La Alacena Trattoria
Italian restaurant · Palermo ·
Homemade pasta, lasagna, tiramisu, affogato
Homemade pasta, lasagna, tiramisu, affogato
"The type of café you wish you had in your neighborhood, this sunny corner spot with adjacent bakery probably has such a positive energy due to the 'buena onda' of its owners Julieta Oriolo and Mariana Bauzá, who also happen to be best friends. Whether you're looking for a quick coffee and pastry, a hearty pasta lunch, a go-to brunch spot, or to crush into decadent desserts, it checks all the boxes. Weekdays see a loyal lunch crowd, with forks deep inside homemade goat cheese and pea ravioli, veal meatballs, and ricotta crostini topped with grilled radicchio, bacon, and grapes. The weekends explode with diners who come for the Italian-style brunches, paired with an Aperol Spritz. The sweets game is also on point, especially the salted chocolate tart." - Celeste Moure, Allie Lazar
"When trying to identify a top Italian restaurant, we either come across places which showcase a strong sense of professionalism and elegance that you associate with a fine dining experience, or those with the informal feel of a traditional trattoria, where regional-style home cooking is always to the fore – at La Alacena, it is definitely the latter. Here, owner-chef Julieta Oriolo puts her heart and soul into Italian cooking, in so doing honouring her family roots. On her à la carte, where you’ll find an enticing selection of antipasti and a few dishes worthy of particular mention (such as the exquisite polpette dal sugo), pasta (handmade with durum wheat flour and free-range eggs) plays a leading role, as witnessed by standout dishes such as the veal ravioli with a home-made pâté cream and caramelised fennel. And it’s definitely worth saving space for desserts such as the vanilla and peach pannacotta! They also sell their own artisanal pasta at the La Alacena Pastificio & Salumeria, just two blocks away." - Michelin Inspector
"A Bib Gourmand trattoria serving homemade pasta and Italian dishes like mortadella tortelli and tagliolini with pesto, pistachios, and salted ricotta." - The MICHELIN Guide
"This quaint trattoria just outside of Palermo’s trendy epicenter is the type of neighborhood restaurant everyone wishes to have in their barrio. Head chef and owner Julieta Oriolo channels her Italian roots to create simple and tasty home-style dishes. Be sure to try hand-made, fresh pastas like cavatelli, tortellacci, and tía Carmelia’s lasagna bolognese. Most of the pastas, sauces, freshly baked breads, and pastries are available for takeaway at La Alacena Pastificio, the team’s pasta shop a few blocks away." - Allie Lazar
"This café serves everything from baked goods to sardines from Mar del Plata. The chefs and owners, Julieta Oriolo and Mariana Bauzá, are wonderfully hospitable, and the dining room is flooded with light." - Peter Kaminsky