Ristorante la Madia

An absolutely splendid meal, with a "but". Everything is astonishing, lots of emotion, incredible products, and a very inventive cuisine overall. One could perhaps argue that it's quite surprising to have such a restaurant in the remote and un-touristic town of Licata, but it's the home of the chef and this should be respected. Pino Cuttaia is an artist of everything related to fish and seafood, and that's more than necessary to offset, by far, any petty doubts related to location. Some dishes made us shed a tear, and that is the memory that will remain.

The only real issue we had is the dessert. It's... rather unremarkable. It seems there's a lack of attention to that part of the meal. It could be they haven't managed to work with a prestigious pastry chef, or at least that some of the sweets in the menu are meant to be classic Sicilian standards without putting particular thought into making surprising dishes out of them. With the incredibly high level of everything coming before that, it simply doesn't match the expectations the first two thirds of the menu built. We end up with a strange impression: one of the best meals we've had for most of the evening, ending up on a far less remarkable note, with pastries we could probably have found at reasonable prices elsewhere. It's a bit of a shame: we could have stopped before dessert and still have had one of our best meals in quite a while. It's also a shame because with a little bit more attention to that kind of detail, such an exceptional restaurant, packed with talent, filled with the chef's emotions and personality, could have all the perks to enter the club of the most critically acclaimed establishments in Europe - and easily so.

This in my view is one of the greatest restaurants in the world. Up there with L’Arpege. I greeted the chef, Pino Cuttaia, with the word “maestro!” He replied “non sono Maestro, sono cuoco “ He has humility but inventive creative genius where sublime dishes made from Sicilian ingredients are combined in surprising and delicious ways. The welcoming dish is an ethereal cloud of mozzarella and milk served on a crunch y substrate and bathed in a sauce made with datterini tomatoes. It is light, beautiful, surprising and exquisite. And so the meal continues with the wait between courses agonising as you know what comes next will be blissful. It is truly humbling to be in the presence of genius and I strongly recommend you visit La Madia for one of the greatest experiences our planet can offer.

The food is good, nothing over whelming and a few good dishes. Overall as a two star restaurant, a little bit underwhelming. Service was good but not as refined as I would expect for a restaurant dining to be a 3 star candidate.

To fly to Sicily and find such a wonderful restaurant like this is truly a culinary homerun. The service was impeccable, the reception was outstanding and no detail even minor was missed. We both selected the 8 course tasting menus along with a local bottle of a nice Sicilian white wine. The pictures of the dinner will all be attached. We both started with a cuttlefish pizza, from there we enjoyed a fresh mozzarella that was “airy” with a delightful tomato sauce. The next dish was an exquisitely prepared slightly cooked tuna tartare. We then continued with “popo” 2 ways, one with a cauliflower bed, and the other with a 2nd “popo” inside the first. Next I had a wonderful shrimp, spagetthi minestrone soup that was delicious while my wife had what looked like a beef like cannoli wrapped with a zucchini flower as well. The final savory dish for me was a perfectly cooked sea bass with pieces of orange while my wife had barecued meat. To cleanse the pallet we then had a dish of marinated cherries with apricots. Desert comprised of a cannelloni and a profiterole for my wife.

The distance we had to travel was far and the time it took to plan it was intense, but it was so worth the trip. If you visit Sicily you don’t miss this special place!

Best Restaurant in Sicily. Period. Price is definitely reasonable for the quality. The Chef is one of the best and yet very humble and approcheable.

WOW! Amazing food / talent / skill. Not a town international tourists would normally visit (from what I could see), but really glad we made the trip.
Foodie paradise. Reservations a must.

When you arrive at La Mafia you ring the bell. You feel like you are going to some Sicilian friends.

Than you are welcome in minimalist chic and quiet place.

The show starts. Every dish is a tribute to Sicily! You taste the sea. They deserve their 2 Michelin stars for sure.

We stop in Licata only for this place and it worth it

Absolutely impeccable. Wonderful food - fantastic people. A family operation and a very special place. Definitely worth a visit if you’re in Licata.

A journey for your senses... an experience to try. Thank you Pino and team for your hospitality.

Absolutely the finest meal we have ever had. Period. The chef is an artist who works to give the diner a true sense of Sicily, from accompanying a dish with a tiny smoking piece of charcoal to echo the smoking of Etna to creating the most sublime, airy clouds of mozzarella. Presentation, flavor, intimate environment and a chef who is excited to introduce his cuisine and his Sicily to the lucky few who venture to his restaurant. Reservations are a must, and please allow yourself several hours to enjoy the meal as it unwinds. The chef was so enthusiastic he actually left the kitchen and came out to our car to thank us for coming (he had introduced himself earlier -- all in Italian of course). Learn a bit of Italian or lean on the waitstaff to help you (some speak English). Heaven.

Excellent food, from the first amuse bouche - an amazingly light 'cloud' of buffalo mozzarella. The dishes were all innovative and flavoursome, and we left very satiated. Having the chef make rounds after courses was also a highlight. The bill is not for the faint hearted, however, and the decor a little 80s - but these things are not unusual.

A great experience.
Nice location, very good service.
Take the journey with Chef Pino Cuttaia and his dishes that will bring you back and forward trough memories, tastes of Sicily.

Great fine dining take on Sicilian food.the chef came out to talk to us a few times and we discussed the menu. No English though, not on the menu, the staff or the chef but you can't really go wrong with Sicilian food

Food is very good. Was fortunate to be able to walk in for a lunch. There were only a total of 10 customers in the large dining room for lunch today.

Truly a special experience with superb cuisine and service.

Top !!!

Best Restaurant in the south of Sicily!😋

One of the best experience in my life

The food was fabianolous and the waiters too .

The Best!