Located about a two-minute walk from the east exit of JR Ibaraki Station in Ibaraki City, Osaka Prefecture, this Italian Sicilian restaurant is situated right in front of the rotary. It operates on a complete reservation basis, with only seven seats available and the owner running the place solo. The restaurant may also close when there are no customers. However, the cooking speed is efficient, and on this occasion, there was no waiting time, and the taste was solid. There are three course options priced at 4400, 5500, and 6600 yen. The 4400 yen course does not include a main dish, while the 5500 yen course does. This time, we opted for the latter. It includes three appetizers, pasta, salad, main dish, dessert, and coffee. The 6600 yen course seems more suitable for hearty eaters. When it comes to the three appetizers, it's not a single plate with a mix of items. Each dish is served separately with substantial portions. The first dish consists of octopus and vegetables in olive oil. The second dish is deep-fried shrimp. The third dish is steamed mussels. The first dish was particularly memorable. Soft octopus, tomatoes, and green beans were included. The pasta had a homemade sausage in tomato sauce. The sausage seemed to contain cumin, providing a nice balance of fragrant and sweet tomato flavors. The main dish consisted of three meat items: grilled Miyazawa pork, homemade hamburger, and cheese-wrapped beef. The cooking methods were relatively simple, but the use of spices was remarkable. Whether it's due to Sicilian cuisine or the restaurant's uniqueness, the food was delicious. The prices were also reasonable for the amount and quality of food provided.

A very delicious Italian restaurant in Ibuki. It's a popular place where it's difficult to get a reservation on weekends. The 5500 yen course is surprisingly generous in portion size and each dish is very delicious! The main course and pasta are especially tasty, making it a great restaurant that makes you want to go back again!

I lived in Ibaraki City until I graduated from university. When I returned to Nishinomiya for a visit, I had some business to attend to, so I decided to eat at this restaurant near JR Ibaraki Station for the first time in a while. I had made a reservation in advance. The restaurant is very small, with only 7 seats. The exterior is painted in a bright pastel green color, and the windows are only located at relatively high positions, so you cannot see inside. As I entered the restaurant, I noticed that the interior was quite dark even during the daytime, requiring artificial lighting. The small space also made it a bit cramped, especially with the kitchen in the back. The Sicilian restaurant serves plain appetizers, squid ink pasta, and a choice of meat or fish for the main course. I opted for meat. My wife and I enjoyed our meal, which was quite generous in portion size. I had to order an additional glass of wine as well. For dessert, I chose the orange fruit jelly, which was filled with plenty of orange pulp. By the end of the meal, I was full. Overall, the dishes seemed like a simple recreation of local Sicilian cuisine rather than elaborate creations. Despite the cramped and somewhat claustrophobic atmosphere of the small restaurant, we were able to enjoy the rustic dishes.

Authentic Sicilian cuisine! The restaurant has only a few tables, with two tables for 2 people and one table for 4 people. Reservations are a must as there is only one chef. We were lucky to get a reservation for four and enjoyed the 6600 yen course. They serve only Sicilian wines. The meal started with several appetizers served on large plates, followed by pasta, main course, and dessert. The portions were generous and we left feeling very full. The flavors were authentic and we were very satisfied!

Il Pistacchio Rancio, the most popular Italian restaurant in Ibaraki where you can enjoy a fulfilling Sicilian course, is located just a 2-minute walk from Ibaraki Station. Both lunch and dinner are available by course only with a complete reservation system for 4,400 yen or 5,500 yen. It was my first visit to the most popular Italian restaurant in Ibaraki, and I thought it might be difficult to make a reservation since there are only 6 seats available. However, I saw the availability information for December on the chef's blog, so I made a reservation by phone about 10 days ago. Lunch and dinner on weekends were fully booked at the beginning of the month, so it seems necessary to make a reservation more than a month in advance. This restaurant offers Sicilian cuisine, which has gained immense popularity among Italian enthusiasts. The appetizers include oysters, assorted vegetables, breaded and grilled yellowtail, and dried fava bean soup. The luxurious pasta course consists of 4 dishes, and the pastured pork ragout risotto has a great texture with chunks of tender pork and large rice grains, offering a rich and flavorful taste. The main course allows you to choose between fish or meat, and I chose the veal dish coated with breadcrumbs and cheese, which was incredibly juicy and had a fantastic combination of flavors and textures. The aroma of olive oil was also delightful. The final dessert was a luxurious assortment of 4 items: pistachio gelato, cannoli, fried doughnuts, and barley and ricotta, all of which were delicious. The dishes were served at a slightly relaxed pace, but the generous portions and rich content left me completely satisfied. Considering the amount of food, the 5,500 yen price tag offers great value for money. The unique Sicilian cuisine that can only be experienced at this restaurant is also a key factor in its popularity!

