Lo Scrigno di Donna Rosa — Restaurant in Palermo

Lo Scrigno di Donna Rosa absolutely deserves one. I came to Sicily with my family and, to be honest, we had been struggling to find truly memorable food—until we discovered this place. From the moment we stepped in, it was clear this was something special. It’s a beautiful mom-and-pop, family-owned restaurant, and you can feel the warmth and love in every corner, every dish, and every interaction.

I had been seriously craving chicken parm, and even though it wasn’t on the menu, I asked the owner if it was possible. Without hesitation, he said yes—and his wife, the incredible chef Rosa, whipped up the most unbelievable chicken parm I’ve ever tasted. The chicken was melt-in-your-mouth tender, the sauce was rich and comforting, and every bite felt like a hug from Nonna. Rosa, you are a magician in the kitchen!

My entire family was blown away by their meals as well—every dish was flavorful, beautifully presented, and made with such obvious care. It’s clear that everything here is made from the heart, and it shows.

This place made our trip. The food is outstanding, the ambiance is cozy and authentic, and the people—especially Chef Rosa and her husband—are the kindest, most welcoming souls. If you’re in Palermo and want a true taste of Sicilian hospitality and home-cooked excellence, Lo Scrigno di Donna Rosa is a must.

We’ll never forget this place. Thank you for...

Where to start? Unwelcoming staff, flooded toilet or the fact that I was served pasta with a piece of glass?! We came in encouraged by the great reviews and creative pasta dishes. The staff showed us the table and somewhat hurriedly asked us to order, while being very disorganised. We picked 2 pasta dishes and a bottle of wine. In between the wine and the food arriving, at a table next to us, a child broke a glass. Some 15 minutes after the wine, we were served pastas, which looked and tasted incredible. However, after having several bites, I found a piece of glass in my seafood pasta (see the attached photo), even managing to cut myself while I was inspecting it. I summoned the staff, they apologised and blamed the child who broke the glass for this. This fact was shocking to me, since the poor kid sat nowhere near the kitchen and the glass was broken 15 minutes before the pasta was even served. I received a fresh plate of pasta and some insincere apologies. The dinner was concluded with a small discount after I expressed my disappointment once again. For the cherry on top, I went to wash up and I was met with a completely flooded toilet floor.

I truly believe that this once was a good restaurant serving some creative and very high quality dishes, however the above facts state the obvious -...

Sometimes you get lucky when you go for a walk and discover a restaurant that looks promising. So you go in... for a first lunch.

I'm very impressed: because if you don't go out to eat just to get full, but because you want to enjoy beautiful rooms, atmosphere and a warm, friendly, competent and uncomplicated service - the "complete package" for a nice experience for the guest consists of more than the culinary creations!

Anyone who lives and feels the same way is in good hands here.

I had the hamburger (excellent) with a bowl of very tasty onion and tomato mixture.

The open wine is good.

The wine list is generally very promising.

What always wins me over is... when my request for hot chili is met with a smile from the chef, and fabulous pickled hot chilis are also served immediately (a rarity in upscale dining at Palermo, I have this discussion almost daily - for 20 months).

A wonderful discovery for me today. Thank you!

☆ The only thing I didn't like was the lack of a cloth napkin - but maybe there will be one for dinner in...