Reviews - Osteria Illuminata
Reviews
9.3of 10
Ratings and reviews can only be left by guests who have booked with TheFork.
Beth M. • 1 review
October 5, 2025
9/10The food was wonderful. The staff was very friendly. The only challenge was it took a long time to get the first course and the second course. I would definitely recommend this restaurant. The other challenge was they spoke very little English, we used Google translate to communicate with the staff and owners.
Jens H. • 1 review
September 6, 2025
10/10The place to go if you hav enough of pizza. This is a real restaurant with real service.
Maria B. • 39 reviews
August 16, 2025
5/10We went for dinner here based on reviews and found the experience a little mixed. This is the first time in Italy where they managed to spoil a pasta dish! The front area of the restaurant is quite pleasant, though seating is limited. The larger space at the back offers more tables but felt rather echoey and lacked atmosphere. The food, unfortunately, did not quite meet our expectations. The prawns and pasta arrived after 45 minutes wait with an overly generous amount of watery tasteless sauce and while the tuna was cooked medium rare as requested, it was served only lukewarm. We went with an open mind but, on reflection, we wouldn’t be able to recommend this restaurant. For us, it was around a 5 out of 10.
Osteria Illuminata • Owner
dear Maria, we don't know what of pasta you are used to .... but we can assure that we are well known for our pasta as very creamy and not oily, so probably it depends on your taste. Also the two halls were full of people so it is normal to be noisy with more than 40 people talking. You asked to change your table and so we did... but to prepare another one (not ready), with more people coming in and others waiting to take the order forced the service to slow down. we look forward to welcoming you next time....maybe in quiter night.
昶旭 霍. • 2 reviews
July 26, 2025
10/10
percect foods familiar services
Lidia Anna G. • 9 reviews
June 21, 2025
10/10la location
Benjamin P. • 20 reviews
May 24, 2025
8.5/10
Friendly staff, good food and modern decoration
David Y. • 2 reviews
May 6, 2025
10/10Delightful, indeed. Simple and affordable delicious dinner. Only open one year, yet you can tell chef has an excellent CV. Sea bass crusted with pistachios was just cooked right, not dried out. and the Spaghetti alla siracusana with Alici, capperi, pinoli, uvetta e finocchietto selvatico was outstanding. The house olive oil was mild, and the bread was the best I have had in italy (not a mecca for bread at all) Owners very nice, front of the house is Viviana, very charming and excellent English, (helps me a lot). Wine list clear and understandable and fairly priced. Final Canolo was sooooo good!
Philippe F. • 2 reviews
April 15, 2025
10/10Delicious food and very friendly service!
ghill d. • 12 reviews
April 15, 2025
10/10Great food and wine
Shawn J. • 1 review
March 29, 2025
10/10This is a husband/wife owner ran restaurant and they are so welcoming and hospitable. The food was excellent. Everything we had was great and it was our favorite meal of the trip.
Jim C. • 5 reviews
October 22, 2024
9.5/10
+1Wonderful red prawn and egg on truffle toast starters. Delicious primi of squid ink linguine and spaghetti with sea urchin. Secondi a superb melt in the mouth beef cheek. Good service and nice to meet Chef Angelo.
Julia A. • 11 reviews
October 25, 2024
10/10A very special new chef-owned restaurant run by husband and wife team. This is a must-go-to for any visitors to Ortigia. You can watch the chefs at work through a theatre window - they are artists at work. Unique menu created by the chef with fresh local produce. Fantastic service. Don’t miss out on Perle d’Ortigia.
Andrew V. • 5 reviews
October 17, 2024
10/10the food in Sicily is good everywhere.. but here was just amazing. the quality and attention to detail was outstanding. thank you., a definite recommendation
Scott F. • 6 reviews
October 20, 2024
10/10Angelo welcomed us the first night as we walked toward the front door like we were old friends. Much later, after an amazing meal, we learned he was the chef. And after a lovely conversation about his menu, we learned he was the proprietor. His humble approach to serving his customers delectable, complex yet accessible Sicilian fare is a hallmark of this fantastic restaurant. Combine the excellent food, the local (Sicily) wine list, and the friendly efficient service, and you have the makings of a memorable evening.
Amy H. • 1 review
September 19, 2024
10/10This is a wonderful restaurant, warm and welcoming, with fabulous food prepared by the talented chef Angelo. Standout dishes were the Uovo 62 and Amare a Mare appetizers, and the Beef Cheek - all absolutely scrumptious. The owner at the front of the house was so kind and charming, and really made our experience special. We highly recommend this restaurant, and wish them all the best and much success.
Scott N. • 1 review
September 25, 2024
9.5/10Excellent dinner - regional food with an upscale twist. Highly recommend the lemon pasta, squid ink spaghetti and the beef cheeks (slow cooked). Definitely a great choice in Ortigia, where there are many good restaurants.
Giorgia D. • 2 reviews
September 17, 2024
8.5/10Viviana and her service were spot on! Recommended the squid ink pasta, to die for!
Irina C. • 4 reviews
September 17, 2024
8.5/10delicious pasta, kind staff
Karen H. • 3 reviews
September 14, 2024
9/10
Service was super friendly and efficient. Our waitress suggested a Sicilian white wine that we enjoyed - it was very reasonably priced and tasted good. We both had the pasta vongole as a first course which was lovely (though could have done with a few more clams) and shared a portion of fried fish/seafood for the second course which I was slightly less impressed with. The overall portion size was fine but the individual pieces of squid (for example) were very small. I think this is just how it is served in Sicily. Otherwise it was all great and they kindly offered us a coffee on the house at the end of the meal.
Liz P. • 1 review
September 7, 2024
10/10What a beautiful restaurant, tucked down a side street in Ortigia. We were early for our reservation & the staff were very welcoming & happy to seat & serve us. The food was excellent, as was the wine. Good value. Would definitely recommend it.
Gary W. • 4 reviews
September 7, 2024
10/10What a wonderful restaurant! The servers were very friendly and the chef Angelo cooks like an angel. Four diners, three courses, and every dish inventive and delicious. Super wine too. Worth making a trip to Syracuse for.
louise k. • 9 reviews
August 6, 2024
10/10I had a totally amazing meal here. The staff were fabulous going out of their way to ensure they gave me the best experience they could. I even spoke with the chef about adapting my dishes to my dietary requirements. The food was authentically Sicilian, we even had wine that was low in sulphites. Perle d’Ortigia offered me quality Sicilian food with no gluten and I would recommend it anyone seeking an authentic food experience.
Thomas W. • 1 review
May 6, 2024
10/10
Absolutely fantastic restaurant with Wonderful service! So refreshing! This new and exciting restaurant surely is one to watch! An absolute must for the London Mayfair crowd and a done who enjoys quality and style! I would give it 6 stars if I could!
Pier D. • 1 review
April 27, 2024
7/10Below my idea after reading other reviews..
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