La Siciliana, Cefalu Sicily, September 2023.

This is one of the middle-of-the-road Sicilian eateries in this heavily touristy town. We had lunch here and it satisfied with its brisk cheerful service and a back terra-cotta courtyard nicely decorated and shaded by trees.

Coming in the front it’s a typical small Sicilian space but the “giardina aperto” sign out front drew us through to the lovely outdoor courtyard behind. We had a table at the back with an excellent view of the space.

Server was a fortyish man with serviceable English who presented cheerfully and was helpful and deferential without being obsequious. We went with our usual pattern of an antipasto each and shared a main course of “prima piatti” – pasta. My caponata del melozane (eggplant tomato and ricotta salad) was nicely set up in two circular parts, the flavours all represented and nicely dressed. Robin had a mixed seafood salad about on the same level. Both needed salt for my taste which is universally the case here.

We had a Sicilian white grillo (an indigenous cross of catarratto and moscato) which was recommended by the server. Sicilian white wine like this one are generally dry, fragrant, and nicely balanced and in restaurants reasonably priced around C$30-$50. No exception here. Our main was a shared spaghetti with zucchini, shrimp, swordfish, and tomato that was just-under al dente but delicious.

We noticed as a difference here and elsewhere in this region from the kind of casual place we might have had lunch at where we live: the absence of loud pounding music, ostentatious kitchen clatter and guest nasal shouting. Nothing but a quiet conversation that couldn’t be heard from the next table. So civilized!

A nice atmosphere, quick friendly service, and great local comfort food with a respectable simple wine, about $90 Canadian. They sold us two bottles of the wine for 15% off and we left happy.

Food 8.7 service 8.9 ambience 9.2 value 9.0 peace and quiet 9.2. No reason not to go back to this place except that there are lots of others like it in this town and all over this lovely island.