Osteria Mariano

Daniele, the owner of Hotel L'Approdo delle Sirene, recommended Osteria Mariano while we were in Ortigia, and it was a gem. The atmosphere had a truly rustic Sicilian feel, tucked away in a charming alley that gave it an intimate, local vibe. The maitre d’ made me feel so comfortable that, for the first time in my life, I let him choose my meal — no clue what was coming until it hit the table. He brought out pasta con alici, true to Sicilian tradition, and I absolutely loved it. Every dish was authentic and full of flavor. The litre of vino della casa rosso was delicious and a fantastic value. Overall, a great local spot and definitely worth a return visit — in fact, we went back. Saluti

All the dishes are tasty. Can't beat the price in Syracusa. The dessert is really amazing and all the servers are professional and kind.

Da Mariano has brought extremely mixed feelings. What started as a very welcoming evening, followed by some of the best pasta dishes that I have ever tried (upon recommendation by the waiter) was followed by a stark change of attitude as we, unfortunately not unlike other reviewers, were completely forgotten about for more than half an hour. Then again, when our secondi finally arrived (following a couple of kind reminders from our side), the calamari turned out to be one of the best we had tried ...ever... Then.. no service and waiting for the bill for considerable time. In conclusion Da Mariano could easily be the best osteria in Ortigia as the meals are top notch if slight improvement on consistant service is achieved. And last but not least: this is definitely the best value for money restaurant we have visited so far in Sicily but bring your cash.

Tucked away on an alley, this restaurant might be easily missed, but it is definitely worth a visit. In the sea of trendy sameness that seems to have taken over in Ortigia, this is an old style gem. Folk art, family friendly, good food and great service. When you can still get house wine in a carafe at a fraction of bottle prices, you know things are changing slowly. Great find.

Interesting location on a side street gives a nice ambiance. The food was good and the wine was reasonably priced. Service was also good. Seemed to fill up quickly if you want a table outside, but there was always seating available inside. The food was good and the menu has variety, so there is something for everyone. A safe bet.

I grew up in an Italian household eating traditional Italian meals, and this place was spot on. The flavours, dish options and servers were perfect. We ordered very traditional inland dishes (rabbit, spezzatino and trippa). Super flavourful, well cooked and good portions. The appetizer was a bit of a disappointment (Sicilian antipasto) but the rest of the meal made up for it. Service was reminiscent of my father serving his dishes, not rude, but to the point. They let the flavours speak for them. To top it off, the bill came on a scrap piece of paper and together with the waiter and some quick math we added it all up. Epic!

The best clam pasta I’ve ever had. The octopus stewed in tomato is also very tasty. The blood orange and onion salad is totally a surprise. Situated in a touristy area, it has a family run atmosphere and the price is very reasonable.

Our favorite restaurant in Ortigia. The food is great and we’re treated like family. The rabbit, orange salad and caponata are amazing. A must visit with patience. Grazie Mille Mariano 💋🇮🇹