Ristorante Il carretto

16 Best Restaurants in Sicily for Mount Etna Sunsets, Local Wine, and Next-Level Street Food | Condé Nast Traveler

"Down a nondescript side street in postcard-pretty Cefalù, this is the kind of authentic neighborhood trattoria that locals rely on, with gracious prices and an ever-changing menu covering all the Sicilian classics. Mustard-yellow walls, mahogany chairs, and old archways create a homely, traditional backdrop where the clatter of cutlery, animated conversation, and unfiltered laughter bounce off exposed brick vaulted ceilings. Despite its unfussy appearance, it’s a crucible of local pride and foodie culture with notably high service standards. Families plow through platters piled with mussels, shrimp, fried octopus, and calamari before moving on to involtini di carne alla Siciliana—veal, beef, eggplant, or swordfish rolls with a cheesy, pine-nut filling, all served sizzling on lava stone. Any of the buttery seafood pastas are a safe bet, and for a quintessentially Sicilian finale, the cassata is a kitschy delight: sponge cake generously spiked with liqueur, thickly layered with ricotta, and decorated with the candied fruits you see painted across local pottery and fabrics." - Rosalyn Wikeley