The best thing about the restaurant was the location. Located at the S. Francisco church piazza , I really wanted to like this restaurant. The location was beautiful ( a wedding took place before dinner) and the ambiance was perfect BUT.... the service was spotty and inconsistent at best. NOW for the food....the dishes looked presentable, but that's where the enjoyment stopped. The dishes weren't awful , which is the best compliment I can give this food . Flavorless, bland , boring, and totally forgettable would be the perfect adjectives for the meals served ( read other reviews 😉 ). Do yourself a big , big favor and find another restaurant. NOT RECOMMENDED BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY BETTER CHOICES, JUST STEPS AWAY.

We were recommended this place by our host. However, the food is disappointing. The salty dishes were tasteless and the dessert was like eating sugar…The service is quite cold, there was only one girl running around even though there are several employees and they charge for each customer 3 euros of service fee… for what though?

We were recommended Antica Focacceria San Francesco because of its historical significance, but unfortunately, our gastronomic experience fell far short. The service was practically non-existent and lacked warmth. The execution of dishes, while typical, was not well-crafted, making it passable for survival but nothing more. Regrettably, we cannot recommend this place and won't be returning. Waiting 50 minutes for a panino with milza was frustrating, and to make matters worse, our server was chewing gum while talking to us without any regard for manners or respect. Don't be swayed by tales and histories; it's just another tourist spot. There are better options elsewhere that cost less and offer a more satisfying meal.

After 20 mins queueing I reached the till and the tiny price list. I’ve asked where were the prices for the rest of the food as there was just half of the foos listed with prices and the staff said that was on the table. Of course after that waiting time I wanted to order as I was hungry and in a hurry. The surprise at the till was 16€ for a pasta dish served from the bowl sitting in there for at least an hour or so heated in the microwave. I find it ridiculous!

Great Sicilian street food for a really fair price. Should be on everyone’s list, it’s an institution that has been around since 18-something. The staff is pretty friendly but the service is rather slow. So make sure you have some time. There is also always a queue.

Located in a chilled setting in a historic square, with terrace parasols for shade, great for a drink break but don’t expect much from the food. The mixed crochette and arancina antipasti was a nice taster dish but the deep fried calamari and zucchini was actually the worst I’ve had in my life. The calamari was so dehydrated and chewy that I thought it had to be a local Sicilian “delicacy”. The rubber band texture and lack of taste soon brought me back to reality that this can’t possibly be. Not to mention the cardboard texture of the batter. The Zucchini fritters..see picture..I don’t need to say more. Sodas were €3 and local bottled craft beers (Birra Tari- delicious) were €5 The waiter seemed rather distracted when taking our orders, looking away at the square, perhaps at all pigeons walking about.

What a great spot! We are here with a tour and set up with a tray and not sure what I had but it was excellent! Pastries, soups and different pizza type breads. A very popular spot as the walk in traffic was huge. I hope we get the time to stop here again.

Located in the historic downtown, this is a restaurant that has both street food and dishes. I opted in for the menu and it was a good experience but I wish I had opted for the cheaper options as most clients come in for the street food experience. Expect large crowds during lunch time as most travelers come in for a quick bite.

Great atmosphere, nice wine but slow service. We found out about this randomly and sat. It has a great vibe. Would recommend!

The worse meal I had in Sicily. Everything we ordered were no taste. Disappointed of a 200 years restaurant with such standard. They can’t even make a dish hot by reheating it. Just heritage.

AVOID IT!! Food quality is terrible, prices they are asking for these awful ingredients and service are very high. I took ‘parmigiana alla melanzane’, cheese which they used was a sliced one for sandwiches, cheap & terrible taste. Service is very indifferent. They just have a historical name, great location - that’s it.

Strongly reccomended. you can find a great variety of local traditional food. Since 1834 THE place to be to taste the traditional sicialian street food. the place is clean, the crew is awesom, food is good, cost very reasonable. Better to go there takong a walk. no way to find a parking in that area. As a combo visit the church in front of the restaurant

Delicious pasta alla norma, very nice atmosphere and service. It was crowed but they managed quite well the waiting queue.

