Ristorante GELSO Nero — Restaurant in Savoca

This place was a really beautiful spot and the service was great. They graciously seated us 30 minutes early and for a party of 2 even though I'd booked for 4. (Our kids opted out last minute of our little excursion to Savoca.) But the food was awful. We ordered a beef carpaccio that tasted like lunch meat. It had romaine lettuce underneath of the slices of meat, with no dressing or oil or anything. It didn't taste like a fresh, from their kitchen dish but like a prepackaged deli item. My husband had pesto pasta and I had truffle pasta. Both of our dishes tasted like they were made with Barilla spagetti. His pesto did not taste homemade, but like it was from a jar. The truffle pasta was presented as a daily special, which one would presume (obviously incorrectly) meant they had fresh truffles that day (especially since it was a 25 euro dish). But it was completely flavorless, also out of a jar, like those truffle carpaccio jars you buy in a tourist destination. The pasta was tossed in oil with a few of these truffles scattered on top. We read all the reviews before coming and are totally confused. Did we miss something? I really don't like to leave bad reviews but feel the need to share how bad we felt the food was to counter all of these good reviews!!! Again, great service, lovely spot. Come for the setting and atmosphere, not the food. Edit as a response to the owner's response: culturally we find it impolite to complain about the food. Your cooking was your cooking and we found it terrible. What would have changed if we had complained? We both barely ate the pasta after trying to politely choke down the carpaccio starter. Why didn't your server ask us why we barely touched the pasta? We didn't start the conversation because it's uncomfortable. And based on your response here, I am even more certain our opinion would have made for an uncomfortable situation. We tipped based on service. The service was lovely. I suggest others read other reviews of mine to see I am a fair reviewer. Your responses to negative reviews are frankly a bit...

I just landed in the town of Savoca, in a glimpsing atmosphere. Moon light shining on me on this eerie panoramic view. Rain drops falling all over my body on this weird climate change which is surprisingly extremely nice. The food is outstanding. Started with Antipasto of Miglie foglie, which is the best I’ve ever had in my life. And you know I love my eggplant but nothing can’t compare to this dish. Nothing. Afterwards I continued with this Spaghetti with Blue Crap which was so fresh and tasty, I kindly asked to make it a bit spicy to the chef and they were kind enough to make it happen for me. Custom spaghetti we love it. For second plate I add the Meatballs with Sweet Sour Onion Sauce and Potatoes which I couldn’t finish off the main plates in a better way. My tummy was feeling so at home with the flavours of true homemade Sicilian cuisine. My lover had the Tuna with the sweet sour onions and potatoes which I had a taste off and the combination of the freshly picked Tuna from the sea with the contrasting onions was such a good combination! I was too full for a desert, even tho the menu felt so desirable! But I had to leave my sweet tooth for next time I visit Gelsonero. Staff outstanding. Antonello and Giovanni are the sweetest people on earth. Never felt more in family like this restaurant in a my life. I’m staying another 4 days in Sicily and all I want is too comeback everyday, which I’ll most definitely do it! Gelsonero remains in my...

I just had a lunch of dreams here in Savoca with my family. In America, food this flavorful and fresh just doesn’t exist. I wish I could eat this food every day. We took some suggestions of the owner and chef to share. They were both very kind, I even got to practice my Italian while ordering the food with calm. We started our meal with Miglie Foglie, thousands layers of eggplant with tuna cheese and fresh tomato sauce and basil. The Caponata, a beautifully presented tower of fresh vegetables with seafood. And the Maccheroni gelsonero, a twisted fresh pasta with fresh eggplant and tomato sauce. I wanted another pasta more fresh and simple, they made me a lovely spaghetti with oil and peppers cooked with the perfect amount of Sicilian spice. We finished the meal with the recommendation of fresh grouper fish served with smashed potato and a fresh almond paste with sun dried tomatoes on top. The tomato served with the fish was the most tasty tomato I’ve had in any city I’ve ever visited. And the Swordfish, which was the most moist, and flavorful piece of fish cooked to perfection. On a hot day, the fresh food, kind service and beautiful view was the perfect afternoon restart. I highly recommend to come here for a beautiful relaxing lunch or dinner to feel relaxed and refreshed by the wonderful food,...