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Hours
Sun
11:00 am - 11:00 pm
Mon
11:00 am - 11:00 pm
Tue
11:00 am - 11:00 pm
Wed
11:00 am - 11:00 pm
Thu
11:00 am - 11:00 pm
Fri
11:00 am - 11:00 pm
Sat
11:00 am - 11:00 pm
Ratings and reviews
RATINGS
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Details
Someone from this business manages this listing.
Learn More
CUISINES
Italian, Deli, Sicilian
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly
Meals
Lunch, Dinner
features
Is this an Afghan restaurant?
Details
CUISINES
Italian, Deli, Sicilian
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly
Meals
Lunch, Dinner
FEATURES
Takeout, Buffet, Seating, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service
Contribute
3.5
9,351 reviews
Excellent
2,643
Very good
2,990
Average
1,780
Poor
1,019
Terrible
919
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JimRiesterer
Edina6053 contributions
Sept 2021 • couples
An historic restaurant with a large area of outdoor seating in a beautifully lit piazza in front of the church of San Francesco. While considered perhaps a bit touristy by locals, we enjoyed a great meal in mid September while sitting outside.
An institution since 1834, we enjoyed a variety of local dishes including an anti pasta sampler which was a great way to try a variety of specialties from arancini to focaccia to croquettes. We also liked the pistachio shrimp pasta and the baked ring-shaped pasta with a ragu sauce. Well-worn English menus were provide and the English skills of the waiters were decent here. Prices were very reasonable with our meal costing around €115 for 4 with a nice bottle of red wine from Etna.
Recommended
Written 18 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Responsabile Marketing
Hi, we are happy that you enjoyed our menu and our location. We hope to see you again in Palermo to welcome you again and let you try other typical delights!
Written 11 October 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Anuj_Mithani
Mumbai4515 contributions
Sept 2022 • none
This is an institution in Palermo with its origins dating back to 1834. Friendly service, they were very helpful in guiding us to th veggie options in English. The panini was good (and toasted before serving us) -with high quality bread and fresh ingredients, but 5E seemed steep for what was offered. Located in a very atmospheric courtyard, near St Francis Basilica and San Lorenzo oratory.
Written 7 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Isabel C
Macae108 contributions
Jan 2020 • couples
We were heading back for the hotel and thinking that we needed a place to eat or to buy food to take back to hotel room when we saw the Antica Focacceria San Francisco and it looked so nice outside that we decided to go in and take a look. We ended up buying a pizza (or so they called) and 2 canolli. The place was packed with locals... Pizza was good, canolli was ok.
Written 10 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Leonardo G
Province of Palermo10 contributions
Aug 2021 • friends
I am from Palermo and I love tipical food and our nice and fresh fruit. Unfortunately this place has got nothing like the things Palermo city can offer, I have asked if the orange juice was fresh and I was assured it was then when I received it it was just ice and something more like a melted ice lolly ! I complained about it and the waiter answered me it S because is too hot so they had to diluite with lot of ice, taking the mic out of me. The sandwiches I have tried and every year it seems they just do worse and don t have the taste that they should , better go to other places even street food is much better quality and at least you will be respected not scammed . This place is a scam that attract tourist. More than disappointed
Written 6 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Responsabile Marketing
Hi, we're sorry to read your comments. Our customers are satisfied with the menu we offer and always come back willingly. We hope you can change your mind, see you soon!
Written 27 August 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
HC356
Cape Town6 contributions
Oct 2020 • none
Unfortunately this place is living off it's historical importance.
Nice venue, but the food and service are lacking.
The food is good, 3 or 4 stars out of 5. Fried seafood was cold so clearly not recently fried. Arancine were decent but nothing special. Pasta fritta OK, served on a parmesan crisp, which is gimmicky because it would have been better if the parmesan had been a normal part of the pasta.
Service was very poor. Took a long time to get an order in, a long time for water to arrive, and food to arrive. Ordered coffee after the meal and it was forgotten, had to remind them and they brought it without sugar. Then it was difficult to get them to bring sugar - this is all despite the fact that we can speak perfect italian.
Lastly, you can get all of the same food elsewhere for cheaper.
I would like to recommend this place but unfortunately I would advise to avoid.
Written 17 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
fatih christensen
Copenhagen59 contributions
Oct 2021 • couples
The worst food in our 10 days trip in Sicily.
We ordered salat with grilled Chicken and they served some salat with dry and old piece of chickens. Definetly not freshly grilled and a huge amount of mayonese on the top of salat as dressing. I didnt eat it at all, I didnt drink my wine either and talked with the stadig before we left but Honestly they didnt care that we were not happy.
Total turist trap!!! We thought it would be a good experience since it is a historical place
Written 22 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JMcFish
230 contributions
Jun 2022 • couples
The older part, where you order at the counter, was ok. Helpful lady staff member.
The other part, across the road with the tables outside, is poor. Whilst we waited for our food, at one table the staff forgot one person’s meal totally; at another they had charged for items not ordered (very common in Palermo); then our food came straight from the fridge - stone cold with the cheese slightly melted on top. After heating it tasted fine and the expensive wine was lovely, but really, what a poor place.
Written 10 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
APM_Lazlo
Stratford-upon-Avon87 contributions
Jun 2022 • couples
I verged on rating this as a 3 but .....
