Il Gabbiano Ristorante Taormina Isola Bella — Restaurant in Taormina

I had high hopes for this place being it's location was opposite my hostel so was overlooking the beach. The menu was heavily skewed towards seafood but I found penne alla norma which would do me just fine.

It did take more than a bit of effort for myself or other guests to attract the wait staff's attention...

I was going to eat next door but they were full so being after 8pm I was just happy enough to get a table. Sadly the table they gave me while offering water views (only front row got Beach vires) my table was right in the middle of the walkway. I was squished into my table and constantly had my chair bumped by people passing thru (mostly staff). The table was also lopsided so it moved all the time which just added to my annoyance during my meal so once I finished my meal I wanted to leave...

I was happy they had butter to go with the bread and while the food took a bit longer than expected it looked amazing when it came out. I accepted the constant bumping of my chair and the wonky table while I cleared my plate.

I was feeling better once I had finished and was prepared to spend a bit more money so I asked for the dessert menu. Sadly two items I actually wanted to order were not available... A Sicilian restaurant being out of cannoli just seems impossible, so I gave up paid my meal on my card and left saddened but satisfied...

Why 3 stars? The table situation was just not good enough The waiter staff were kinda disorganised and not warm and friendly as I've come to expect in Sicily No...

A terrible experience. It starts with the menu, which is sparse, and continues with the dishes. "Delicate seafood salad...": I could have stayed for hours chewing this rubbery substance they'd reduced to the octopus, three shriveled mussels, and three shrimp with an unspeakable taste and texture. The oil is supermarket-quality, but of poor quality. We had it changed, and they opened a new bottle in front of us, but the result was the same. The mixed fried fish is full of peppers and zucchini, and the fish, with the exception of the small fish—the only real fish of the evening—is the calamari, which is so salty and rubbery that it makes no sense! In short, at a Sicilian restaurant with a view, all that's left is the view, and you pay for that with a hefty price tag. It's truly scandalous that tourists, perhaps because it's their first time eating Sicilian food, are forced to eat these things. And unfortunately, those who are inexperienced and unwary don't realize this. We complained on site, but all we got were big smiles. How sad! It's unfair that you're taking advantage of your little corner of paradise to sell these goods prepared this way. We're Sicilians, we're in our sixties, and we know...

Went two nights in a row because of terrific food, wonderful setting, and proximity to where we were staying then. Great seafood -- and also great gluten free pasta. Service, however, is rather disinterested. On the second night, a supposedly gluten free dessert was served, but -- 😱 after the first bite -- the server came out to take it back because the sauce was not necessarily gluten free. (Really not good for someone with celiac disease!!) However, prior to that, a very gracious owner/manager generously gave us a box of their GF pasta (Barilla, but a different line from the one in the States; far superior) on the house. If I returned to where we stayed, would I go back there? Sure, but with the knowledge that I'd have to be extra vigilant regarding any dietary restrictions, and that their delicious food deserves a more engaged wait...