The seat of government for the Aeolians, Lipari is likely an island many will visit for an evening while staying on fancier Panarea, Salina or even Stromboli. It's location couldn't be more ideal, walking distance from the port on the water within an indoor-outdoor dining room that expands onto a summertime terrace that's one of the best seats in the house. The décor is old school Italian, as in your grandmother's fanciest china and silver, with two interior dining rooms of beam ceilings, painted tile floors and walls with enough pretty plates on them to cause a few fatalities should an earthquake ever come. Until then, a fabulous terrace offers views of the sea and white glove family service for one of the best meals you'll find in the Aeolians.
The Food
Cooking still requires heavy labor in the Aeolians where every ingredient for meals from the breads and pasta to the desserts and ice cream is made right on the premises. Regional Mediterranean dishes with equal Italian influence yield spectacular platter of fritto misto, macaroni with eggplant and mozzarella and grouper ravioloni with local capers and hot red peppers rivaled by none. Main course is much more traditional Italian with heavy seafood influences from the grill for fillet in mushroom sauce, swordfish with basil, sautéed clams, shrimp, lobster and grouper with traditional side dishes like Lipari peperonata that’s the Aeolian version of ratatouille.
Last Word
It’s been around since 1910 and probably tastes and feels much as it did in the good ole days thanks to a family that has maintained this restaurant’s integrity over three generations as well as hotel Tritone and A’Pinnata.
