Egesta Mare B&B

Unwelcoming to Tourists. It was clear that tourists weren’t a priority here. When we asked for a table, the waiter said there would be a long wait and seemed uninterested in us staying. We insisted on waiting, but while locals were offered complimentary drinks during their wait, we received nothing. To make matters worse, a table was given to a customer who shook hands with the owner (or manager), even though we had arrived 20 minutes earlier. Decent food, nothing amazing.

We recently dined at this seafood restaurant, and our experience was a mix of highs and lows. The starters, including the swordfish carpaccio and caponata, were okay. The caponata, in particular, was a bit too sweet and lacked depth of flavor. The starters felt a bit one-dimensional. However, the main dishes were outstanding. They were incredibly well-prepared and truly enjoyable—definitely the highlight of the meal (see pictures for a glimpse). Unfortunately, the service did not match the quality of the food. Our server was a bit careless; for example, we ordered a bottle of wine, but it was served in an ice bucket that had been used by other customers. Since the weather was warm, the wine ended up being only half-chilled by the time we started drinking. Overall, while the main dishes were fantastic, the service and some of the starters left something to be desired. It’s a place worth trying for the great seafood, but hopefully, they can improve on these aspects.

During our stay in Castellammare del Golfo, we had dinner twice at Egesta Mare, and both experiences were outstanding. The food was nothing short of excellent, really highlighting the best of Sicilian seafood. On both visits, we opted for the Buffet Mare del Giorno, which featured a variety of fresh seafood from the day. The platter was fantastic — everything tasted fresh and flavourful, and the quality of the seafood was immediately evident. A dish I would highly recommend is the Busiata con Gambero del Golfo e Ricci. This traditional Sicilian pasta, made with local prawns and sea urchin roe, was incredibly rich and tasted of the sea. If you enjoy strong, briny flavours, it’s a real treat. As someone who loves seafood, I found it absolutely delicious, though it might not be to everyone’s taste if you’re not a fan of bold ocean flavours. The service was excellent. The staff were friendly and attentive throughout our visits, and while the manager didn’t speak much English, we had no trouble communicating. The atmosphere was lively, and it was mostly locals dining there, which is always a good sign of a restaurant’s quality. Overall, Egesta Mare is a fantastic spot if you’re looking to enjoy fresh, authentic Sicilian seafood in a welcoming environment. Highly recommended, especially for seafood lovers.

Amazing meal here tonight. In town for one night only and asked our hotel for an authentic Sicilian meal recommendation. Amazing chef who personally took our order and gave us his specialties. Every dish was incredible.

Our last night in Sicily, we decided to have dinner at Egesta Mare. I personally think this restaurant is a perfect replication of Sicily itself: chaotic, sometimes a bit unorganized but at the end all worth it. Started of with the "Cestino di Gambero", which was an amazing start. Fresh fish, nice sauce combination and overall a good portion. Onto mains where, to my disappointment, the lobster was sold out and I decided to go with the "Gamberoni Rossi". This was also fresh, well cooked and enjoyed every bit of it. Finished off strong with the sicilian cake "Cassata" made our dinner perfect. Sometimes the service was a bit chaotic, little discussions by the table and over the heads of guests but overall very pleased by the staffs behavior and availability. I would highly recommended this restaurant to anyone who stays in Castellammare del Golfo! **Note: as per August 2024, there are construction works next to the restaurant which are drastically narrowing the walkway. This may lead to a lot of people walking next to you while eating if you sit on the outside tables**