We’re leaving for the sun in just under a week 
While our Airbnb host gets rave reviews, especially for giving good dining recommendations, sourcing info elsewhere never hurts.
So, kindly drop any culinary discoveries/jewels in SE Sicily here, if you would!
Grazie mille 
That is one terrific area for eating!!!
I was in the SE corner off the island in 2023, and again in September of 2024.
I wrote some pretty long reports about where I ate; you might have to wade past areas that are not on your itinerary, but I hope this helps. In Ragusa, I would not repeat at IL Duomo; nothing was at all bad about it but I did not feel as if it carried the sense of place that so imbues LA MADIA in Licata. If you were to take a detour, I would highly recommend LA MADIA. But even without that detour, there is such marvelous eating all around there…
In case you will begin your trip in Catania:
Long ahead, with Ragusa beginning in post#34, and more towards the end of the thread, and details of LA MADIA, Salina (Aeolians, and more Catania…kind of jumbled up cause I had trouble posting photos)
We had one dinner in Scicli, at BAQQALA:
In Siracusa, DON CAMILLO gets very mixed reports. They have a la carte as well as tasting. It’s on the elegant side but, as you’d expect, far from formal. The same warmth and welcome from staff as we found all over the island. I went for their spaghetti with Ricci di mare, which was not so easily found in September. (Not sure if it was the month or if there was a ban, but after confirming that they had it here–it’s one of their signature dishes–I booked, and we had an excellent dinner)
Our second dinner was on the Siracusa side of the bridge, a few steps from that bridge, at LATTERIA DI MAMA IABICA, recommended to me here by Jen Kalb, via SlowFood’s Osterie guide.
That evening, the restaurant played host to a large group of dressed-up Italians from the G7 summit, but we sat outside and service did not suffer in the least. Seemed like a popular spot for locals and we were happy with our dinner, but I was very sorry that I ordered the tuna, rather than the rabbit. (Imagine the I still remember my mistake, more than half a year later). The tuna was fine, just plain, and I had such memories of a rabbit in agrodolce that I had just swooned over on Salina. Never minding all that, I’d recommend a meal here; I think they have no website, but now bookable on TheFork.
If you don’t mind sharing the link to your AirB&B (if it’s rural), I could try to recommend restaurants within an easy drive…(assumption that you will have a car, perhaps wrong. (??). )
Thank you so much for all of this! We fly in and out of Catania & have a rental to get to our place in Scicli and, of course, to drive around the area.
I don’t know that we’ll be spending much time in Catania, but we have no set plans as of now.
Catania is a fascinating, beautiful city, but maybe not in the hot summer. Maybe will still be a bit green if you go now The baroque towns SW of Siracusa, the canyons (Patalica, Cassabile) and the big nature refuge (Vendicari) all have a lot of interest. Modica as well as Ragusa, Sciclli and Noto. The slowfood app is a great guide in this area to delicious non-Michelin level food and its even in English now. That will lead you to places that make the regional speciaties, which, inland from the coast, include a lot of rich pork pasta and main dish specialties and little pastries like scacci which are delicious. Its been two years since my most recent trip, here are some tips I reported.
Actually, we are in Sampieri.
I loved my lunch at DA VITTORIO in PortoPalo di Menfi, but that’s a long way from Sampieri. We stayed a week near Marina di Ragusa and while our meals there were decent (we tried a couple of places on the Lungomare) there is no place I would really recommend. I would skip the one-star Michelin VOTA VOTA. It was not at all bad, but food did not merit the price, although the restaurant is very pretty and right on the boardwalk. I think that, in general, there is better food to be had inland, away from the coastal resort towns, although as I noted, DA VITTORIO was wonderful, even though the owner might put some diners off…(much talk about him in the reviews)
We’re not really looking for Michelin or fine dining — just good, local food.
We ate very well in Palermo last year.
I certainly agree. Michelin is not a guide to follow in Sicily, but you already know this.
sorry, i did not intend to drag da vittorio into this discussion ; most of the discussion there was of Ragusa/ modica area.it may not open unless you click on actual link
I downloaded the Slow Food app, but can’t seem to figure out where/how to get it in English.
I also saved Scala from one of your (or erica1’s posts), but I will admit I’m a little intimidated by a waiter reciting the menu in Italian only. My kitchen Italian is fairly good, but I’m certainly not hip to local seafood or local specialty terms, nor would I necessarily recognize them.
Please don’t rule anyplace out due to the oral recitation. Remember that you might choose the seafood/fish from a case, so you can point. And I think the waiters will be more than patient with you; there’s probably someone on the staff who can translate… And you have that “kitchen Italian,” like me. I think you’ll be more than fine. The staff at Scala are especially kind and I have almost no doubt that they will be accommodating, if you do manage to get there.
It’s def one of the places closest to Sampieri 
Oh, right!!! I now remember that, the last time I went to Scala, we drove from our base in Marina di Ragusa, on the coast road, past Sampieri, to PortoPalo. We pulled over so I could see the beach at Sampieri, which looked beautiful.
Are you happy with your choice to stay there??
I just took a look at reviews of SCALA on TripAdvisor and a few people mentioned that they have a menu on QR code, and at least one person said there was a paper menu. Also, if you plan to go, book a table in the enclosed terrace in front of the building. The interior looked a little crowded, with not much room between tables.
We will see 
After going back and forth between Sardinia, Ischia, and Sicily, then checking all kinds of places in Sicily, at some point I just wanted to pick a place 
The reviews are great, the location seems fine, and all I really want is some sunshine, beach time, and good food — all of which no doubt can be found.
Have any of you done any food tours in the area?
@PedroPero — I know you’re a big fan of them. Any recs?
I wonder if these ppl do tours there, I’ve heard good things about them.
Join our food tours in the world’s culinary capitals
Palermo only, and I think I may have looked that one up when we were there. TBH, not sure I need to join a group/tour to have a coffee, arancino, panino, or gelato anywhere.
We got pretty good instincts 
You’re welcome
I mean… there’s one for Ortigia from 10am - 1:30pm, where those foods seem to be on the agenda.
Siracusa is about an hour drive from our digs, and eating anything that early is really pushing it for me, unfortunately 
Natascha, I’m sorry…I thought you were already in Sampieri.
So eager to read about your experiences!!
I’ve never taken a food tour in Italy, but I just learned about this company, which seems to get good reviews; they offer cooking classes and food tours, but for this trip, the only location might be Catania…
