The Heart of Palermo: Trattoria Al Ferro di Cavallo
If you’re looking for a quiet, candlelit dinner with a white tablecloth, keep walking. Like many of the best authentic spots in Palermo, they do not take bookings. You should head there expecting a bit of a queue, but they have a brilliant way of making the wait part of the experience: the staff come out and hand out glasses of free white wine to everyone standing in line. It creates a fantastic, lively atmosphere on the street before you even step through the door.
Survival Guide for the Palermo Food Scene
The fact they do not take reservations might put you off at first. You will likely show up, see a massive crowd on the pavement, and your first instinct might be to find somewhere else. Don’t let that stop you. This is probably the only place where the queue is actually enjoyable.
The staff frequently circle the crowd with cups of house wine, and by the time you are finally seated, you have already made friends with the people in line. You are fully immersed in the Palermo vibe before you even see a menu. It is loud, it is busy, and it is exactly what you want from a Sicilian lunch or dinner.
What to Order: Authentic Sicilian Dishes
We kept it simple and ordered the fried calamari to start. For the mains, we had the grilled sea bass, and I went for the Eggplant Parmigiana. In my opinion, that is a mandatory order.
Despite being world-famous among those “in the know,” the prices remain incredibly economical. You get generous portions of top-tier Sicilian soul food without the typical centre of town markup.
Check out their website at Al Ferro di Cavallo before you go, and keep in mind that they are closed on Sundays. It is the perfect spot if you want real food and a bit of a laugh without breaking the bank.
Plan Your Perfect Sicily Road Trip
hat meal was certainly a highlight of my time in the North, but there is so much more to see and eat across the West and South. If you are planning to explore further, you can find the full route in my [5-Day Sicily Road Trip Itinerary].