Tondo — Restaurant in Palermo

A Sicilian Tragedy - EVITARE A quest for authentic Sicilian food.

We attended Tondo on 25-09-2022, there where five main actors who made this a tragedy.

The boss The bosses son The the waiter in the white open neck shirt The lady dressed all in black The waiters as the supporting staff

We had been out in the afternoon for a few drinks in Palermo. We decided tonight was a good night for authentic Sicilian Pizza/Pasta, as Tondo was not far from our hotel we decided this was the place. A biggish restaurant inside with a large seating areas outside as well as tables on the pavement(sidewalk) as well.

Act 1 - Time for wine We asked the boss where we could sit and he pointed to one of the two tables on the pavement. The British couple in front of us took the other table.

We ordered water and a bottle of wine, the wine was out of stock so we selected another bottle. The waiter in the white shirt opened and poured and aloud me to taste…all was going well.

Act 2 - Then the starter We were presented with menus which we took a few minutes to peruse. We ordered a platter of Sicilian cheese and meat which arrived within good time. I typed into my translator on my iPhone “To share and it returned Condividere” to which I smiled at the lady in black and said “I am trying my best” She sneered at me said something like I know what it means.

Act 3 - The main event - It was getting busier We both had pasta mine was a beef ragu with spaghetti and a spaghetti and sea food dish.

Act 4 - They chose to ignore us COMPLETELY

Act 5 - We caught their eye The lady in black took the order and the coffee never arrived. After a long wait I walked through the restaurant to find her completing pizza toppings and serving other customers. I asked her for our coffees, she shouted to someone and I thought that was the coffees ordered. Sometime later one espresso latte arrived (esiste una cosa del genere).

Act 6 - Finale We were ignored for up to by all of the cast for about an HOUR. We asked everyone who worked there if we could pay as well as the bosses son. We waited so long I needed the loo. Upon completion of my ablutions I approached the payment kiosk and asked to pay. I was surrounded by three people which included the bosses son all talking loudly over me on knowing full well I couldn’t understand them.

Act 7 - A true work of fiction conte (the bill) The bandito at the payment kiosk produced a number and I just paid the and took a copy. I cancelled my card afterwards. I just wanted pay and to get out without making a scene after being so dreadfully treated. IF YOU ARE NOT SICILIAN, NOT ITALIAN or don’t speak ITALIAN do yourselves a...

We had the aubergine and swordfish pasta, pizzas, the beef and pork ragu. It was delicious, great portions, well seasoned. We also had a selection of deserts. I have only praises to sing of the food. The staff are all very friendly, with the exception of one older gentleman who is fairly abrupt, but still efficient. However it did not diminish the positive experience or the incredible food. Unfortunately we forgot our takeaway pizza on the table and it was thrown away within the half hour it took us to remember it, much to our dismay at our forgetfulness as it was a truly delicious pizza and we will definitely not forget our take out next time (we're in honeymoom mode so we are trying to forgive ourselves because honestly we were looking forward to having the pizza in our hotel room later and we're still beating ourselves up for our idiocy). The food was so impressive we will be going back every day of our stay to try everything of interest on the menu. I would definitely recommend eating here. We did have to wait a bit for our bill and I needed to leave so I did have to ask for it a few times. However the food arrived at the table promptly. Overall a positive experience and this place truly deserves 5 of 5 stars despite any minor issues faced. Definitely the best pizza I've had...

Carbonara👍 Delicious Pasta. Traditional way. Good Ambient.

As with many recipes, the origins of the dish and its name are obscure; however, most sources trace its origin to the region of Lazio.

The dish forms part of a family of dishes involving pasta with bacon, cheese, and pepper, one of which is pasta alla gricia. Indeed, it is very similar to pasta cacio e uova, a dish dressed with melted lard and a mixture of eggs and cheese, which is documented as long ago as 1839, and, according to some researchers and older Italians, may have been the pre-Second World War name of carbonara.

There are many theories for the origin of the name carbonara, which is likely more recent than the dish itself.Since the name is derived from carbonaro (the Italian word for 'charcoal burner'), some believe the dish was first made as a hearty meal for Italian charcoal workers.In parts of the United States, this etymology gave rise to the term "coal miner's spaghetti". It has even been suggested that it was created as a tribute to the Carbonari ('charcoalmen') secret society prominent in the early, repressed stages of Italian unification in the early 19th century.It seems more likely that it is an "urban dish" from Rome,perhaps popularized by the restaurant La...