Il Pescatore

Lungomare Falcone e Borsellino, San Leone Cuisines: Seafood, Italian

About

Set right on the waterfront of Agrigento's beach resort of San Leone, this is the most famous of the 10 or so restaurants that flank it on either side. It's noted for its skillful preparations of fish, and also for a rough-and-tumble staff whose brusqueness is legendary -- but which, almost perversely, has added to the restaurant's fame. The interior is more beautiful than you might expect, thanks to the four dining rooms' beamed ceilings and Romanesque-style columns and capitals salvaged from older buildings. Spaghetti with baby clams is always a smooth lead-in to a meal here, as is the zuppa di cozze (kettle of fresh mussels). Homemade bucatini comes with fresh sardines whipped into the pasta, and sole meunière is featured regularly. Also delectable is fresh fish with a pistachio cream sauce and a blending of fresh eggplant.