La Tovaglia Volante - MESSINA

I found this place by accident and I’m so glad I did! The space is elegant but inviting, and the owners took great care helping me choose from the menu (I was desperate for vegetables. Their interpretation of caponata (pumpkin, apples, artichokes and capers instead of the usual eggplant was the perfect combination of flavors. The pear cake with chocolate will make you cry (happy tears . My only regret is I am leaving Messina tomorrow so I can’t come back to try more of the menu. But many thanks!

I have been to this restaurant/cooking school 2 times and it just keeps getting better! Loredana, Riccardo and their staff are passionate about what they serve to their clients and it shows in every dish! I enjoyed a beautiful array of desserts and coffee last January 2018 and a beautiful, multi-course Pranzo this past October 2018 when I returned! The space is filled with Artist/Co-Owner, Riccardo's beautiful paintings...it is like eating in a Gallery! As beautiful as they are tasty the specialty House Made biscuits are a must try as well. We purchased a few Gift Boxes for gifts ...

We found this restaurant The Flying Tablecloth right in the historic center of Messina a short walk from our hotel. The walls are decorated with charming paintings of Sicily, setting the tone for a meal of sophisticated and creative local dishes. We were welcomed warmly by our cordial hosts, who were eager to tell us about the dishes and the many local ingredients that make these dishes a history of the Messina region. Although the menu contains mostly meat and fish dishes, a welcome change was to find a wide variety of vegetarian choices containing seasonal ingredients right from the nearby farms and fields. We started with caponata and artichoke tortina, a type of pudding, and proceeded to tagliolini pasta with porcini mushrooms and pumpkin lasagna, possibly a first for us. We ended the meal with a layer cake infused with orange aromas and topped with berries (frutti di bosco) and fresh whipped cream. The wine list was varied and reasonable. Come for lunch or (later in the week) dinner for a special experience.

We enjoyed this restaurant so much that we returned several times during the month we stayed in Messina. It is run by a charming couple who cook delicious and creative dishes with fresh, local ingredients. Excellent fish but also very good meat dishes and wonderful deserts. And very reasonably priced.

Ambiente essenziale, cucina semplice e genuina, dolci deliziosi.Piatti insoliti con ingredienti di qualità. Molto buono.