The location of the restaurant is great and we were recommended to go by one of our friends who is Sicilian. Our food and wine was good but not great. The menu was somewhat limited for my preference.
Issues for us are pretty much the same as everyone else. The waiting staff seemed very uninterested in their customers and came across as abrupt. The guy with the disco on his shoulder was there but thankfully didn't stay long.
However a couple of other guys busking were very good.
The telling assessment is, would we return? The answer is thanks but no thanks.
Written 13 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Miguel SC
9 contributions
Aug 2021 • none
The food is extremely poor and the service is chaotic in a bad manner.
It is a shame that such an old establishment disrespects Sicilian food culture in such a bad way.
Be aware, there are manny other authentic restaurants in town...
I expressed my disappointment to the manager and got no response whatsoever...
Written 10 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Responsabile Marketing
Hi, we are sorry to read your review. Our kitchen staff works hard to guarantee customers a positive experience. We hope to see you soon so that we can change your opinion.
Written 31 August 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Brent W
Vancouver18 contributions
May 2022 • solo
Because of its patio’s beautiful outdoor location, I saved eating at this restaurant for my last night in Palermo. I wish I hadn’t gone at all: the service was dismissive, and the meal was memorable as the worst of my two months in Italy. I had the rigatoni alla Norma: the pasta was very undercooked (well beyond al dente), and the sauce tasted of salt. Very disappointed.
Written 21 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hank K
1 contribution
Aug 2022 • couples
This afternoon we came here for lunch. 4 tourists, traveling together from different countries. We sat outside, but almost half an hour no one came to give us menus, or take an order. When we took initiative ti ask the head waiter to take our order, he acted insulted.
All the waiters looked unhappt, and ifnored us as much as pissible.
The food was good, no problem here.
Afterwards, when we wanted to pay, again no attention from ant of the waiters.
When my wife walked to the counter to pay, and made a small misunderstanding of the bill, the female waitress started screaming at her, insulting her in Italian, calling attention of the whole terrace to this.this webt on in a loud voice for 2-3 minutes.
Shameful!
How could such a woman - in service of customers - scream and insult someone 30 years older, the age of her mother, for making a small mistake in a foreign language?!
This is the WORST service we have ever encountered in any country in the world!
I would advise everyone to avoid this restaurant.
Written 30 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Eleanor C
Farnborough388 contributions
Sept 2020 • none
Wonderful rich smoky pasta a la Norma (if not the most generous portion of pasta I had in Siciliy) with the emphasis on the aubergine, rather than cheese, washed down with a glass of very acceptable house white. I sat out at one of the tables in the square, watching the world go by one evening. They offer a number of popular Sicilian street food dishes
Clearly a popular choice, and as a bonus it's on the Addiopizzo list.
Written 10 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kirstie G
6 contributions
May 2024 • friends
Awful, from start to finish. Four of us were seated at a small, two person table, in a corner whilst other groups of four were given larger tables. Water took an age to come out - part way through a bird pooped in my glass, can’t help but feel he took more care in his delivery than the chef did with our food!
Our starters arrived at our teeny, tiny table at the same time as our main course, so obviously there was little room for everything. I guess this might be why they didn’t bother with giving us bread, olive oil or any other condiments. Hardly worth the €12 coperto!
The two salads were flung together without care or attention, a small blob of mayonnaise to counter the dryness failed miserably. The breaded chicken was forgettable, unlike the ‘croutons’ which were stale toasts which only added to the dryness. The aubergine rolls came with roast potatoes, which had morphed into a handful of supermarket salad leaves and some tomatoes.
As for the staff…. We were pestered to order quickly, despite asking for more time when one of the requested dishes was no longer available. They were impatient when we pointed out the starter was not meant to come out with the main. Then they tried to remove plates before everyone in our group had finished and finally they could not be bothered to even ask if we wanted a dessert. When I paid I was asked if everything was okay, I told him no, I was very disappointed, but received only a shrug in response, he absolutely could not care less. Maybe if you are a local you might receive better treatment, but I would advise not to bother, as others have said, Avoid. They are so many other, much nicer places to eat, with better food and nicer staff.
Written 13 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nomdevdt
New York City18 contributions
Jul 2022 • couples
Had been pre-pandemic and loved this historic restaurant on a beautiful piazza but oh, how things have changed. The service was abrupt and the food was mediocre. You can eat better almost anywhere in Palermo. Then, a street performer on a bicycle pulled up blasting 1970s disco at screeching volume from a portable sound system and “dancing” for tips. At any other restaurant pests are shooed away but this guy was able to prance about for twenty minutes, even yelling at diners begging him to turn it down. The next day, we walked by at lunchtime and he was back, standing with the restaurant staff as if he was part of of the team. I’ll admit, some of the locals who filled about a third of the tables, eating only street food appetizers, seemed to enjoy him. But sorry as I felt for myself, I feel worse for anyone who lives nearby and has to put up with this.
Written 10 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Isusi
Bonate Sopra66 contributions
Jan 2024 • friends
Excellent penis with spleen! Too bad the same can't be said for the rest. Very hard fried food and cold arancine, perhaps wanting to serve too many people at the same time doesn't pay off in quality and service. I would definitely go back just for the spleen bread!
Written 3 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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