Sicilian€politeama
Osteria Lo Bianco on Via Emerico Amari near the Politeama in Palermo is a working-lunch trattoria with a daily seasonal carte under 15 euros, no tasting menu.
Signature: Pasta al pesto trapanese, Falsomagro, Pasta con le sarde
Order: Pasta al pesto trapanese and the falsomagro, the daily mains pick.
Tip: Closed Sunday. Arrive 12:30 for a table; the set lunch is the value order.
Sicilian Seafood€€€borgo-vecchio
Piccolo Napoli on Piazzetta Mulino a Vento in Palermo's Borgo Vecchio is a 70-year family seafood trattoria; daily carte dictated by the morning market.
Signature: Spaghetti con bottarga, Pesce alla griglia, Crudi di mare
Order: Spaghetti con bottarga and whatever crudi arrived that morning.
Tip: Lunch only most days. Book one day ahead; the catch board is dictated verbally.
Sicilian Seafood€€kalsaMon 10:00-15:30, Mon 18:00-00:00, Tue 10:00-15:30, Tue 18:00-00:30, Wed 10:00-15:30, Wed 18:00-00:30, Thu 10:00-15:30, Thu 18:00-00:30, Fri 10:00-15:30, Fri 18:00-00:30, Sat 10:00-15:30, Sat 18:00-00:30, Sun 10:00-15:30, Sun 18:00-00:30
Trattoria Da Salvo on Via Torremuzza in Palermo's Kalsa runs a back-street seafood-and-pasta carte with daily-changing antipasti from the Vucciria stalls.
Signature: Pasta con le sarde, Polpo bollito, Caponata
Order: Pasta con le sarde and the polpo bollito, the day's chalkboard antipasto.
Tip: Closed Tuesday. The piazza-side terrace fills first; book a day ahead at weekends.
Sicilian€€loggia
Trattoria Trapani on Piazza Giulio Cesare near Palermo Central Station is a family-run western-Sicilian trattoria, busiate and couscous-trapanese alongside.
Signature: Spaghetti alle vongole, Cotoletta alla palermitana, Panelle
Order: Cotoletta alla palermitana and the spaghetti alle vongole.
Tip: Walk-ins seat fast on weekdays; book one day ahead at weekends.
Sicilian Street Food€kalsa
Antica Focacceria San Francesco opposite the basilica in Palermo's Kalsa is the 1834-founded sit-down street food room, canonical pane ca' meusa.
Signature: Pane ca' meusa, Sfincione, Arancina
Order: Pane ca' meusa and a plate of panelle e crocche.
Tip: The terrace facing San Francesco basilica is the seat to ask for. Counter is fastest at lunch.
Italian€€loggia
FUD Bottega Sicula on Piazza Olivella in Palermo runs a Sicilian-ingredient burger and hot-dog room, Modica beef, Nebrodi salumi and house craft beer.
Signature: Shek burger (Modica beef), Nebrodi hot dog, Sicilian fries
Order: Shek burger with Modica beef paired with a Bottega Sicula craft beer.
Tip: No reservations; lunch is the easiest entry. Vegetarian burger is the credible meat-free option.