Baroon - Bistrot & B&B — Restaurant in Polizzi Generosa

A Culinary Circus in the Clouds — Stefano Barrancotto’s Masterpiece in Polizzi Generosa

Perched high in the Madonie Mountains, in a town better known for medieval charm and its annual circus festival, a young chef is quietly rewriting Sicily’s culinary story. At just four years old, this yet-to-be-starred restaurant by Stefano Barrancotto is already operating at Michelin-worthy altitude—both literally and gastronomically.

This isn’t just a place to eat; it’s a culinary circus, a sensory performance staged daily using ingredients sourced exclusively from the fertile farms that surround Polizzi Generosa. And what a show it is.

The menu, handwritten on a chalkboard, reads like a love letter to Sicily’s soul: • Caponata, sweet-sour and sun-saturated, is a perfect overture. • Marinated red shrimp, grilled sea bass, and a transcendent seared bluefin tuna confirm the kitchen’s mastery of both the coast and the mountain. • Classics like “chicory with egg”, veal tongue with lemon, and a rustic castrato alla brace (grilled mutton) bridge peasant roots and refined technique.

But it’s the so-called “humble” dishes that steal the spotlight: • The tripe salad is heavenly—tender, bright, and complex. • The tongue, slow-poached and served simply with lemon, might be the best i’ve ever taste. • Even grilled peppers and wild greens become stars under Barrancotto’s precision and instinct.

Pasta, naturally, plays a starring role: • Casarecce with vastase sauce, tagliatelle with shrimp and zucchini, and a soulful minestra di scoglio show the chef’s ability to elevate comfort food to quiet genius.

Desserts lean traditional but delightful: lemon gelato, cannoli, and house-made sponge cake, light and nostalgic.

The setting? A rustic dining room with warm service and the kind of blackboard menu that locals trust. Piazza Gramsci (yes from Antonio Gramsci!!!) , where the circus festival takes place, is just steps away. It’s hard not to feel the poetic symmetry: a town of performances hosting a kitchen that performs.

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🎪 Final Verdict:

Chef Stefano Barrancotto is a name to remember. His restaurant may only be four years old, but it feels timeless. It is Sicily at its summit, both geographically and gastronomically.

“I would come to Sicily only to dine here.”

And I probably will—again and again.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ / Must-Visit / Future Michelin Star...

If I were to open a Bistrot, this would be what I'd strive for. A 5.0 rating is exceptional but deserved. The food is pure and very reasonably priced - it is a very welcome diversion from what you'd often see in restaurants in Sicily. The atmosphere is relaxed and friendly and the interior a mix of classic comfort french and modern accents (colours and lighting), brought together beautifully. I can highly recommend a visit. Oh, they also do rent rooms in case you want to fall right into bed...

We had a truly special evening here. The cuisine is ambitious, brilliantly executed and really something special. Local ingredients and wines, excellent service. The owners are lovely people, the atmosphere in the small restaurant is comforting, even private. Located in the lovely town of Polizzi, it is our warmest recommendation to anyone seeking a special...