Palinuro

Palinuro is a Sicilian seafood restaurant at Via Santa Filomena 1 in Catania, on the dining street just off Via Etnea. The cuisine centres on fish and shellfish bought for freshness, in the Ionian coastal tradition of Catania, where the nearby La Pescheria market supplies most of the city's kitchens. The fresh fish of the day, typically grilled, baked or cooked in a light sauce, is the main attraction, and its tuna carbonara, a local twist that replaces cured pork with tuna in a carbonara-style sauce, is among the dishes mentioned most often. Antipasti of raw and marinated seafood, pasta with clams or prawns, and fried fish are normal elements of a meal here, although the menu changes with the catch. The dining room is informal and welcoming, a mid-priced restaurant rather than a formal address, with a moderate noise level and a mix of residents and visitors; casual clothing is fine. The wine selection concentrates on Sicilian whites, such as Etna Bianco, Grillo and Catarratto, which go well with seafood. Prices are moderate, commonly EUR 25 to 45 per person with wine, with whole fish priced by weight and therefore the largest variable on the bill. Palinuro serves lunch and dinner and is reported to close on Tuesday, though hours should be confirmed by phone on +39 095 7394964 before a visit. Reservations are advisable for Friday and Saturday evenings and for Sunday lunch, when local families dine out, and a booking one day ahead is usually enough outside the summer peak. The location, on a street lined with other restaurants, is within a short walk of Piazza Stesicoro, the Roman amphitheatre and the Teatro Massimo Bellini, so it combines easily with a day of sightseeing in the historic centre.