La Botte Restaurant (Not a Pizzeria) — Restaurant in Taormina

So, my wife and I spent our first night in Taormina, and as we were walking through the shopping area, we decided to give a restaurant a try. We didn’t do any research or read any reviews. We just thought, “There are a lot of people eating outside, let’s try this place.” The host was really nice and pleasant.

When the server came, he said, “I’ve got a set of fresh suckers,” and offered to show us the fresh seafood box. My wife initially ordered something off the menu, but for some reason, he said we couldn't get it, even though it was on the menu. When I asked for steak, he downplayed it as if I wouldn’t like it. (Hang in there for a second, and you will understand why.)

He insisted that we share a lobster pasta dish and picked the largest lobster from the box. Then he suggested we also try a certain fish cooked in salt; it was quite large. The food came out nicely presented, and there was a lot of it—possibly enough to feed a small family. The lobster pasta was good, and the fish wasn’t bad at all.

Here’s where we felt like suckers: the grand finale—the check—came out on a plate, essentially saying, “You suckers have been served.” It totaled 290€!!! That’s why our initial requests were shut down. The lobster pasta was 160€, and the fish was 110€. The rest of the expense was 12€ for sodas and 2 bottles of water (my wife and I don’t drink).

I hate being taken advantage of. I don’t mind paying for good food; my wife and I do it all the time. We consider ourselves foodies. But this was a classic case of being taken advantage of. Our server hassled us like a used car dealer to take his recommendations. This is classless and unacceptable. Overall, the food wasn’t bad, the atmosphere was nice, and the presentation of the food was appealing. Just a warning: stay away from the fresh fish box; that’s a box of SCAMS. Stick to what you like off the menu—it will...

Nestled in the picturesque streets of Taormina, this restaurant promises a culinary journey but delivers a sad tale of missed opportunities and tourist traps.

Let’s start with the lobster pasta. For a dish carrying the weight of such an elegant name, the reality was a bland, uninspired concoction that barely hinted at the presence of lobster. The sea urchin, often a highlight of any seafood menu, was equally disappointing, offering none of the briny richness one expects.

And then, the carpaccio. At a staggering 20 euros, you’d expect a masterpiece. Instead, what arrived were six lonely pieces of meat, artfully arranged but utterly lacking in substance. It’s hard to justify such a price tag for what felt like an appetizer for ants.

The pasta dishes across the board suffered a common fate: raw in the middle. Now, I appreciate a good Al dente, but this was a step too far. Each bite was a struggle, a tug-of-war between my teeth and the undercooked pasta, leaving a bitter taste of disappointment.

Service? Almost non-existent. No follow-up to see how the meal was going, no upselling of desserts or drinks. Perhaps they assume that with prices so high, there’s no need to push anything further. After all, they’re already cashing in handsomely on the initial order.

The ambiance itself screamed tourist trap. Taormina is undoubtedly a hotspot for travelers, but this restaurant takes advantage of that, offering sky-high prices for subpar food and meager portions. It’s a sad commentary on what should have been a delightful culinary experience in a beautiful town.

In summary, avoid this restaurant unless you enjoy overpaying for mediocrity. There are far better places in Taormina where your taste buds and wallet will be treated with the respect...

We honestly thought the food was tasty. Wife ordered the lobster and mussels , and I ordered the peperoncini spaghetti and the stuffed anchovies. Service sucked ... took about ten minutes for grated cheese ,my pasta was cold , we were both still happy . Then, I ordered espresso that took about 20 minutes, not a joke starting to get annoyed. I asked the girl for the check 2 times another ten minutes, and I finally got it. The bill was 160 american, especially when my wife was the only one drinking , to me is whatever that dinner was pricey this isnt Ny . i left a 20 tip.... we went walking around after finally got to the car then to the hotel room, all of a sudden the room was super cold but I'm sweating like crazy told my wife my heart was beating quick so I layed down all of a sudden I was throwing up all over the place I've never gotten food poisoning in my life I couldn't make it to the bathroom , my bedsheets to my floor to bidet had so much sardine smell my wife almost threw up I feel so bad for my cleaning lady at hotel today I gave her 20 euros mind you i did not drink yesterday cuz if I did it would've been worse am writing this on the toilet bowl because my stomach is in knots . I've never got foot poisoning in my life but to get it...