Trattoria del Cavaliere
A historic Sicilian trattoria in Catania serving generous portions of traditional dishes at unbeatable prices since 1922.
Highlights
Must-see attractions
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Trattoria del Cavaliere
Highlights
Must-see attractions
A historic Sicilian trattoria in Catania serving generous portions of traditional dishes at unbeatable prices since 1922.
"Huge portions, incredible prices, and the best pastas - a must-try experience in Catania!"
Visit on Weekdays
Avoid long waits during peak hours by visiting on weekdays.
Order Individual Items
Sample various meats and fish by ordering individual items, especially for grilled options.
Quick Facts
Cuisine
Sicilian, Italian
Price
$
Phone
+39 095 310491
Address
Via Paternò, 11, 95131 Catania CT, Italy
Highlights
Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences
Generous Portions, Incredible Value
Huge portions of delicious Sicilian food at unbelievably low prices. You'll leave stuffed and impressed by the value.
Authentic Sicilian Seafood and Pasta
Savor traditional Sicilian dishes, especially the perfectly prepared pastas and fresh seafood, offering a true taste of the region.
Unique Horse Meat Experience
A Catanese specialty, try traditional horse meat dishes like meatballs and sirloin steaks in an authentic Sicilian atmosphere.
Plans like a pro.
Thinks like you
Menu
Most Popular Items
Insider Tips
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit
Visit on Weekdays
Avoid long waits during peak hours by visiting on weekdays.
Order Individual Items
Sample various meats and fish by ordering individual items, especially for grilled options.
Try Traditional Dishes
Opt for traditional dishes over more exclusive ones for a better taste satisfaction.
Reservations Recommended
Even with reservations, expect a potential wait, but service is quick once seated.
Tips
from all over the internet
Visit on Weekdays
Avoid long waits during peak hours by visiting on weekdays.
Order Individual Items
Sample various meats and fish by ordering individual items, especially for grilled options.
Try Traditional Dishes
Opt for traditional dishes over more exclusive ones for a better taste satisfaction.
Reservations Recommended
Even with reservations, expect a potential wait, but service is quick once seated.
What Travellers Say
Reviews Summary
Trattoria del Cavaliere is celebrated for its exceptionally generous portions and remarkably affordable prices, offering a true taste of Sicilian cuisine. Diners rave about the delicious pasta and fresh seafood, making it a must-visit spot. While some experiences can be slightly rushed during busy periods, the friendly staff and authentic atmosphere contribute to a highly recommended dining experience.
"If this is not the BEST restaurant in Catania, pretty sure is on top 5 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
I don't even know from where to start!
Portions are enormous, prices are so low that you think you will be scammed, but you won't 😅 massive horse steaks for 4 euros, 1L of House Wine for 6 Euros 🍷 and so on!
It is not just quantity but the quality is insane..had the best pastas, perfectly cooked , so many local cheeses, mortadelas, aranchini, etc to try...oh wow 😮 !
Risking to say this is the best experience to close your trip to Catania 🎉"
João Miguel Silva
"A great local spot for food, especially if you’re looking for something budget-friendly. I tried the traditional Pasta alla Norma here — if I remember correctly, it was only €6.50! Incredible value for money, especially for the center of Catania, and it was absolutely delicious. The house white wine was also excellent. My friends were equally happy with their pasta choices. Overall, a place I would wholeheartedly recommend!"
Maria Papoutsi
"Very friendly and fast waiters at this amazing restaurant. Since we only needed a table for 2, we got it almost instantly, but the whole place was pretty full. The food was awesome, and also very budget friendly!
Greetings from Hungary,
Magdi & Alex"
Alex Bese
What People Like
What People Dislike
Frequently Asked Questions
It's famous for its enormous portions, very affordable prices, and authentic Sicilian dishes, including seafood, pasta, and traditional horse meat.
It's strongly recommended to book in advance, as the restaurant is very popular and can have long queues even with reservations.
Prices are exceptionally low for the large portion sizes, offering an amazing value for money.
While the menu is primarily in Italian, the staff speaks English and can assist with orders.
Trattoria del Cavaliere offers traditional Catanese horse meat dishes, which are a unique local specialty.
Diners frequently praise the pasta alla Norma and other traditional Sicilian pasta preparations for their excellent taste and perfect cooking.
The service is generally very quick and well-organized, even during busy times.
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Catania, Sicily
Trattoria del Cavaliere (that translates to "restaurant of horsemen or knights") is a very popular Catanese restaurant that serves up a range of freshly cooked seafood, meat and pasta dishes as well as a Catanese specialty: horse. Horse is a traditional Catanese meat usually served as meatballs and sirloin steaks. The horse meat are retired riding horses so they've been treated better than say race horses (that aren't used because of the risk of doping).
Catania A Tavola: The Best Restaurants in Catania
Trattoria del Cavaliere – Trattoria del Cavaliere is an absolute Catanese classic, frequented by the large student population of Catania and by families on account of the large (sometimes huge) portions and cheap prices. You’ll find any Catanese dish you’re looking for on the long menu, and you can’t really go wrong with any of them. Their selection of grilled meats, which you can order by the piece, is particularly noteworthy.
Best non touristy restaurants in Catania historic centre
Located in Via Paternò, very close to Via Etnea main street, this place could be defined as a typical Sicilian restaurant serving the most popular meat and fish dishes of Sicilian cuisine. The restaurant has many tables and a covered outside terrace. Expect a long queue even if you book in advance (which I strongly recommend you do!), but once you are seated the serving is very quick and well organized.
Catania's Street Food Delights: The Ultimate Guide
Trattoria del Cavaliere is one of the best restaurants I’ve ever been to, and my boyfriend still talks about it 2 years later!. This is a BBQ grill restaurant serving every kind of meat and fish imaginable. The beauty of this place is that you order things individually, so if you want a single cipollata or horse meatball just to see if you enjoy the taste, you can order exactly that.
Things to Do in Catania Sicily for Foodies
While many Catania restaurants offer horse meat in the form of meatballs, sausages, and more, it is only at Trattoria del Cavaliere (Via Paternò, 11, 95131 Catania) that you can try larger mouth watering servings of authentically prepared carne di cavallo in a true Sicilian atmosphere. And best of all, the prices are very affordable too!
Things to do in Catania, Sicily
Opened in 1922, Trattoria del Cavaliere has stood the test of time by using high quality ingredients and serving traditional Sicilian dishes. Locals were all over this place, all the time. That’s the mark of a good, local restaurant.
Where to eat in Catania like a local!
All blogs titled “where to eat in Catania” will mention the Trattoria del Cavaliere. The place is huge and labyrinthine. The Trattoria is an institution in Catania.
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