Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
good, the tables are out on the small pavement terrace overlooking the sea, and the fish,
meat and vegetarian dishes are prepared with sophistication, originality and imagination.
Fish and seafood lovers should try the swordfish steak with an orange and fennel salad,
or the seafood cous cous, both wonderful with a local white wine. Vegetarians can opt for
a variety of pasta dishes or the excellent barley and vegetable tabbouleh.
Me Cumpari Turridu
SICILIAN
€€
( 095 715 01 42; Via Ventimiglia 15; meals €35-40; Mon-Sat)
A quirky little spot that mixes tradi-
tion and modernity both in food and decor, this place is a real discovery. There's fresh
pasta to be savoured - try the ricotta and marjoram ravioli in a pork sauce, or the cannel-
lini with donkey-meat ragu. Vegetarians can opt for the Ustica lentil stew, with broad
beans and fennel. It's Slow Food-recommended.
Meat eaters are spoilt with a variety of barbecued meat, and there is a wealth of Sicilian
cheeses on offer.
Le Tre Bocche
( 095 53 87 38; Via Mario Sangiorgi 7; meals €35-45; Tue-Sun)
A fantastic Slow
Food-recommended trattoria that takes pride in the freshest seafood and fish - so much
so, they have a stand at La Pescheria market. Short pasta comes with wonderful sauces
such as bottarga (fish roe) and artichoke, spaghetti are soaked in sea urchins or squid ink,
and risotto is mixed with courgette and king prawns.
The antipasti buffet has fish carpaccios and marinated prawns, and the
secondi
are best
for indulging in
ricciola
(yellowtail) baked with potatoes or sea bream cooked in sea wa-
ter.
TRATTORIA
€€
Al Cortile Alessi
( 095 31 54 44; Via Alessi 28; pizzas €6-9, mains €8-12; 8pm-1am Tue-Sun)
Catanians of all ages -
but especially students - flock here on weekend evenings, drawn by the excellent pizzas
and a good selection of Sicilian dishes - try their
zuppa di pesce
(fish soup), a fantastic
stew of different fish in a thick tomato sauce. The draft beer, cocktails and a relaxed atmo-
sphere are at the outdoor courtyard shaded by banana trees.
PIZZERIA
€
