Osteria dei Vespri

Frommer's Review

A few steps from Via Roma, this restaurant lies on the ground floor of Palazzo Ganci, a restored palace from the 18th century. A wine tavern and restaurant, it is filled with handcrafted wooden furniture resting on parquet floors. The wine list, with literally hundreds of vintages, is the best in town. Locals take out-of-towners here to this tucked-away little square deep in the heart of old town, knowing they will be served a well-prepared and savory regional cuisine.

The chefs, using a razor-sharp technique, impress with such starters as a soup of mussels, lentils, potatoes, saffron, and wild fennel. We are also impressed with their imaginative and finely crafted dishes, especially the roulade of fish and dried prunes, pine nuts, tuna roe, and cauliflower mousse. The pasta dish that merits the most raves is ravioli with ricotta and fresh basil, homemade tomato sauce, eggplant, and crispy onion. An imaginative use of ingredients continues with such delights as swordfish Cordon Bleu, with almonds, oregano, and ginger, or the braised beef with Nero d'Avola red wine and wild fennel on a potato purée with glazed onions. We want to go back to sample our favorite dessert here, a mousse of black-and-white chocolate with glazed orange peel.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

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