Be aware - it is incredibly unlikely you will be able to just walk in, even if you don't mind…read morewaiting. There are very few tables and reservations fill up fast. Once our attempt to walk in did not pan out we made a res for the next day, they still had a few tables. I think they really only do one seating (not confirmed, just a guess based on our experience) so even if you walk in and see an empty table...you won't get it without a res. All that out of the way, the food and wine were both fantastic. We got the Pasta Nonna and the Swordfish, both of which were delicious. I would also definitely recommend getting the pistachio tiramisu, that was probably the highlight of the whole meal if we had to pick something. The ambiance is great, it's off the main streets and down some stairs so it's quiet, and when we were there they were also playing some nice live music. While there are definitely a lot of great options in Taormina, I would put TT in the top 5 of any list you make.

If you are wondering where to eat in Taormina, eat here. The food was delicious, unpretentious, and…read morebeautifully executed. The people running the restaurant are lovely humans and we had an amazing evening. The orange and fennel salad was fresh and well -seasoned. We shared the trapani pasta - it was a garlicky flavor bomb. Super good. We also had the meat rolls and the grilled amberjack, both of which were totally yummy.

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.

We were looking for a place on the water to have lunch. Food was delicious. Service was excellent.read more

Good service, good people, the food is so tasty, fresh. I…read moreordered, Maccheroni alla Norma it was one of the best mail I eat.

This restaurant is located slightly away from the main streets so it's not your typical place…read morelooking to capitalize on the tourist street traffic but the clientele is still mainly tourists. Right off the bat they tell you this is a fish restaurant and that the menu changes weekly. You can see the fresh fish of the day as is is brought to you table side and is priced based on the kilo. My wife and I ordered a starter, pasta and fish to share which was more than enough food for the two. We also had a glass of wine which wasn't a house wine but essentially picked based on our preference. We ended up getting the raw starter which included raw shrimp, langastinos, oyster, amberjack carpaccio and white tuna tartare. Then we had a seafood pasta with finally a fillet of amberjack served with broccoli and some mashed potatoes. All in with wine the bill came to about $150 euro. Also the bread was excellent and freshly made in house, it's charged to the table but honestly worth the $3 per person.

I recently returned from 2 weeks in Italy and although many amazing meals were enjoyed by our group…read moreof twelve, La Tavernetta stood out among all others, for both service and food quality. Our 4 hour dining experience was marked by knowledgeable staff, the freshest seafood specials, and advice on Sicilian wine pairings. No detail was overlooked, right down to the bread basket and the glossy, translucent-crusted focaccia. Grazie Mille, Salvatore! Buonissimo!

Hands down best restaurant I have been to in Sicily. I have been looking all over Sicily for good…read moreauthentic food and have finally found it. Tasting the food I can tell all the food here is homemade, made from scratch , and fresh. Highly recommend the fish and their selection of desserts. Just by eating the food I can tell the chef is serious about his food. If you're looking for good authentic Italian food, come here I promise you will not be disappointed.

this place is recommendable because the service is awesome. of course the food is brilliant as well…read moreand if you eat here in the evening you can enjoy a wonderful sunset at the beach. WOULD % recommend! È perfetto!

Wow! What a nice surprise. Quiet little place along the coastal road. We were hungry so we stopped…read morehere on our walk as it was the closest place. Very nice ambiance, sat outside, beautiful view of the sea. The meal was pretty typical Sicilian food but thoroughly enjoyable. The mussels were superb, spicy in its tasty soup. The Normal pizza and wine made this dining experience totally enjoyable without being in a posh place. Prices were reasonable as compared to Taormina. Service was excellent and friendly.

Excellent Food, great service, romantic ambiance…read more Tip: Make a reservation as dinner time gets busy. i recommend coming in person to make rezy for following evening as online is not available. For two hungry people we ordered 3 pastas, a bottle of wine & 1 tiramisu. Everything was exquisite --- make sure to ask for olive oil with the complimentary bread.

Eh, pretty average food and below average service if you are from the United States. We got the…read moreinstant cold shoulder, and hardly got service. Ambiance is typical of Taormina restaurants.

Hands down my absolute favorite restaurant on the Island…read more First and foremost the cuisine - absolutely wonderful. Never had a dish that I didn't enjoy. Favorite dish would be the lobster linguine. Amazing flavor & a perfect portion size. I'd strongly recommend the mussels appetizer. I've never been a fan of mussels until I tried them here. They're cooked in this flavorful and savory wine sauce that compliments the mussels without overpowering their flavor. It's a huge portion size that two people can share. The icing on the top is the impeccable customer service. The owners and chefs genuinely care about your experience. One of the main servers (I believe she's an owner) is an absolute gem. She remembers me each time even if a year has past since our last visit. Definitely give them your business if you're in the Giardini-Naxos or Taormina area. You'll be glad you did.

Delicious food and wonderful staff. Party of 6 and all of us thoroughly enjoyed everything we…read moreordered. From pizza to seafood appetizers! Drinks were very good and we were able to order a bottle of wine (@Vivino app: https://www.vivino.com/users/m105abc045bed0bf7918cf80320155c8/reviews/131363696) from the wine shop next door. Just a beautiful stroll down the plaza and you will find this gem!

Best restaurant in Giardini Naxos by far. Right next to the beach towards the end of the strip…read more Indoor and outdoor dining available. Food is spectacular and the servers are super nice and welcoming. You must make a reservation in advance, books up every night.

I' d had Frozen pizzas that taste better. Total rip off. When pizza came out it was clearly…read moreuncooked. Owner picked up a slice with his un-gloved hand. Disgusting

Absolutely INCREDIBLE food. Best food we've had since we have been to Sicily. The swordfish rolls…read morego crazy, I can't recommend this place enough. SO good

Very friendly staff, good price, tasty food, recommended!…read more We enjoyed the pasta with good Messina Beer near the sea. Also recommended for groups.