We asked several friendly locals, and our favorite waiter, where we should go to get an informed,…read morebroad, sample of Sicilian wines. All agreed on Enoteca Picone. It is easy to see why. The size, selection and the staff's dedication to information sharing, when desired, as well as astutely judging the match between wine and the level of sophistication of the customer's palate, sets this as a must visit for those who want to increase their knowledge of wine in general and Sicilian wines in particular. We walked from our hotel near Piazza Verdi in 15 minutes and walked into the entryway that seems like any other small wine bar. After we explained what we wanted, we were shown to a very large 45' (15m.) long L shaped tasting area with 15-18 small elevated tables with two stools and two side tables at each place. The outside of the room is lined with fully stocked, floor to ceiling wine racks divided first by region and then by varietal. We asked for a primer on whites and started with 2 glasses of a carricante, an ancient Sicilian strain grown on Etna. We had sampled a cataratto earlier which seems to be the major white wing grape of the region and this had much more acid but pleasing citrus that compared most closely to a Sauvignon Blanc in our experience. We then tried an entry level nero d'avola, the major Sicilan red, that compared to Syrah and another red that was very harsh by comparison and so, unfortunately, forgettable. Service was knowledgeable, attentive, provided in English and Italian and the original 4 oz. (120 ml.) pours were toned down to 2 oz. (60 ml.) at our request so we could walk back. The total for 2 larger pours and 2 smaller ones was 12E. For an impromptu beginning tasting this was just what we wanted and we will go back for a second flight.

Best place in town to try good Sicilian wine. It closes early so get there early. They serve some…read morefood, but it is also a good place to stop by before or after dinner. The last star is missing because the red wine was served a bit too warm.

Beer is fantastic! It is right in front of hotel Mediterraneo…read more The bartender was so knowledgeable and was able to explain every beer in English. There were beer, cider and cocktails available- such a great variety! Everything was also so well priced! Fun and hip place would come back here in a heart beat

Pretty extraordinary!!…read more We didn't have reservations but apparently got lucky someone cancelled. My party of 4 got seated right away. I'm a sucker for truffles and I noticed they had a lot of truffles on their menu. The special for the day was tortellini' with shaved white truffles. They brought a whole truffle and shaved a few grams in front of me. I posted a video of the experience. I then ordered the PIEDMONTESE FASSONA SIR FILLET, PURE AND BLACK TRUFFLE. It was cooked perfectly and the truffles had me salivating. Presentation is beautiful. Everything was perfect except the wait time. I normally expect restaurants in Europe to take 1 hour or two to get the food to the table but I noticed every table around us got their food 30 minutes before us, even if they were seated after. I guess that's why we need reservations next time. Pretty high end experience for a great price. Will recommend if in the area.

On a recommendation by the proprietor of "Homemade By Bruno", my family and I settled into this…read morewelcoming "cucina e bottega", run by twin brothers. The decor was "wine chic" modern, with ice buckets fabricated from wine boxes. The front of this establishment was a wine shop with Sicilian and other Italian wine selections as well as olive oil and other Sicilian delicacies. We received royal treatment from Marco, one of the twins, of crisply spoken English, cordiality, and expertise in creating a memorable dining experience. The food was scrumptious and professionally presented. Local seafood excellence along with meticulously prepared pastas, including "tenerumi" a true Sicilian vegetable speciality in pesto form. The stuffed zucchini flowers were almost too beautiful to eat. And, seafood arancini - magnifico!!Marco brought it all together with perfectly picked wine selections for our appetizers, then main courses. Of course, he chose varying drinking vessels to match the varietal served - a true maestro. This was an immensely grand dining experience that we hope to experience again in our next travels to this "Isola Bella"!!!

Trendy wine bar with very good food…read more This place was buzzing with young professionals on a Wednesday night when everywhere else in the neighborhood was quiet. The waiters spoke English and were happy to let us try delicious sicilian wines before choosing a glass. Their lightly fried mozzarella and peppers were like none I've ever had before. Definitely worth a try.