Aglae storie di sapori

Such a lovely restaurant with an interesting menu, super friendly service, and beautifully presented, delicious food. There's only a couple of options on the menu for vegetarians but I really enjoyed both of them, and my boyfriend was a very happy seafood lover. We had a great evening in their beautiful restaurant, and enjoyed hearing about the inspiration behind the menu and the ingredients used, such as their own olive oil. Definitely recommended!

A Sicilian japanese restaurant run by 3 sisters. Plates are more upscale than typical but they’re correspondingly more thoughtful and unique. The bread is fresh and homemade, particularly moist and chewy, and the breadsticks are excellent as well. They go well with the olive oil made from the family’s farm. The tra Sicilia e Giappone is emblematic of the sicilian Japanese fusion going on. Raw sea bass, without much flavor and a little chewy, is served with slices of tomato in the housemade aglae sauce. The sauce is more savory and piquant than dashi, but also with light vinaigrette properties. There is also a delicious shrimp tail at the center. The gnocchi comes in a sharp shellfish bisque-like sauce that blends beautifully with soft ricotta. The ravioli is simply stuffed with ricotta. It comes with a black cuttlefish ragu with chunks of it inside; aptly named “black and white”, it’s an effective combination. The pancetta pork belly are four pieces of thick cut pork belly, flavored in a sweet miso sauce and lentil purée. These two sauces go really surprisingly well together, and is quite ingenious. The pork has been seared to have a little crunch. The octopus is very chewy, and takes an effort to break down. The texture feels like it’s been dehydrated then rehydrated, a little dry. The sauce is a fitting sweet tomato sauce.

We stopped in for a late lunch on our last day in Ortigia. The food is amazing. Such depth of flavor while still being delicate. The chef modified dishes to ensure that I could eat vegetarian. My wife enjoyed the raw fish starter as her main and said each dish had its own flavor profile and texture. We wish we’d found it sooner. It is just off the island on the other side of the bridge.

This is the best experience I’ve ever had. The food is magnificent, portions are just the right size, not too much - not too small. That’s good because you can order more items from the menu (and try different taste). The cuisine is fusion , Italian + Japanese, but it’s so delicious… really appreciate the details (the design of the plates) and attentive and extra personal service. I’ve been to many places but this is the best one in Italy. Highly recommend it.

We wandered into Aglae for dinner after passing by in our car the previous night. We couldn't have made a better decision. The experience at Aglae is steeped in hospitality from the moment you walk through the door. The restaurant is run by three sisters, one of whom is the chef. The food is delicious and inventive - mixing traditional Sicilian flavors with elements of Japanese cuisine. It's a combination that works surprisingly well. We were blown away by the sweet and sour eggplant in particular. We had a wonderful time chatting with two of the sisters between courses and learning about how the restaurant came to be. By the end of the meal, it truly felt like we had been invited to dine in their home.

What a fantastic meal. Wonderful flavors, home-made olive oil (from the owners’ family farm), and creative cooking by a talented young chef. She is one of three sisters who own the restaurant. They do all the work themselves—one is a trained sommelier, and the third sister serves the clients. The service is warm and genuine. And oh, the fish—crisp skin, perfect interior and amazing combination of flavors with the accompanying elements. This is the best food I’ve had in Italy.