If the test of a great restaurant is how long it stays in business, then Il Pescatore is passing with flying colours. In business for three decades now, the restaurant is credited with bringing authentic Italian cuisine to Southend-On-Sea. Established by the Burzotta family, Il Pescatore is focused primarily on serving country-style Sicilian cuisine made using fresh regional ingredients and homemade pasta. Its location on Queens Road right in the heart of the city makes it all the more attractive for locals as well as visitors staying near the centre of town.A family-run restaurant usually takes good care of its little visitors, and that’s no different at Il Pescatore in Southend-On-Sea’s town centre, where children are treated to their own sophisticated menu featuring miniature plates of lasagna, spaghetti bolognese and meatballs and pasta. For the adults there’s a lengthy menu of choices ranging from tagliatelle lobster and spaghetti carbonara to vegetarian options like the penne arrabbiata and farfalle fiorentina made with spinach, mushrooms, garlic and fresh cream. The pizzas at Il Piscatore are also on point, as are grills like the filetto al funghi and the trinca di manzo diane, thin sirloin steak served with a special sauce. Whatever it is you choose, you’re certain to fall in love – let the sparks fly by reserving a table in advance.