Qualia — Restaurant in Cefalù

A slightly critical five stars. There are some real strengths here, but it's not a perfect experience either.

We tried five dishes (two starter, two pastas, one main) and the pastas were by far the strongest element. I feel like (non-Italians, at least) are constantly chasing elusive highs when it comes to pasta, where the textures and richness just come together into completely satisfying mouthfuls. Both pasta dishes we tried achieved this in different ways, for me the spaghetti was the standout. Both were elevated but not a huge departure from tradition (nor, sadly, huge portions - I could have eaten five times as much and been taken home strapped on the back of a vespa).

The main was solid - grilled squid, came together nicely with the chickpea miso and other elements. I think you could probably do more with squid this good, but it's a strong dish. Oh I'll also mention the bread here - whoever is in the kitchen really gets their carbs, they're making absolutely fantastic bread as well as pasta.

Where I was more skeptical was the starters. This should be the space where the kitchen is having the most fun - smaller portions and the fact that if someone doesn't like it, you have multiple courses to make them still leave happy means that you can really push the envelope if you want to. But here, the envelope remained pretty unpushed. The raw shrimp with citrus was fine, but only fine - fun presentation (I honestly thought they were baby carrots at first) but ultimately not more than the sum of its parts. The grilled onion was in theory more interesting - taking typical Sicilian ingredients and adding umami sources - but in the end there was nothing hugely unexpected about the taste and textures and you're just kind of sitting there thinking "damn, I just paid more than 20 euro for an onion". The price/quality ratio just isn't quite there for the starters - honestly just order an extra pasta for the same price.

The question of fun is also important because while the service was professional and attentive, the vibe is currently dour. This is the height of the tourist season, and the restaurant is mostly empty in a Friday night, and the staff know it. That sucks, and they deserve better tbh - there is much worse food for not that much less to be found in crowded restaurants all over town. But this year at least, people are willing to pay for sea views over better food.

Lastly, the wine was very good, and accommodating of ordering by the glass. Not the biggest cellar in town, but if you like your wines more natural or offbeat it's a well curated list.

Overall, I'd recommend Qualia - but it probably needs to reinvent itself soon. I'd go back tonight if they agreed to sell me a bigger proportion of pasta and a glass or two of well-sourced wine, and honestly that feels more like the restaurant...

This was our second dinner out in Cefalù, and we chose Qualia, a Michelin-recognized restaurant and it was absolutely worth it!

We went for the 6-course tasting menu and had an amazing experience from start to finish.

One of the highlights for me was a starter featuring octopus served in a delicate potato bisque with olive oil , simply divine. I love fish and have eaten it all my life, and I’m very picky about preparations that mask the natural flavor. This dish was perfection: clean, fresh, and delicate .

We also had homemade pasta with tuna bottarga, which was perfectly balanced, and a prawns starter with grapefruit and mint that was light, fresh, and beautifully presented. Later, we enjoyed pork that was incredibly tender with a subtle sweet aftertaste.

The dessert was mascarpone cream with biscuit, the best mascarpone cream we’ve ever had, silky and rich texture without being overly sweet.

What stood out across the entire menu was how all the ingredients were paired so well that none overpowered the others. Each dish felt carefully thought out and harmonious.

The portions are exactly what you expect from a tasting menu, not huge, but enough to feel satisfied. Both my partner and I were pleasantly full by the end.

The chef’s creativity really shines, the staff were friendly and attentive; my partner even commented on how quickly plates were cleared, which kept the whole dinner flowing perfectly.

The location is another plus, a bit away from the busy tourist streets, which makes the experience even more special and relaxed.

Overall, we had absolutely nothing to complain about, it was a memorable evening from start to finish. I noticed another reviewer mentioned they had the same menu a week ago but seemed less impressed. I’m honestly surprised, because we had an exceptional experience and felt every course was prepared with care and creativity.

If you’re in Cefalù and looking for a special evening away from the busy tourist streets, I can’t recommend Qualia enough. Go for the tasting menu if you want a full journey through the chef’s vision, next time, I can’t wait to return and try the à...

Went to Qualia a couple of days ago, originally just to check out the organic, local sicilian wine and the Aperitivo snacks, but ended up staying for a whole tasting menu - that´s how fantastic it was! Qualia has everything a fantastic restaurant needs - a skilled and creative cook who uses high level techniques on fantastic local products; friendly, attentive staff and a relaxing, charming atmosphere that makes you want to stay and have a great time. All the food was heavenly - from the starters (local mushroom carpaccio; fish and shellfish) and mains (soft, slow-cooked pig belly) to the desserts (my favourites), e.g. dreamy sour-sweet joghurt-snow on top of a rich, sweet fig jam as well as heavenly dark chocolate ganache dots with lemon meringue, the sweetest grapes I have ever tasted and an almond crumble. We sat outside because it was lovely and warm, but the inside of the restaurant is also wonderful, offering tasteful table settings and a modern, open kitchen. All in all, I would have expected a restaurant of that quality in Paris, Copenhagen or New York, so I was just endlessly delighted to find it in the center of Cefalu, on a side street of busy Corso Ruggero. If you think about going there, by all means, do yourself a favor and make it happen - its such a gem among the other restaurants in Cefalu, even the ones that are nore refined than the touristy Osterias and Pizzerias. Its high level dining with a very warm and approachable touch to it. A must-go you should not miss when you´re in the area and enjoy fantastic...