When we were in Taormina on vacation recently, we had Osteria da Rita dal 1991 on our list of…read moreplaces we absolutely had to dine at for dinner. One thing to note is that Osteria da Rita dal 1991 does NOT take reservations under any circumstance and is walk in only. I tried to go through the local 5 star hotel concierge at our resort and they didn't have access, and I also tried to secure reservations myself (I work for a high end travel/concierge company) and also was unsuccessful myself. But now, I understand why after going there. When you walk up, try to go towards the start of their dinner hours to get in line for a standby table. As tables "turn" the next table in the line is seated, that way everyone at the restaurant is treated fairly and is seated as tables are available. There were people in line with us that had dined there 2 or 3 times for dinner during their vacation, so we knew we were in for a treat because dining in Taormina is absolutely outstanding! Right across from the line queue, there in a gelato shop with a takeaway bar that sells wine, beer, and alcoholic drinks that you can take into the line while you wait for your table. At the time of our visit in June 2025, we were able to get a bottle of wine for 15 Euros that we drank while waiting on our table for about an hour to an hour and a half. When we were seated, we were greeted warmly by restaurant staff and they brought over the menus and complimentary bread and bruschetta. We also ordered the bottle of house wine to start as well and it was really good! For starters, we ordered the Spaghetti da Za Rita (15 Euros) and the Lasagna al Ragu (15 Euros). Both had homemade pasta and the quality was out of this world, everything was super fresh. For the entree we ordered the Lemon Flavored Meatballs (16 Euros) and these were out of this world, also very fresh and an amazing main course to share! We were full by the time we got through with dinner, so we didn't order any dessert but all of the desserts looked amazing! They did bring over a complimentary shot of limoncello to close the meal which was also greatly appreciated as well! It's truly an amazing restaurant and a must try spot if you're in Taormina!

What a lovely spot. Don't ask for butter with the bread lol…read moreComplementary bruschetta.

Don't let the name confuse you. The Italian food and wine is delicious. Pretty ambiance and Great…read moreservice too!

Such a delicious restaurant. Came here with my husband who is Italian from Italy, and he agreed…read morethat it was outstanding. The place is on the water, has delicious fresh seafood, and the service was outstanding. We were recommended this place by a local who suggested avoiding the tourist prices of a restaurant in Taormina. I recommend the seafood appetizer which offers 9 kinds of fresh local seafood. The squid ink pasta was delicious, as was the pasta allo scoglio. The pasta alla norma was with house made pasta and was exquisite. Try the pistachio cake, which is a typical Sicilian flavor for dessert. The price was significantly less than any restaurant in Taormina. We will definitely be returning! Buon appetito!

Five of us had dinner here and everyone thoroughly enjoyed their chosen dishes. I took a break from…read morepasta and had a grilled beef steak with roasted potatoes. It was perfectly prepared. The flavor of the steak was delicious, topped with olive oil. The roasted potatoes were also delicious. Simple meal that hit the spot! Two other friends had steak as well but with a Gorgonzola cheese sauce. They thought it was absolutely delicious. My hubby ordered the carbonara and it was one of the most outstanding versions ever. The carbonara sauce was amazing. The bacon was even crispy which is a rare sight! Service was friendly. The outside covered patio was beautiful, calm and a delightful place to have dinner. The inside of the restaurant was where the local diners were eating, sounded like a big party inside, while it was serene outside where we were. We had lots of pleasant dinner conversation without it being noisy! Wonderful dinner experience. Highly recommend!

Had an amazing experience with Anthony and Giuseppe! Such an authentic and beautiful experience…read morewith fantastic service and traditional dishes. You must have the ravioli with pistachio cream-- it is life changing. I hope to come back again before we leave!!

Cute little place right across from the port. We had a view of our ship…read more I had the swordfish pasta with eggplant that was very tasty. The pasta is Al dente. Hubby had the shellfish risotto. The risotto was too Al dente the seafood, except for the shrimp and clams tasted old and rubbery. The shrimp and clams were excellent. I had a glass of Messina wine, Malvasia, which was delicious. A bit on the sweet side. Hubby had biere Messina which was excellent as well. The cannoli, which originated in Sicily, was delicious. The shell was a bit thick, but the filling was creamy deliciousness.

