Page 209 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Sicily

WHERE T O EA T AND DRINK  207

Making Reservations
In the evening, especially in
popular holiday places in the
summer, restaurants often get
very crowded; it is a good idea
to book, or arrive early, about
8pm, to avoid standing in line.
Phoning ahead is also
advisable if you want to make
sure that a restaurant’s special-
ities will be available.

Children
Children are always welcome in
all but the most sophisticated
restaurants, particularly family-
run places which may be willing
Live music entertains dinners at vegan restaurant Moon, Syracuse (see p216) to prepare special dishes or
half-portions for youngsters
Paying the Bill
Although printed menus are the (although some places will
norm, it is still common for the Your bill may be a simple total, charge you the full price for it).
waiter to recite the day’s list of not itemized by individual
specials at your table. In Sicily, dishes and drinks. If you do have Smoking
good antipasti are vegetables in an itemized bill, the total will
oil, seafood and fish salads and include a cover charge (€1–€3) Smoking in restaurants is no
seafood soups. and a service charge. Tipping is longer allowed. Smoking at
Pasta dishes (see p208) may be not obligatory, but if you decide tables outside is de rigueur.
light and very simply dressed, or to leave a tip, calculate 10 per
hearty and filling, such as the cent. Italian law requires all Recommended
mighty pasta n’casciata, eating establishments to issue
macaroni pie with meat sauce, a bona fide printed receipt Restaurants
sausage, cheese and hard- (ricevuta fiscale) to clients when The restaurants featured on the
boiled eggs. For main courses, they pay. Make sure you get a following pages have been
chicken and veal escalopes are receipt as you may receive a carefully selected to give a cross-
ubiquitous: inland, ring the hefty fine if you cannot produce section of options available on
changes with rabbit or pork; on a ricevuta fiscale if requested by the island. Those singled out as
the coast, there will be fish a finanziere (the fiscal police). DK Choices represent the best
(typically tuna or swordfish), Most restaurants and of Sicilian cooking. Whether
freshly cooked and sold by trattorias accept a range of deeply traditional or exciting
weight (ask for a rough price). cards, including MasterCard and contemporary, these are
Sicilians love their desserts, and Visa. Bars, cafés and small, places singled out for their
but you will usually find fresh family-run establishments may authentic and passionate
fruit on the menu if you haven’t only accept cash. preparation of food that will be
room for cannoli, cassata (see a truly memorable experience.
p209) or ice cream. Opening Hours
Many Sicilian restaurants offer
fixed-price menus, aimed at Restaurant hours are typical of
either tourists or workers. the southern Mediterranean: in
general, 1–3:30pm for lunch and
9pm–midnight for dinner. Many
Wine
restaurants are closed on one
As you might expect, the very day during the week, with the
simplest, cheapest places – possible exception of the high
usually in the countryside – may season, in July and August.
offer only locally produced Closing times are shown in the
wine, served by the glass or litre. listings on pages 210–17.
Elsewhere you will find Sicilian Restaurants and trattorias may
vintages from all over the island also close for up to a month for
and perhaps wines from the annual holidays. In large cities
mainland too. Only upscale like Palermo this is usually in
places and specialist enotecas August, whereas on the coast
(wine shops) see the need to seek and on the islands almost all Enjoy good wine and antipasto at vineria
out wines from outside Italy. restaurants close in the winter. (wine bar) La Putia in Syracuse (see p216)

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