EAT!
Sicily boasts an incredible wealth of history and culture, unique customs, and beautiful landscapes. But how much is all of this enhanced by the culinary skills of the Sicilians? No matter how beautiful and eventful a day in Sicily may be, an evening feast in a local restaurant—even a simple one—is always the highlight!
Of course, the already high expectations of Italian food are met – delicious stone-baked pizzas are available in many variations, both classics and with locally typical toppings – seafood, fried eggplant ("melanzane"), garnished with pistachios. But especially in very traditional trattorias, where mostly locals eat, the cuisine is strongly influenced by its proximity to Africa! Typical Sicilian is "pasta con le sarde": pasta (often handmade!) with sardines, wild fennel, raisins, saffron, and pistachios, garnished with breadcrumbs. And of course, the seaside location is evident in the menus: they are filled with fish and seafood dishes. If our children turn up their noses at these dishes, so delicious for us but so special for them, and can't find anything on the menu, an "extra order" of simple tomato sauce is never a problem.
If the main courses weren't so delicious, you could easily fill yourself up on the delicious starters or the appetizers served as an aperitif! Typical Sicilian dishes include caponata, a lukewarm dish with eggplant, tomatoes, and capers, seasoned sweet and sour with intense flavor, or alice marinate (fresh sardines in a lemon marinade). Since the dishes are generally made with fresh ingredients, seasonal dishes are often featured on the menu: stuffed cauliflower and artichokes ("carciofi ripiemi") in winter, wild fennel in spring, fennel and broccoli in spring, and, of course, delicious tomatoes, eggplant, and zucchini in the summer months, to name just a few examples. Fish also have their seasons; tuna, for example, is mainly caught from May to June: when it migrates to Sicily to spawn, the "Mattanza," the traditional tuna hunt, takes place, often accompanied by local festivities.
And then there are the desserts! Among the most famous dishes of Sicilian culture are, of course, cannoli! A sweet ricotta cream encased in crispy pastry, garnished with pistachio crumbles or chocolate shavings. In any case, Sicilian desserts are not only a sweet temptation, but also a visual delight, a feast for all the senses! Cassata and all kinds of cakes are often garnished with colorful icing, candied fruit, and opulent, handmade marzipan decorations. And often, not only specialty shops, but even the bar around the corner has lavishly decorated and topped cakes in their display. For example, with small wild strawberries! Of course, the ice cream is nothing like what you get in Germany. Incidentally, ice cream in a milk roll – "gelato con brioche" – is a common breakfast dish in Sicily.
BARS and RESTAURANTS in the area
This list is by no means exhaustive. We're still getting to know the local venues ourselves and will surely add more recommendations as we go...
Let’s start with BREAKFAST :
First of all: in Sicily, people generally eat a sweet, if not very sweet, breakfast with their cappuccino!
- Quick and easy: 50 meters below Casa America is the small "BARaonda" . The cappuccino is delicious, and you can also enjoy a cornetto filled with jam, pistachio, or chocolate spread. Simple and uncomplicated, there are three small tables outside overlooking the fish market and the sea. Only Italian is spoken. The cappuccino costs €1.20, the cornetto €1.50. This is a popular spot for fishermen (they often come here to have their "after-work beer" after work while you start your day). Tuesday to Saturday, on the days of the nightly fish market, the bar is open from 1 a.m.
- Slightly further away is the bar "Le Delizie" , directly opposite the Church of Maria SS del Lume. Here, they offer a larger selection of sweet pastries and pizza-like savory pastries (which Sicilians wouldn't eat for breakfast, but our children sometimes enjoy). If you'd like to try it, they also offer a "brioche con gelato," an ice cream in a roll.
- If you're willing to take a 10-minute walk across the harbor for breakfast , "Al Panfilo" has everything your heart desires: a wide selection of sweet and savory pastries and cakes, "Spremuta," the delicious freshly squeezed orange juice, and "brioche con gelato." And there's always plenty of seating with a sea view, either outside in the sun or shade, or indoors if you catch a rare rainy day. Al Panfilo is closed on Mondays.
- For breakfast at home, in addition to the sweet pastries available in bars and bakeries, we recommend the delicious freshly baked flatbreads available at the fresh food counter in the supermarket (Via Sant'Elia 97/H).
LUNCH AND DINNER
Within walking distance in PORTICELLO and SANTA FLAVIA
Al Panfilo is the all-rounder: in addition to a wide selection of breakfast options, there's an extensive lunch and dinner menu. Less fancy, but quick and uncomplicated, you can get standard pasta dishes like "Penne alla Matriciana" and "alla Norma," or "Spaghetti Carbonara" or "ai Frutti di mare" starting at €7, as well as truly delicious pizzas starting at €5.50. Our first stop for lunch, unless we're at Sant'Elia Beach, enjoying bruschetta at the beach bar. Closed on Mondays.
A must for us on every stay in Porticello, and not just because we have a personal connection through our site manager's family: a meal at Kantuccio ! Centrally located on the main square, you can sit beautifully with an unobstructed view of the harbor, or on cooler days, in the very cozy interior of this former historic fisherman's house. The menu offers everything your heart desires: a large selection of starters, pasta dishes, pizzas, and fresh fish dishes, as well as the house wine, and the service is always excellent. You can't go wrong here!
If you really want to go all out, you can treat yourself to an exclusive evening at the La Strummula restaurant! Seating is available not only on the street side with a sea view, but also in the spacious courtyard lined with palm trees. Here, you'll enjoy a multi-course menu, complemented by a matching wine recommendation, each course presented with great attention to detail, like small works of art! The menu changes regularly, and there's always a vegetarian option. Seasonally changing multi-course menus are offered, featuring "zero-kilometer" products—freshly caught fish or vegetables and fruit from the garden, which the chef personally cultivates. Of course, the price at this restaurant is a bit higher in the end, but it's always worth it for an evening that will remain unforgettable.
Babilonia is located right next to Santa Flavia train station. Whether it's breakfast, lunch, or dinner, you'll always find a table outside or inside, and good, affordable food. You'll find families with children here, for whom there are small sandwiches for €1.50, as well as delicious pasta dishes and stone-baked pizzas. Our favorite is the "Porticello" pizza with a mozzarella ball in the center and pesto cream – delicious!
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A quick and easy pasta lunch at "Al Panfilo" or an excellent dinner in the main square at "Kantuccio"
"Pizza Porticello" at "Babilonia" and a feast for all the senses at "La Strummula"