Scirocco Sicilian Fish Lab

We visited this place on the 8th of August 2025, on our 3rd day in Catania. We ordered a boneless fried seafood cone (that I read so much about online, before we even arrived there). The seafood was crispy, salty, and lemony - so, all three things that you would expect. I am unable to identify all that we had. There was something that my boyfriend and I didn't like, which might have been some kind of squid, which was just too squishy for our taste, but except for one thing, all of the prawns, anchovies, fish, and even octopus (which we tried for the first time) were very tasty. If you're a fan of deep-fried food, you'll love it for sure! It's definitely a good place to visit, as they offer daily fresh food and a "catch of the day" available on site.

Scirocco offers a casual yet flavorful seafood experience right in the heart of Catania. We tried the fried cod, mixed seafood cone, croquettes, and arancini. Everything was freshly made. A few pieces of the fried seafood were a bit on the salty side and the fried squid was a bit tough to chew. The cod was tender with a nice crunch, and both the croquettes and arancini were delicious. Overall, a solid stop for street-style seafood with generous portions and quick service.

This small fish fast-food spot is right in the city center, on a street near the main square where during the day there’s a fish market. The smell of fish is noticeable, but you can get used to it. The place had many positive reviews and always seemed busy, so I decided to try a fish’n’chips style cone. The staff was very friendly. The first time I went, I was told they didn’t serve fries, but I could get the fried cone on its own, which was fine. My order arrived within a minute or two, and it came with a plate, napkins, and lemon wedges. The fish was fresh, the batter crisp, and the quality of the seafood was excellent. Even as someone who normally doesn’t enjoy fish and seafood, I liked everything I tried. It was so good, that a few days later I went back. The cone was just as good as the first visit, served the same way. This time there were more small octopus pieces, which slightly dominated the mix compared to shrimp or calamari and other fish, but it was still very tasty. Overall the food is fresh, high quality, and consistently well prepared. I highly recommend it for anyone who wants to try some seafood in a casual, fast-food style setting.

We went on a Wednesday around 5pm, it was not busy. The service was quick and staff was nice. The seafood we had was fresh, fried and seasoned perfectly. We had two glasses of wine, one of their “homemade lemonade” and two mixed fritture: the total was 27.50€. It was the perfect snack. The only thing that could’ve been better is the music (not a big “pop” music fan where it doesn’t belong).

Bustling, fresh, and always reliable — Scirocco is our go-to spot every time we’re in Catania. Located right by the lively fish market, the atmosphere is unbeatable. Despite the constant crowd, service is impressively fast and efficient. Everything is super fresh and flavorful, but the absolute must-try is the swordfish sandwich — perfectly grilled, juicy, and packed with flavor. We’ve been coming here for three years in a row, and it never disappoints.

This place is really popular, and it's right by the fish market, so their seafood is always super fresh. We first heard about it from some YouTubers, and we're so glad we did. Their fried seafood cones ("coppo") are fantastic, and the salad with eggplants was also delicious. For drinks, we tried their lemonades – the "mandarino verde" is my personal choice. Loved the vibe of the place!

We stop for lunch and were not disappointed. As every nice place is now full of tourists but how can I complain when I'm one. The quality of the food is excellent. The fried fish is tasty, fresh and a reasonable quantity. The arancinetti were a real treat, strongly recommend them. And the swordfish caponata was refreshing and brought memories of the Mediterranean. Price is adequate and staff was very kind despite the horde of tourist.

The couscous and octopus were absolutely delicious and the swordfish was fantastic too. We also tried the grilled fish mix, but we’d recommend going for the mixed seafood instead — it’s much better and really highlights the freshness of their dishes. Everything tasted authentic and the casual street-food vibe makes it great experience.