Found this place after a tour and Wow they were amazing the service was great the menu was great…read moreand we all enjoyed our meal. Would definitely recommend if you are in Messina

Very good food, beautifully presented by very friendly and attentive servers. I got maccherone with…read moreeggplant. The pasta was robust and toothy, held precisely the right amount of sauce to be just delicious. My wife's spaghetti was simple and direct, just exactly what was promised. It's just around the corner from the Porta Catania and a few doors down from our excellent bed and breakfast Hotel Casa Adele. There's workable gelato at the Levante across the street. Go there.

Excellent pasta, great service and price was reasonable. Was referred by our hotel as we wanted a…read morecasual restaurant with good pasta after traveling all day. Restaurant was pefect for us!

Amazing restaurant! Can't get any fresher seafood than this! Great location on the water,…read moreoutstanding pastas and seafood. Not to mention the great owner and staff. Wow!

From the owner: ristorante sul mareread more

We had a lot of really good food in our 10 days in Sicily. But the dining experience at Vineria…read moreModi easily was the best. Exceptional food, wine and service. The 6 course tasting menu and the associated wine pairing was just outstanding. Sitting outside created just the perfect atmosphere to enjoy every aspect of the experience. We would eat here again in a heartbeat.

The worst hospitality I have experienced in fifty years. The rudest most condescending host to…read morechildren and women. Lied about our reservation. Knew our name-yet, couldn't find our reservation. I have never made a negative review. This is a first. This establishment deserves it. This restaurant has now been blacklisted by our world class travel agency and The Four Seasons who made the reservation as our host hotel. Run, don't walk to any other restaurant. They do not deserve anyone's time or euros!

The carbonara was stunning. The best I've ever had. Would go back in a heartbeat. Would recommend…read morea reservation if you go because we did have to wait a little bit.

One of our favorite meals on our girls trip. Every dish ordered was amazing. The wine selection was…read moregreat. The staff and servers all so nice. We closed the place last to leave. I'd go back again as it was exceptional.

The Arancini Etna at €4.50 is pretty yummy. A rice ball deep fried to a nice thin light brown…read morecrunch. There's mildly spicy sausage in mildly spicy marinara inside. It's filling and, if you're not careful, slightly messy - use your hands, no fork necessary nor suppled. Grab an espresso or americano to go along with it. Or them, but they're filling, remember, and you're going out for dinner later. Take a number and you'll be served soon. The staff spoke good English when we went. The extensive menu is on your phone, though locals just point at the myriad items on display. Tell them you want your receipt before you pay with your credit card if you are expensing. Sit outside in the very small covered piazza or the very small inside eating area. You'll need to bus your tray yourself. Go there.

Visited Da Cristina while in Taormina -- because you can't come to Sicily and not have arancini…read more The setup is very casual with fast ordering, though expect a long wait (worth it). Service was efficient despite the crowds. We tried the prosciutto and cheese arancini, and honestly, it was the first time I truly enjoyed one -- the cheese and prosciutto melted together perfectly, with great texture and flavor. Overall, a classic Taormina stop and definitely worth a visit. Saluti

What a charming little wine bar! It's small inside with wooden tables and wine bottles lined the…read morewalls. There's also tables outside for of a casual feel due to the high walking traffic. We tried several different Sicily wines which were all fabulous. We also got a little cheese and meat plate. It was a laid back, cozy spot with good pricing that won't break the bank. Service was great

After lunch we stopped by for a glass of wine just to chill. Since this place was right next to…read moreour hotel we noticed that it fills up quickly with folks just looking for an aperitif. We did see some folks order some light bites but it's not necessary as they do give you some chips and crackers to munch on as a snack. If you're looking for a cheap glass they have some wines priced at 5 euro which are decent. Nothing fancy but drinkable like most house wines you get in a restaurant.