Il Covo Marino — Restaurant in Aci Castello

We had the absolute pleasure of celebrating our wedding dinner at Il Covo Marino in Acitrezza, and it was truly an unforgettable experience from start to finish.

From the moment we began planning, Emanuele, the manager, impressed us with his professionalism, flexibility, and genuine care. He listened to our vision and helped us design an evening that was both elegant and personal.

The service led by Giuseppe, the maître, was flawless, discreet yet attentive, warm, and impeccably timed. He and his team made every guest feel welcome and looked after, creating a relaxed and joyful atmosphere throughout the night.

Then came the food. Chef Fabrizio delivered a masterclass in modern Sicilian cuisine, with dishes that were as visually stunning as they were delicious. Every course showcased high-quality ingredients, traditional flavours, and a creative, contemporary touch.

Thevrisotto with scampi was spot on however the highlight of the menu was the handmade ravioli filled with burrata, served with a delicate quenelle of red prawn tartare from Mazara del Vallo with rosted Avola's almonds, a dish that perfectly captured the balance between richness and freshness, tradition and innovation. The texture and flavour of the prawn were extraordinary, and the dish left a lasting impression on all of our guests.

From the exquisite seafood starters to the perfectly cooked fish mains, and the beautifully plated mix of sicilian desserts including mini cannolo, every bite was a celebration of culinary artistry.

The wine pairing was also exceptional, highlighting some of the best local vineyards from the Etna region and complementing each dish beautifully.

Il Covo Marino offered more than just a meal, it gave us a truly special experience, delivered with authenticity, warmth, and elegance. Our guests are still talking about it, and we will forever be grateful to Emanuele, Giuseppe, Fabrizio, and the whole team for making our wedding dinner so magical.

Highly recommended for any special occasion or simply for anyone who wants to experience the true essence of Sicilian...

. IF YOU DONT WANT TO GET ROBBED DONT GO. AND I DONT MEAN MONEY BUT YOUR PERSONNAL BELONGINGS. LET ME TELL YOU WHY : Before flying back we parked our car on the big pace in front of the restaurant and we had lunch in this restaurant. There was a person in front of the restaurant, shaved hair, he welcomed us at the restaurant. During lunch we had to go back to our car to charged some suitcases in the car. This guy saw what we did. After lunch we left the car at this big paid parking and we took a walk in the streets. 45 minutes later we get back to our car and we saw this same guy talking to 2 people. Those 2 people were walking around our car looking inside. It was like somebody told them that there were some suitcases inside this car, because they parked their car next to our car, with their engine on, like they wanted to leave quick after robbing the belongings in our car. Then we start starring at them and they left. The guy from the restaurant called us and told us that he chased them and we should be careful but I am quite sure that he was collaborating with them.

Once we returned the car, the car rental company told us that somebody tried to broke the lock of our car. Then we understood that those 2 people tried indeed to robbed us with the help of the man of the restaurant. We got charged 200€ from the rental company because of this broken lock.

To stay fair and to prove my honesty the food was okay...

"Pranzo domenicale ottobrino perfetto”

Sono andato con la famiglia (compresa bimba di pochi mesi in passeggino) in questo ristorante in base alle segnalazioni entusiastiche lette su internet e, ancora una volta, non siamo rimasti delusi. Abbiamo pure fatto bella figura con i parenti "grandi" che si chiedevano in base a quale criterio avessi scelto proprio questo ristorante. I piccoli dettagli fanno spesso la differenza e il personale del covo marino è decisamente una spanna sopra rispetto ad altri locali similari: appena arrivati mi hanno aiutato a portare il passeggino oltre i pochi scalini dell'ingresso, appena seduti non hanno indugiato 30 secondi ad abbassare il telone per evitare che la bebè prendesse aria, 3 minuti dopo esserci seduti hanno servito un aperitivo offerto dalla casa, 10 e lode. Come altri locali del catanese, tappa obbligatoria del percorso di degustazione è stata la carrellata di antipasti di pesce e di verdure, ottima e abbondante: un plauso alla fritturina e ad alcuni marinati. Fresche anche le ostriche, ordinate a parte. Come primi abbiamo provato linguine allo scoglio (buone, purtroppo leggermente salate), linguine al nero di seppia (buone buone buone) e pasta fresca con salsa e pesce spada (anche questa buona, ricchissima di condimento, un po' troppo salato il condimento). Per chiudere un'ottima fetta di cassata e un dolce all'arancia che si scioglieva in bocca. Non essendo grandissime forchette, in 4 abbiamo diviso in 2 antipasti 3 primi e 2 dolci e a cena non abbiamo mangiato! Il locale si trova sul lungomare di Acitrezza, un po' di tavoli all'aperto che danno sul porticciolo con una buona vista. La scelta di una domenica di autunno inoltrato si è rivelata molto buona, siamo stati a tavola in maniche di camicia e finito il pasto abbiamo potuto fare una breve passeggiata digestiva a circa 20 gradi! Non abbiamo potuto valutare i vini perché, chi per un motivo chi per un altro, non potevamo ordinarne, ma la carta dei vini, per quel poco che ne capisco, è abbastanza buona. Il rapporto qualità - prezzo è buono, la qualità è medio-alta, il servizio ottimo, le quantità non da camionista ma abbondanti. Se una pecca dobbiamo trovare bisogna scovarla nei servizi igienici: da rimodernare! 5 stelle al personale e all'atmosfera, davvero rilassata e, allo stesso tempo, attenta alle...