Ciotola Pizzeria, Ragusa - Review

I have new favourite pizzeria! There are loads of places to get a good pizza around here, they say Sicily is second only to Naples when it comes to pizza and I have had some great ones in the few years I have been here but since I tried La Ciotola for the first time a couple of months ago, it has shone through above all others.

From the word go I was keen on the decor, a real mix of styles, perhaps they weren't going for quirky but that is what we have. Over sized objects, 1950s red bench seating, ceramic ducks, there's a lot going on... and basically, I want all of it in my house.

The pizza menu offers a rather different selection of pizzas from the usual. Over the last couple of months my friends, colleagues, boyfriend and I have managed to work our way through a good portion of the choices and we have yet to be disappointed. Fabulously crisp bases, just as they ought to be and beautifully cooked on top with extraordinarily delicious, fresh ingredients.

My favourite pizza so far has been Donna Sicilia, which is tomato sauce, mozzarella, fried aubergine pieces, olives and ricotta salata. It's just perfect in every way. Whether you prefer meaty toppings, fish or vegetarian, all tastes are catered for, whatever you choose, you are in for a treat. And, if you don't feel like pizza, there is also a restaurant menu which changes regularly with the seasons.

On my last visit, we also had a mixed fried fish and seafood platter as a sharing starter, which was absolutely delightful. Beautifully cooked, perfectly seasoned. Just great.

I can also recommend the restaurants selection of desserts... particularly their boozy choix pastry concoctions.

(Above: Group shot of my friends and I enjoying La Ciotola)

There is a good selection of wines but on a couple of occasions we have simply opted for a litre of the local red, which has always been satisfactory.

Getting a good pizza in Sicily really isn't difficult, in fact, you would probably find it more difficult to find a bad one. That said, I really feel La Ciotola has something special to offer. Also the staff are fabulous, there is one waitress in particular who is possibly the most bubbly, positive and attentive member of service staff I have come across since I came to live here - a very wonderful woman. One of the things I love so much about Sicily is the pride people take in their work and this is really evident here, the fabulous waitress and if you watch the guys in the kitchen, making the pizzas, even when they are cleaning up at the end of the night, you can see that they really care about what they do.

Not at all expensive either.

Top marks!

La Ciotola
Via Archimede, 23,Ragusa