Ristorante Timeo — Restaurant in Taormina

€26 for a cocktail and bad service - rip off.

When we arrived, we had high expectations - lovely building, nice decor and greeted by friendly bar staff.

We were informed by the bar manager (?) (a female employee who greets guests and shows them to the tables, wearing a different uniform to the majority of waiters) that the front row of tables nearest to the railing and thus had the best views, we were strictly for staying guests - which makes sense. As the bar was busy, my sister and I sat a few rows back from the front, on the assurance from the bar manager (?) that as soon as another table closer to the front became available, they would move us closer - this never happened.

Once escorted to our table by the bar manager (?), that was it. We weren’t even given menus until 10 minutes later after making eye contact with her, which reminded her. The drinks menu was not even full, it contained no wine - when we asked if they served wine, we were then provided with a wine list.

It then took another 15 minutes or so to order a drink, but only after flagging down a waiter. While we waited for our drinks, a group of young men sat on the table next to us with plastic cups containing cocktails, bought from the street vendor outside the hotel. The bar staff, amazingly, didn’t seem to mind provided they also bought a drink from the bar. This group arrived 10 minutes after us, but received complimentary olives and crisps before us.

We ordered two cocktails, €26 each, which took about 15 minutes to arrive. By the time they had arrived, we had been sitting without a drink for circa 35-45 minutes. The espresso martini I had was ok, not worth €26. Unless I am mistaken, espresso martinis are supposed to be strained for a smooth texture, not contain bits of crushed ice?

While we had our drinks, the group of men next to us asked a waiter to sit at a now vacant table at the front row - which, we were told earlier, was reserved strictly for staying guests - these men were not guests (we know because they spoke loudly about the fact).

When we flagged to another bar manager/head waiter (a man wearing a suit jacket) that they had been moved to another table before us, and that we were told non-residents could not sit at such tables, he said he would look into the issue immediately and revert. He would also see about moving us to a nicer table with a view, as promised by his colleague. He, nor any of his staff returned to us.

While the above was happening, I sat with an empty glass for 10 minutes, it was then collected, then I sat with no glass for another 15 minutes. I planned to get another drink originally, but why bother when top tier prices are being charged for poor, inconsistent service and average drinks?

If you are willing to spend €26 on a cocktail, you can have a drink anywhere in Taormina. The experience was far below what you’d expect for the price and from an establishment such as...

I have to give this restaurant one star, despite the very attentive service this evening, due to the poor quality of the food. Let’s not beat around the bush—this is a luxury hotel with some of the best views in town, but the high prices and presentation are let down by subpar ingredients and cooking.

Firstly, the Pasta Al Norma was reheated at the table, which was strange. It felt like unnecessary theatre for a dish whose re-heating is not a spectacle. The preparation left the ingredients, and the dish as a whole, tasting bland. Worse yet, despite being reheated in front of us in a misguided attempt at entertainment, the dish was lukewarm. The tomatoes were completely flavourless, which is frankly unacceptable in Sicily.

The Octopus starter was overcooked, and the sauce it rested on was equally flavourless. My fiancé’s fish of the day was also overcooked, accompanied by undercooked vegetables and bitter radicchio that clashed unpleasantly with the fish.

The final straw was the Lobster Linguine. I strongly advise against ordering this dish. I had to send it back. The dish featured a tiny, overcooked lobster tail atop flavourless, undercooked linguine. At €50, one of the most expensive items on the menu, you’d expect it to be a standout. Instead, it was dreadful. The fact that they removed it from the bill without any attempt to justify or explain it tells me I wasn’t the first to send it back.

This restaurant is pleasing in aesthetics only. Unfortunately, it suffers from poor-quality ingredients and poor execution in the kitchen, all at extortionate prices.

The only redeeming aspects of the evening were the wine and the service. The Etna white we had was exquisite, and the service from the team was first class. Sadly, they are being let down by...

A heartbreaking experience. We were so excited came all the way from Australia and so let down! My partner and I went to this restaurant as a once in a lifetime special treat with partner for our 30th birthday.

mostly the €52 lobster pasta was cold, and I also chocked on a fairly large bone and was told “yes it’s lobster they have bones” and dismissed Wait staff were ok… we were seen by too many staff who didn’t communicate with each other. Manager, 2 x waiters, wine specialist, Only two was personable, the rest I guess are used to serving high end people and don’t want a smile or chat. They gave us a teaspoon of olive oil and removed the olive oil from the table which was hardly enough for the bread at all. The scallops didn’t melt in mouth, the beef and veal were ok. lastly we woke up very hung over and felt horrible after the one red wine bottle we drank. We have drunk wine every night in Italy and have never woken up feeling that bad. they did however give us a free tasting desert and little wine, which really meant so much to us and did make up for most of it!

This dinner was our ONE splurge night and it broke our heart and bank that it really was nothing special. I felt bad telling the chef that the food was cold when he came around to tables at the end...