Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
( 093 16 74 44; Vicolo Zuccolà 9; meals €20; Tue-Sun)
Any restaurant that is full on a Monday
night in February is doing something right. Old-timer waiters squeeze past tightly packed
tables, dishing out earthy country food to legions of boisterous diners. Antipasti of
bruschetta, ricotta, salami and marinated vegetables are followed by simple pastas of
penne
(pasta tubes) in meaty sausage sauce, and
dolci
(sweets) of sesame biscuits and can-
died ginger.
Caffè Minerva
BAKERY
€
(Via Roma 58)
A popular, people-watching cafe serving a good range of Sicilian cakes and
pastries, the best cup of tea on the island and a nice, frothy cappuccino.
Gelati Bianca
(Via Pompeo Picherali 2; cone/cup from €1.80; daily)
It's not just the location off Piazza del Duomo
that's the attraction - the house-made gelato is pretty good too.
GELATO
€
Pasticceria Tipica
Catanese
(Corso Umberto 46; pastries from €1)
If you want a good cafe on the mainland, this is a great op-
tion.
PASTRIES & CAKES
€
Le Vin De L'Assasin
Bistrot
MEDITERRANEAN
€€
( 093 16 61 59; Via Roma 15; meals €30-45; dinner Tue-Sun, lunch Sun)
A refreshing and stylish res-
taurant with excellent food that takes an original French twist on Sicilian ingredients - the
tuna steak topped with hazelnuts and honey is unforgettable. The owner, Saro, is friendly
and generous with his time and offers advice on the menu and, having spent years in Paris,
brings a sophisticated touch to the Ortygia dining scene.
The ceilings are tall and the walls painted in bright colours, though the little tables on
the narrow Via Roma are wonderful in the evening breeze. Offerings scrawled on the
chalkboard include French classics like
quiche lorraine
and
croque-monsieur
, Breton
oysters, salads with impeccable vinaigrette dressing, a host of meat and fish mains and a