Rarely I have to spread a bad review but this one I can't let slip. We were a group of 14 today, reserved weeks and confirmed a menu a week ahead of the visit for supper. Not only did they forget about the booking, upon presenting them with the complete email exchange, they treated us with indifference and arrogance. When we turned to leave they wanted us to stay. Thinking they would be nice hosts and would make an effort we agreed to be seated. Big mistake. They proceeded setting the tables outside in November while the whole restaurant was empty. Eventually we could convince them to move indoors. We were served stale and luke-warm left-overs from lunchtime as appetizers (dry hard pieces of Foccachia for crying out loud) and bland and undefined pasta as prima piatti. Both courses were little touched by everyone and collected by the waiters without any reaction. No apology or any nice word, collected the full price that was agreed upon in the reservation they themselves totally forgot about. Poor service, poor food, dirty glasses, poor experience. A disgrace for Italian hospitality.

We had a quick stop not knowing any reviews but felt the food and wine was amazing (caprese salad, and pesto shrimp pistachio pasta) it was busy and the atmosphere was great however the service although fast was impersonal.

I've been to this place for many years and everytime I'm back in Palermo, i always make a stop here. The focacceria is historically significant not only for its food but also as a symbol of fight against the local mafia and I always like to support it by buying a sandwich once or twice per year. In the last few years however, the prices have becoming exorbitant compared to the norm in Palermo and it feels a bit of a tourist trap. However, the food is still of high quality and it has become part of the landmark of the city, so I still enjoy to come.

I had the eggplant parmesan, my husband the sword fish casarecce, and we tried the pane, panelle e cazzilli and it was ok. It didn't stand out. We paid here the highest fee for service, €3 each.

It is located in a very beautiful piazza. We have randomly gone there. As a starter we shared a nice salad. I have gone for an oven baked pasta with eggplant and breadcrumbs and it was really good! But tagliata di manzo that my husband had was unfortunately not good.

Magical place, simply amazing! It’s a hidden gem existing since 1832! Surrounded by history, it not only offers a unique experience but also (probably) the best food in Palermo. Must visit!

Beautiful place but the food and the service is not up there yet. We ordered something completely different than we got in the end (for food AND for drink) and the waiters were stressed out.

We went as a big group. Got arancines (Norma, burra, ragu), octopus pasta, carprese. All very good. There are several floors of seating and the view form the second floor balcony overlooking the church across is gorgeous. A wholesome experience!

Well, no Amazing and hystorical Place Is presente in Palermo as this. Di you want to try palermitan street food? Well this Is the best and ancient and fashionable Place that you can find. You cannot tell at youself, that you have visited Palermo without take time in this pub/restorant. Panino con milza + beer, 5 euro, whatelse?

Mixed feelings... It looks like they try the card of "old" to justify high prices, however service is good and the place is nice. But I do not know why, I have this "hitch" that they are not what they offer or look... Despite everything, a glass of good "averna" makes life more beareble!!

A very nice restaurant with amazing sicilian food. Table service and the politeness of the waiters should be greatly improved.

It worth to waiting for the lines. We waited on Monday evening for around 15 min for 2 ppl table. Location is in historic church but it’s a bit hot even its in evening. Restaurant offered traditional Sicilian cuisines and we ordere the pesto pasta and starts - potato/ grilled veggies instead of fried food. Cuisine is good quality and staff also tried to serve fast. You can ask for English menu to staff because the WE code online menu only for Italian.

Open till quite late, I’d recommend the swordfish salad! Location is amazing, staff are nice - great place for a diner !

We really enjoyed this restaurant! We didn’t have a reservation but didn’t wait a crazy amount of time for a table on a Friday night. It’s a really nice ambiance outside with the basilica. My eggplant parmigiana was absolute perfection. Everyone liked their food. The servers were pretty nice too.

An authentic, rewarding experience of the Sicilian, Italian and Mediterranean gastronomy! Don't miss out.

Nice place, you can feel the history behind it. It’s just really touristic. Overall good experience, the food was good. Mixed fried fish was way overpriced for the quantity given, but was delicious. You can try the topical bread with spleen if you are brave enough.

Don’t eat here! Greasy spleen sandwich and cold arancini. Waited forever to get water and food even though the Focacceria wasn’t busy. Staff is extremely rude and unpleasant. Very disappointing!

Not exceptional and expensive! Disappointed

In the afternoon tired, thirsty and hungry We were welcomed by a familiar and cosy atmosphere in a beautiful square. The waiters are kind and unstoppable workers and the dishes are based on mouthwatering local food. They also have desserts (cannoli..) in the menu. You can also find granite. Good quality/price ratio. Judging on the whole I would give it 5*