The most popular restaurant in all of Taormina does not disappoint. Be prepared for long lines with…read moreno reservations. The atmosphere is lively, the hospitality unlike any restaurant we visited. Very family forward. Ladies kept kissing my daughter's head. The men kept tapping it. They love children. The food was very good. Mixed seafood pasta and the pasta Rita had unique flavors I've never had. Very touristy but experience felt very local.

When we were in Taormina on vacation recently, we had Osteria da Rita dal 1991 on our list of…read moreplaces we absolutely had to dine at for dinner. One thing to note is that Osteria da Rita dal 1991 does NOT take reservations under any circumstance and is walk in only. I tried to go through the local 5 star hotel concierge at our resort and they didn't have access, and I also tried to secure reservations myself (I work for a high end travel/concierge company) and also was unsuccessful myself. But now, I understand why after going there. When you walk up, try to go towards the start of their dinner hours to get in line for a standby table. As tables "turn" the next table in the line is seated, that way everyone at the restaurant is treated fairly and is seated as tables are available. There were people in line with us that had dined there 2 or 3 times for dinner during their vacation, so we knew we were in for a treat because dining in Taormina is absolutely outstanding! Right across from the line queue, there in a gelato shop with a takeaway bar that sells wine, beer, and alcoholic drinks that you can take into the line while you wait for your table. At the time of our visit in June 2025, we were able to get a bottle of wine for 15 Euros that we drank while waiting on our table for about an hour to an hour and a half. When we were seated, we were greeted warmly by restaurant staff and they brought over the menus and complimentary bread and bruschetta. We also ordered the bottle of house wine to start as well and it was really good! For starters, we ordered the Spaghetti da Za Rita (15 Euros) and the Lasagna al Ragu (15 Euros). Both had homemade pasta and the quality was out of this world, everything was super fresh. For the entree we ordered the Lemon Flavored Meatballs (16 Euros) and these were out of this world, also very fresh and an amazing main course to share! We were full by the time we got through with dinner, so we didn't order any dessert but all of the desserts looked amazing! They did bring over a complimentary shot of limoncello to close the meal which was also greatly appreciated as well! It's truly an amazing restaurant and a must try spot if you're in Taormina!

This place was literally right outside where the cruise ship dock. It was like a trip to grandma's…read morehouse. I happen to have a grandmother and all the food was recognizable and tasty. I really appreciate this place. I hope this thing business forever. The service was even terrific.

Ate here last year on a cruise stop. Food was delicious and atmosphere was nice sitting outside…read more May go again when stop here again!

Beautiful view, great service, excellent food...can't ask for more! The pasta with truffles was…read moreincredible.

The fact that they take reservations is a plus. Everything was good and some dishes were unique…read morelike the pistachio prawn pasta, something we didn't get. Spaghetti with butter and anchovies was different but very salty. Everything on average was good.

Food and service are great. Nice location at the marina with a covered outdoor terrace. Great wine…read morelist

Lovely restaurant with outside seating and views of the marina. They have a good selection of…read morepasta, fish and an option of veal. Almost all items are fish based (obviously for the area). The waitstaff was all very friendly. Everything is in Italian/ Sicilian so English speakers bring your phone to help translate!

The food was very tasty and it was lovely sitting outside with a view of Castello Ursino.read more

Outside. Beautiful. Table clothes. Very nice and kind service. Food came out quickly, almost too…read morequick. Didn't care for any of the food. We had two apps and left. Wine was ok they brought out two different bottles to try, place is now packed. Try at your own risk. Not my favorite here. Doris approved 3.5 stars. The whole meal everything pictured was 22.00euro Everyone else cleaned their plates so maybe we didn't pick the right meals.

Looking for an experience of authentic Sicilian culture? You'll find it here. Authentic, old…read moreworld, charming and delicious. It is slow food, at it's finest. Dishes that other won serve, because they require time, love and attention. Lots of seafood, freashly caught and you can taste the difference. Amazing vegetarian pasta. Lots of dishes to select from. Too many. You could dine here for a week and still not explore it all. Go! You will be delighted!

We arrived at the restaurant and was told there were no tables available for the evening and was…read moreturned away. I then informed them I had made reservations to celebrate my wife's birthday and was promptly seated. The highlight was the bread and the olive from Mt Etna, amazing splash of olive oil!. Then things went down hill from there. Service was mediocre, the food was not as expected. I had Spatola and had to search for bits and pieces of fish. The taste was off and I elected not to finish my meal. I assume they were having an off-night but after seeing some of the reviews, I don't think so. I traveled throughout Italy, Sicily and Sardinia and must say this was not enjoyable. I would not recommend this place of business until they re-evaluate their menus and staff.

Five of us had dinner here and everyone thoroughly enjoyed their chosen dishes. I took a break from…read morepasta and had a grilled beef steak with roasted potatoes. It was perfectly prepared. The flavor of the steak was delicious, topped with olive oil. The roasted potatoes were also delicious. Simple meal that hit the spot! Two other friends had steak as well but with a Gorgonzola cheese sauce. They thought it was absolutely delicious. My hubby ordered the carbonara and it was one of the most outstanding versions ever. The carbonara sauce was amazing. The bacon was even crispy which is a rare sight! Service was friendly. The outside covered patio was beautiful, calm and a delightful place to have dinner. The inside of the restaurant was where the local diners were eating, sounded like a big party inside, while it was serene outside where we were. We had lots of pleasant dinner conversation without it being noisy! Wonderful dinner experience. Highly recommend!

Had an amazing experience with Anthony and Giuseppe! Such an authentic and beautiful experience…read morewith fantastic service and traditional dishes. You must have the ravioli with pistachio cream-- it is life changing. I hope to come back again before we leave!!

From the owner: Gli antipasti siciliani sono veramente tanti e vari, a cominciare dagli antipasti rustici…read moresiciliani, quelli a base di olive, pomodori secchi, formaggi, salumi, panelle e crocchè, per passare agli antipasti più classici come le polpette in agrodolce , Pane fritto, caponata e parmigiana siciliana, involtini di melanzane, peperonata, arancini al pistacchio e tant'altro  

Amazing restaurant! Can't get any fresher seafood than this! Great location on the water,…read moreoutstanding pastas and seafood. Not to mention the great owner and staff. Wow!

From the owner: ristorante sul mareread more

What a charming little wine bar! It's small inside with wooden tables and wine bottles lined the…read morewalls. There's also tables outside for of a casual feel due to the high walking traffic. We tried several different Sicily wines which were all fabulous. We also got a little cheese and meat plate. It was a laid back, cozy spot with good pricing that won't break the bank. Service was great

After lunch we stopped by for a glass of wine just to chill. Since this place was right next to…read moreour hotel we noticed that it fills up quickly with folks just looking for an aperitif. We did see some folks order some light bites but it's not necessary as they do give you some chips and crackers to munch on as a snack. If you're looking for a cheap glass they have some wines priced at 5 euro which are decent. Nothing fancy but drinkable like most house wines you get in a restaurant.