Ristorante MATES

Tucked away after a brief uphill journey, this charming family-run restaurant is a hidden gem worth the trek. The warmth of the owners makes you feel right at home from the moment you step in. They offer a flexible fixed menu that allows you to skip a course if you choose, which is perfect for lighter appetites. The antipasti and primi are simply exceptional, bursting with local flavor. Don't miss out on the panelle - outstanding! A delightful spot that combines great food with genuine hospitality. Highly recommended!

Lovely family run restaurant, excellent service catering to my parents dietary requirements (non pork and gluten free). We had a tasting menu which was truely delicious, all the food was made of produce from their land, it was a real experience and very reasonably priced. We highly recommend for anyone nearby to visit. The view nearby is amazing too!

Definitely worth a visit, we found it by accident having decided to drive up to Caltabellotta because it was a village high in the hills.
We had the tasting menu, it was delicious, trying some dishes I wouldn't have usually gone for. Mama does the cooking, using local ingredients and their own vegetables. The homemade Cannolo was devine.
Service was excellent, our waiter was attentive and funny.
Definitely worth finding....it is up a steep side street and not immediately obvious.

We really enjoyed our meal here and give 5 stars but be aware that the set menu at lunch does not include the 2nd course - only the entree, first course (pasta) desert, water and coffee for €28. We were disappointed to find out we couldn't try the capacollo (pork) or the beef dish. These are only served at night and is a €35 set menu I think. So I guess we need to come back at night to try the meat dishes.....

We had lunch here after walking round the beautiful town and crags above. Lunch was delicious and we had some good chats with all the staff and owner. Great local food in an interesting setting.

Absolutely gorgeous experience. We have found this restaurant randomly, when we were looking for some breaking point in this nice Sicilian village, but had a great time/food there and really enyoed time which we spent there. Food was perfectly prepared from local ingerdiends and I recomend to visit this restuarnt to everybody who will visit this beutiful village. We feel really welcomed, and our waiter explained to us how every dish is made/prapered :) Thank you

We had the 3 course lunch. The food was incredible with a wide range of meaty, vegetarian and vegan dishes. Beautiful restaurant and location. The waiter was very welcoming and friendly with good sense of humour. Strongly recommend 😁

The dining experience at MATES was by far the best during my time in Sicily and easily within my top 5 of all time. After arriving in Caltabellotta, we decided to go for lunch and the wonderful Giuseppe could not have been more inviting. There was no menu but prepare to be fed to an excellent standard. The food was truely delicious, authentic and prepared with the utmost of care. With every dish, I fell more in love with the town of Caltabellotta. The price reflects the unpretentious nature of this place - you should not have to be elite to treated with such compassion. Would go again in a heartbeat. Thank you Giuseppe, we miss you.

Food was good. Typical for what you would find in Italy. Lots of Eggplant/Aubergine. The history in the restaurant is amazing. Old mills and presses from a thousand years ago that were used to make olive oil.
It is quite a difficult trek to the restaurant, so be prepared for a tough uphill walk.

Best food from two visits to Sicily, with stunning interior and super friendly hosts

We didn't know what to expect, they opened at 19:30 and we were starving. We sat down and ordered our drinks, and then out of the blue food started arriving at our table!

We hadn't even ordered our food, but that's the way it is here...and I loved it. Every dish that came out tasted delicious, and was the perfect amount for the two of us.

An incredible experience, and will 100% go back (every day if I could)

If you're close by, then you have to visit.

Great Family owned Restaurant. Very good local kitchen.

If you are Western Sicily go here. The drive up the mountain is well worth it. We (two adults and one 8yr old) visited the restaurant and gosh we were blown away. The brothers were a wonderful double act. They were fantastically entertaining, told wonderful stories and kept our son entertained. I'm afraid I don't know their names, but one was front of house, and one was kitchen along with mama. The food was wonderful, fresh and local. So local in fact that much was from their own farm. The dining room is very rustic and colourful. It felt very warm and welcoming and like we were in someone's home rather than being in a restaurant. This was made more so because it's hidden down an alley. We really enjoyed it immensely.

The restorant is a welcoming, cozy agriturismo place with a family style menu. We had a full course meal, and highly recommend it! The most of the ingredients are lacal and fresh, the presentation is rusticly stylish, and the flavours were out of this world! The service was extremely friendly and welcoming. The owner, Giuseppe, who was our host at his BnB was a true character, who made our stay in Caltabellotta unforgetable!

The three brothers (Enrico, Leonardo, and Giuseppe), provided an exceptional Sicilian dining experience that showcased the finest local ingredients and cherished family recipes. The four-course meal was an absolute delight from start to finish. Each dish was prepared with utmost care, highlighting the rich traditional Sicilian flavors. From the appetizers to the decadent desserts, every bite was a testament to the culinary heritage. Martes truly delivered an unforgettable journey through Sicilian cuisine.

Fantastic meal - host, Guiseppe, was entertaining and passionate about the food, the town and the region. The food...cooked by his mum...outstanding. Much of the produce is made either by the family themselves or in the region. Local food, local people, amazing! Highly recommended

This was the best meal we had in Sicily. They close at 3, we arrived at 230pm and they kindly stayed open for us. We had three lovely courses of antipasti, pasta & risotto, and canolli. Everything was absolutely delicious and the service was so lovely and friendly. The restaurant is really beautifully decorated too.

Unbelievable experience!! The food, service and atmosphere is not to be missed. A family restaurant in the front and back of house. You could be in your nonna’s kitchen!!

Been living in Sicily for a year and I still have yet to try a restaurant better than MATES. Service is amazing, owners are friendly, helpful and always make sure you have a great time. The food is also amazing, fresh and traditional.

If you are in the area of Ribera/Sciacca this is a restaurant you should make the trip to try.

Let Leonardo & Giuseppe guide you along the 6 or 7 courses with their chioce of wine. We definetely didn’t regret, great experience. Caltabellotta deserves at least one full day. If with emtb even 2 days and at least one dinner at Mates. The exhibition in the museo municipale is great too.