With few exceptions, the dining in Agrigento is forgettable. This is one place where eating at the hotel (yours or another) may be your best option; otherwise, pick up picnic fare from a local deli or supermarket.
Palermo has a number of excellent restaurants (click here for those). It also boasts plenty of options for informal, cafe, or take-away fare that can be just as authentic, and certainly a whole lot less expensive, than dining out in the traditional sense. In fact, you'll definitely want to try out some of the street food (cibo di strada) in markets like Capo, Ballarò, and Vucciria. Real Palermitans go crazy for this stuff, and you’ll earn major street cred if you step up to the challenge.
Slaughterhouse leftovers play a starring role on the “menu” at these stands, so you might be better off not asking what’s in there. No matter what stewed organ they’re hawking—all organs and medleys thereof are fair game—Palermo’s colorful cibo di strada vendors will unfailingly tell you it’s the most pregiato (prized) piece of the animal. Sure, many of these nondescript meats will tempt you with their aromas, but it’s only fair to disclose that stigghiola is essentially barbecued goat intestines, and that pane con milza sandwich consists of chopped spleen on a roll of bread. (You go in thinking, “Piece of cake, it’s just a modified Sloppy Joe,” but those decommissioned red blood cells are an acquired taste.) At Antica Focacceria San Francesco, the spleen bits are churned in a huge, ominous-looking cauldron.
On the less daring side, try sfincione, a typical Palermitan pizza with tomatoes, anchovies, onion, and grated cheese, but you’ll get bonus points for ordering babaluci, baby snails with olive oil, garlic, and fennel. Craving stadium food? Have pane con salsiccia, a herb-y Sicilian riff on bratwurst on a roll. If you are vegetarian, try a delicious pane e panelle sandwich. Panelle are discs of fried chickpeas and universally adored by cibo di strada newbies.
Least bizarre of all, arancine are another typical Sicilian snack and easy to eat on the go. These deep-fried rice balls with mozzarella or meat inside will cost you about €2 each.
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.
