Vulcano Etna — Restaurant in Colchester

We recently celebrated my partner’s birthday at Vulcano Etna, and it was an unforgettable experience from start to finish. The restaurant itself is beautifully decorated, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere that immediately makes you feel at home.

Tony, the owner, and his wife Alina, are truly wonderful hosts. Their genuine hospitality and attention to detail set Vulcano Etna apart from so many other places. Tony is originally from Sicily, and it shows not just in his charming accent but in the authenticity of every dish. Unlike many so-called “Italian” restaurants in Essex, where the staff often don’t even speak Italian, here you get the real thing.

We started our evening with perfectly crafted Aperol Spritzes, expertly prepared by Tony himself. The food was outstanding: we enjoyed a selection of fresh calamari, prawns, and mussels, followed by a rich, homemade lasagna. Each dish was bursting with authentic Sicilian flavours and made with obvious care and passion.

Dessert was another highlight. On a previous visit, we tried Tony’s homemade cannoli siciliani—honestly, the best I’ve ever tasted outside of Italy. This time, we opted for the pistachio cheesecake, which was equally delicious and beautifully presented.

What makes Vulcano Etna special is its friendly, relaxed, and welcoming atmosphere. It feels like you’re dining with friends. If you’re looking for a genuine Italian experience, with stunning food and the kind of hospitality that makes you feel like royalty, Vulcano Etna is a must-visit. If you’re after cheap, generic food, this isn’t the place for you.

We can’t recommend Tony, Alina, and their wonderful restaurant highly enough. It’s become our favourite spot in Colchester, and we’re already looking forward to...

I had lunch here with my partner and Mum earlier today, and honestly... it exceeded my expectations! My partner is from Catania (Sicily) so when I came across this restaurant on an article through Facebook, I knew that I had to take my partner here to see if this would give her a taste of home!

The owner made us feel very welcome and had many conversations with us (he spoke to my partner a lot in Italian and discovered that they are from the same neighbourhood!). He made our visit feel very personal and spoke a lot about how and why he opened the restaurant.

Now to the food... wow! I have been to Catania 3 times, and the best thing about it there is the FOOD. This restaurant made me feel like I was back in Catania. The arancini (ragu) was crispy and tasted amazing. I then had the pappardelle pasta with spicy nduja and ricotta salata as my main dish. Absolutely delicious! The sauce was creamy and had lots of flavour. Also, the dish had a spicy kick to it, which I loved! I tend not to eat pasta when I eat out in the UK, but I can tell you now... I had no regrets spending my hard earned money here.

To make it ever better, the owner was kind enough to give all 3 of us a free ricotta cheese cannoli each and again, tasted soooo good.

This restaurant really made us miss Catania (including my mum who has been there recently with us). I have already raved about this place to my friends as some of them live in Colchester.

Thank you for a fantastic experience, and you will be hearing from me again soon to make another booking. Make sure you visit here as there isn't another restaurant like it...

We recently celebrated my friend’s 30th birthday at Vulcano Etna, and Tony and his team went above and beyond to make the evening unforgettable. Hosting a group of 26 is no easy task, yet everything—from the service to the food—was outstanding. The restaurant has a truly authentic Italian charm, and the dishes matched that perfectly. The Penne Pistacchio e Gamberetti (pictured) was absolutely delicious.

What made the night even more special were the thoughtful touches:

Lighting candles and singing happy birthday, even with a dessert we’d brought ourselves.

Tony, fresh from a trip to Sicily, surprising the birthday girl with gluten-free muffins.

Offering her a taste of something “volcanic,” which was such a fun and memorable gesture.

Most importantly, they accommodated her allergies with such care that she never felt like she was missing out—every dish was full of flavor and quality.

Despite our group’s size (and noise!), the team delivered amazing service with smiles all round. The birthday girl was overjoyed to discover such a gem of a local restaurant, and we all left feeling the same.

Thank you, Vulcano Etna—this won’t be our last visit. We’ll definitely be back soon, and I’ll be recommending it to clients whenever...