio agricolo Mancini et une terrasse vue mer à Castiglione della Pescaia
Its weak point in this head-to-head: typicité locale (6,4). The menu is Italian with a focus on sea fish; the salsa verde fiorentina and the worked fish recall the Tuscan coast, but no local products are named.
Reliability high / medium : ratings based on the file of each listing and 48 to 493 traveller reviews, not on a stay by our team · Ratings of the 20 October 2026 · Our rating method
Criterion by criterion
The 5 criteria of the score
Why these ratings?
Pier 26Traveler rating 9.1/10 from 493 reviews: among the top 42% of the catalog.
Poco LocoTraveler rating 9.3/10 from 48 reviews: ahead of 54% of the catalog.
Ruote libereTraveler rating 9.5/10 across 103 reviews: among the top 27% of the catalog.
ValbonaTraveler rating 9.1/10 from 385 reviews: within the top 42% of the catalog.
Why these ratings?
Pier 26Traveler rating 9.4/10 from 493 reviews: among the top 18% of the catalog.
Poco LocoTraveler rating 9.3/10 from 48 reviews: ahead of 56% of the catalog.
Ruote libereTraveler rating 9.6/10 across 103 reviews: among the top 18% of the catalog.
ValbonaTraveler rating 9.2/10 from 385 reviews: within the top 33% of the catalog.
Why these ratings?
Pier 26Traveler rating 9.1/10 from 493 reviews: among the top 37% of the catalog.
Poco LocoTraveler rating 9.0/10 from 48 reviews: ahead of 61% of the catalog.
Ruote libereTraveler rating 9.3/10 across 103 reviews: among the top 37% of the catalog.
ValbonaTraveler rating 9.5/10 from 385 reviews: within the top 11% of the catalog.
Why these ratings?
Pier 26Average of €45, secondi €26-32, crudi up to €50. Named products (chianina, Gillardeau) and carefully crafted plates; high prices but consistent.
Poco LocoNamed dishes (gambero rosso, entrecôte, tonno rosso) priced between €18 and €25, Tuscan wines at €15-20, and generous portions: good value for €35.
Ruote libereAverage price of €29, primi at €13-16 and secondi at €14-18 for house preparations (schiaccia della chef, mozzarella gnocchi): good value.
ValbonaThe secondi (€18, €22, €24) and the pastas from Pastificio Agricolo Mancini are carefully prepared dishes at moderate prices, consistent with a €30 meal.
Why these ratings?
Pier 26Locally caught fish, chianina and cantucci e vinsanto named. The menu is creative Mediterranean, with few classic Maremma dishes.
Poco LocoA few named Tuscan wines (Vermentino, Ansonica della Maremma, Pitigliano), but a mostly generic, largely Italian menu, with no identified regional dish from the Maremma.
Ruote libereA few Tuscan touchstones (pici, schiaccia, tagliere, Muffato) and seasonal products, but Oriental salsa, seitan and Nutella cheesecake: partial local anchoring.
ValbonaThe menu is Italian with a focus on sea fish; the salsa verde fiorentina and the worked fish recall the Tuscan coast, but no local products are named.
Features
Price, village, amenities
What is written on the listing. “Not specified” is not “no”.
| Criterion | Pier 26 | Poco Loco | Ruote libere | Valbona |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recorded price | ≈ 45 € / pers. | ≈ 35 € / pers. | ≈ 29 € / pers. | ≈ 30 € / pers. |
| Village | Porto Santo Stefano | Porto Santo Stefano | Grosseto | Castiglione della Pescaia |
| Traveller rating | 9,2/10 · 493 reviews | 9,3/10 · 48 reviews | 9,4/10 · 103 reviews | 9,2/10 · 385 reviews |
| Reliability of our score | high | medium | high | high |
| Cuisine | Italian cuisine | Meat & grill | Italian cuisine | Italian cuisine |
| Price | €€€ · High-end | €€ · Mid-range | €€ · Mid-range | €€ · Mid-range |
TheForkIf you book or order through one of these links, we earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. The partner never influences the rating or the verdict.
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