A solidly good restaurant, with prices slightly above the average for Palermo area, but with…read moreservice, presentation and ambiance to justify it. It's not the kind of place we would normally walk into, but it was recommended by someone we trust, and we were really glad we tried it.
The restaurant is one of the few located right on the water, practically over it, so that you can eat on a terrace on the water or inside at these huge windows. If it's windy or a bit cool, indoors you have plenty of fresh air coming from the door and windows without the inconvenience of the terrace. We reserved a table for two at the window and it was so bright it was like being outside! The decor inside is quite formal, with double cloth table coverings and white faux-leather chairs that have seen better days but are perfectly comfortable. There is a less formal terrace at one side that is for the pizzeria and faster lunch, probably very crowded during prime-beach-weather.
Let's talk food. We started with a plate of fried calamari (€13) which were huge and fresh, not at all chewy, with very light batter. Our primi came a little too soon afterwards; mine were a kind of three-coloured bucatini with tomatoes and pesce spada, which was really good, especially the quality and texture of the fish. I think the flavour was lacking delicacy slightly, I'm not a fan of pasta tricolore and no idea anyone actually ate the stuff, but the overall dish was good. My husband's pasta with pesto and shrimp looked a little heavy and over-dressed but you'll have to read Tommaso O's review to find out more :)
I had just a salad after this, while Tommy O continued with a pesce spada which looked delicious. Dessert screamed for a lemon sorbet to digest, which was served in a kinda inconvenient bowl, rather than in the usual wine glass - so i transfered it to a glass :) My companion in crime had the most incredibly good cassatina fritta, I shall not tell you what it is just order it (it's a bomb!!).
Today price 82 euros, which came down to 76 euros when we noticed a 2 euro discrepancy (coke we didn't order). Overall impression - very pleasant lunch and a great way to spend three hours after lazily reading on the beach all morning. It is a hard life, but the Yelper must do her best to eat, eat, eat.