Location: Marsala, Sicily, Italy.
Food: Sicilian, Seafood
Standout meals: Risotto al Nero di Seppie, Gnocchi, Cassata Siciliana
Dinning Style: Casual, local Sicilian
Cost: 200Euro for 4 people (including copious wine)
Reason to go back: Hospitality, food, selection of local wines, value for money.
Wow rating: wowwwwwwwwww
Reason to go back: Hospitality, food, selection of local wines, value for money.
Wow rating: wowwwwwwwwww
Sapori di Sole is the perfect Italian dinning experience. Its a small and simple, but tastefully decorated restaurant nestled in one of the narrow, cobblestone streets in the small fishing town of Marsala, Sicily.
We stumbled across the restaurant on a Saturday afternoon well into the siesta time. During Siesta, the options for a legitimate lunch are generally scarce, with most shops and stores doors shuttered and padlocked. Even with the lure of an afternoon siesta the owners welcomed us with the doors to their restaurant swung wide open. This was the beginning of a fabulous dinning experience. Imagine being invited into an Italian families home; mamma is the head chief, pappa the manager and son, Valerio the waiter.
We stumbled across the restaurant on a Saturday afternoon well into the siesta time. During Siesta, the options for a legitimate lunch are generally scarce, with most shops and stores doors shuttered and padlocked. Even with the lure of an afternoon siesta the owners welcomed us with the doors to their restaurant swung wide open. This was the beginning of a fabulous dinning experience. Imagine being invited into an Italian families home; mamma is the head chief, pappa the manager and son, Valerio the waiter.
We mused over the menu for a short time and then opted to ask Valerio for his recommendations. He quickly referred to mamma, who suggested the Risotto al Nero di Seppie (blank ink squid risotto), home made gnocchi and a selection of local fish. Thinking back to my last risotto moment in Trinque Terra, Italy, I opted for the risotto. For me this is a risky choice, a restaurant will live and die on whether this dish is great. Along with mozzarella di bufala, its my culinary nirvana.
Fortunately, this Risotto fulfilled my lofty expectations. Even more fortunately, everyone else's entrées were just as good as mine. Given the entrée experience, we left the remainder of the ordering to Valerio. He didn't disappoint with a selection of fresh local fish, busiata (local Western Sicilian pasta) and salads. Rounding off a superb meal, two group members chose the Cassata Siciliana, while the other two wish they had!
Two words, "culinary nirvana".
Three words, "i'll be back"
Fortunately, this Risotto fulfilled my lofty expectations. Even more fortunately, everyone else's entrées were just as good as mine. Given the entrée experience, we left the remainder of the ordering to Valerio. He didn't disappoint with a selection of fresh local fish, busiata (local Western Sicilian pasta) and salads. Rounding off a superb meal, two group members chose the Cassata Siciliana, while the other two wish they had!
Two words, "culinary nirvana".
Three words, "i'll be back"
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