Da Ercole

The story

Da Ercole: Michelin-Recommended Seafood Dining in Crotone, Calabria

The Man Behind the Stove

Ercole Villirillo was born in Crotone in 1963, into a family where the kitchen was the heart of the home. His grandfather taught him to love the garden; his mother, running the family restaurant Pitagora, passed down the recipes of the Crotonese tradition. After an adolescent stint at the wood-fired oven making pizza, Villirillo knew he wanted more. In 1984, at twenty-one, he opened Trattoria Luna Rossa. There, the veteran Calabrian chef Gaetano Pisani took him under his wing, teaching him the techniques and secrets that would shape his future. The trattoria evolved into the restaurant Sale e Pepe, where Villirillo earned a reputation as the "king of risotti." Finally, in 1997, he opened the doors of Ristorante Da Ercole on the lungomare of Crotone.

A Cuisine Rooted in the Mediterranean

The cooking at Da Ercole is a contemporary interpretation of Calabria’s coastal and mountain terroir. Villirillo treats his ingredients as protagonists: the freshest seafood from the Ionian Sea, wild mushrooms and mountain cheeses from the Sila National Park, and vegetables from the marchesato crotonese. His technique is rigorous but never heavy-handed, and the flavours remain clean and bright. Raw fish dishes are a particular point of pride, prepared to preserve the pure taste of the sea. The restaurant also boasts a wine cellar centred on the ancient vineyards of Cirò, Melissa and Val di Neto, whose wines are natural partners to Villirillo’s seafood cuisine.

One signature dish mentioned on the restaurant’s own site is the "Carbonara Pitagorica", a local twist on the Roman classic that has become a favourite among regulars. The dining room is elegant and carefully maintained, and the service is impeccable. It’s a place where every detail – from the presentation of the catch to the choice of glassware – is calibrated for a quiet, memorable meal.

Recognition from Michelin

Da Ercole has earned a spot in the Michelin Guide, receiving the "Recommended" designation for 2026. This award, along with mentions in Gambero Rosso, Veronelli, and other leading European guides, reflects the restaurant’s consistent quality and its position as a reference point for elevated Mediterranean dining not just in Crotone, but internationally. For anyone seeking a pure expression of Calabrian seafood, prepared with respect and creativity, Da Ercole delivers an experience that stays with you.