12 Best Restaurants in Central Sicily and the Mediterranean Coast, Sicily

This culinary beacon in Sicily's interior features ambitious—and successful—dishes with the creative flair of chef Angelo Treno, whose unforgettable pastas topped with truffles or caviar, for example, offer a decidedly different expression of traditional regional ingredients. The unassuming and elegant dining room is inside an old railway house and is the perfect place to enjoy a bottle from the 500-label wine list; in cold weather, you can cozy up to a fireplace, but the terrace is the place to be in summer.

The restaurant in the graceful winter garden of Relais Briuccia's is simply one of the finest restaurants in Sicily and offers an utterly unique dining experience. Chef-owner Damiano Ferraro is endlessly creative, spinning his magic daily with the freshest of local Sicilian produce. Ferraro is a local who dreamed big and has worked all over the world (including at the Dorchester in London and with the Roux Brothers at La Gavroche); he then returned home and created this small-town gastronomic paradise. There are both tasting and à la carte menus. Although more expensive than those at other restaurants in the area, the tasting menus here offer a much more elevated and special dining experience that is well worth the additional cash.

You might not expect to find an ultramodern place to dine within a few minutes' drive of Agrigento's ancient temples. Yet, this restaurant offers pleasing versions of Sicilian classics in a trendy, country-chic atmosphere (think moody lighting and funky geometric tile floors mixed with walls lined with old-fashioned crockery and cookware) and is popular with young locals. The thoughtful wine list offers reasonable prices on local wines and those from throughout Sicily. Weather permitting, dine on the terrace for outstanding temple views. You can make reservations online.

Kokalos pairs Sicilian cuisine with a picturesque view of the Valley of the Temples, especially at night. Fresh ingredients highlight traditional dishes like the outstanding tuna tartare or pistachio pesto pizza with fresh burrata. A terrace offers prime seating, but the glass-walled dining room is perfect for hot days or colder months. Although away from the city center, the restaurant offers ample parking. It's popular so make reservations.

La Bottega Ristorante may seem like a classic hotel restaurant on the surface, but it's a hidden gem inside the Relais Villa Giuliana. The menu, focusing on handmade pastas and local seafood, is excellent, made with refined ingredients and served in surprisingly generous portions. While the price is slightly above average for the area, you'll find the quality of the ingredients and service up to par. Don't miss the home-baked bread served with a selection of local olive oils; the wine list focuses on regional selections. 

Le Stranizze, the city's restaurant outpost of De Gregorio winery, is a haven for lovers of Sicilian food and wine. The upscale menu offers modern takes on traditional arancini made with squid ink and filled with calamari, or a heaping plate of homemade pasta topped with grated bottarga, the cured roe pouch, which is a mainstay of Sicilian cuisine. Oenophiles will love the wine selections from their winery on the city's outskirts. There's a wine for every taste, from a sparkling Grillo to a Nero D'Avola. The dining room is cozy and modern, with outdoor seating during the warmer months. 

Adjacent to the unspoiled Spiaga di Bovo Marina beach, you'll find this upscale beachfront restaurant with a view of the sea and an ample, stylish terrace for alfresco dining. Although off the beaten path, it's a true fine-dining experience with classic Sicilian ingredients like mussels and tuna with a global touch of wasabi or a gazpacho. Guests will find a tasting menu that changes daily depending on the season and market availability. If you're looking for a simpler dining experience, they also feature à la carte dishes like pasta and fried fish. You can make an online reservation (recommended).

Highly recommended by locals, this classic restaurant can be found right in the center of Caltanissetta. Although the menu focuses on seafood dishes, including such classics as red shrimp and swordfish, there are several vegetarian options. The owner takes the time to explain the dishes, albeit in Italian, but she takes great pride in the offerings. Along with a full menu of antipasti, primi, and secondi, the restaurant also offers an ample list of regional wines.

Housed in an old palazzo, this casual place has served meals since 1889 and famously keeps a medieval specialty, controfiletto all'Ennese (a veal fillet with onions, artichokes, guanciale, and white wine), on the menu, in addition to a range of slightly more modern seasonal dishes. Choose from a decent selection of Sicilian wines to accompany your meal while you take in the large mirrored wall and local pottery.

This family-run fish restaurant shaped like a fishing boat was made famous by its frequent appearances in the Inspector Montalbano novels. There is a daily fixed menu comprising mixed Sicilian antipasti, three "tastes" of pasta, and then a choice among deep-fried calamari, roasted prawns, or grilled sea bass or bream. Desserts usually include cannoli, gelato a pezzo (an old-fashioned slice of ricotta, pistachio, and chocolate ice cream), and lemon granita. Across the road, a papier-mâché figure of Camilleri has been placed at a desk, ready for selfies.

Along a road on the way up to Agrigento proper from the temple area, this vaulted family-run restaurant serves up tasty traditional food, namely daily house-made pasta specials and plenty of fresh fish dishes, all prepared with Sicilian flair. Your best bet is to ask the advice of brothers Giuseppe and Simone, the owners and chief orchestrators in the restaurant, who can also help select a Sicilian wine to pair with your meal. Reservations are recommended in high season.

The brainchild of La Madia chef Pino Cuttaio, Uovo di Seppia is a combination restaurant, cooking school, shop, and bar where you can buy exquisite fresh and stuffed pasta, handmade bottled sauces, biscuits, cakes, and other gastronomic goodies to take away. The chef hosts seasonal events---check their Instagram page for more details.