The blog is easier to read because the text corresponds with the photos. I recently had delicious Sicilian cuisine at the restaurant IL PISTACCHIO da Sarò, located a 5-minute walk from JR Ibaraki Station. It had been about 6 years since my last visit. The menu now offers only an omakase course with or without a second dish, priced at ¥5,500 and ¥4,400 respectively. We also opted for the wine set of sparkling, white, and red wines (100ml each) for ¥2,750. The meal started with a salad of sweet shrimp and mushrooms, followed by a farmer's appetizer platter and a dish of mackerel. The butternut squash and barley soup was a gentle and comforting addition. For the pasta course, we enjoyed hand-cut cavatelli with stewed wild boar meat. The main course featured veal sirloin steak Palermo-style with oven-baked potatoes. The meal concluded with a choice of desserts, including cannolo Siciliano, almond semifreddo, fig granita, and Bronte pistachio gelato. Overall, the meal was satisfying and delicious, and the chef's skill in preparing Sicilian cuisine was evident. It was a delightful experience, and I look forward to returning in the future.

The lunch course I reserved was 5,500 yen including tax, with 4 appetizers, pasta, a main dish of fish with sides, and dessert. The restaurant had a vibrant green building in Sicilian style, with cute yellow walls and decorations inside. The 4 appetizers included swordfish pate, a vegetable platter, sardine meatballs, and butternut squash soup, all showcasing the natural flavors in various cooking methods. The pasta was shaped like butterflies and topped with a rich sauce made of pistachios and ham, a unique and delicious combination. The main fish dish featured a whole sea bream served in a soup with olives and tomatoes, complemented by crunchy almonds. The fish was tender and flavorful, and dipping it in the soup was a delightful experience. Despite being quite full, the dessert platter was also delicious, with crispy cannoli, gelato, and tiramisu highlighting the pistachio flavor. I ordered coffee after the meal and reflected on the happiness of the course. Throughout the meal, I was impressed by the variety of cooking methods and flavors, showing that you don't need expensive ingredients to create deeply flavorful and satisfying dishes. It was truly delicious.

Il Pisticcio, an Italian trattoria located 3-5 minutes walk from Ibaraki Station. This hidden gem Italian restaurant is located at a corner right outside the station, making it a bit hard to find at first glance. It was selected as one of the top 100 Italian restaurants in the west in 2021. Reservations are a must, so be sure to call ahead before visiting. We ordered the popular dinner course, which featured a seafood-heavy menu with ingredients from Sicily. The course included appetizers like mussels, sweet shrimp, and ayu, as well as a hearty main course of hand-cut short pasta Bolognese and roasted lamb. The Bolognese pasta had a chewy texture and the flavor of the meat infused in the sauce, making it delicious. If you're looking for an Italian restaurant in the Ibaraki area, be sure to give this place a try. Bon appétit!

We reserved the 5500 yen course for the first time for lunch and enjoyed it with three people. The Sicilian cuisine, focusing on seafood, was very delicious. There were many different dishes, all of which were tasty. By the time we reached the two types of pasta at the end, our stomachs were surprisingly full. The dessert, persimmon sorbet, had the true taste of persimmon. The coffee was also delicious, and we left very satisfied. The restaurant only has two tables, so reservations are essential. It's also convenient that it's close to the station. There was hand sanitizer available from before the restroom, and each person had their own tape for thorough measures. It's a thoughtful gesture that I appreciate. I would like to visit again. Thank you for the wonderful meal. ❤️

Before visiting the difficult-to-reserve Italian restaurant in Ibuki, I had lunch there and found it to be very delicious, but the portions seemed quite large for two middle-aged people. After that, it seemed difficult to make a reservation, but I heard that they started offering takeout due to the impact of the coronavirus. For my birthday dinner, I decided to order the "5 Appetizers for 3,000 yen" and the "Grilled Pasta for 1,000 yen." The contents of the takeout menu changed daily and could be checked on the restaurant's website. The result was... The "appetizers" were so voluminous that I started to doubt if they were really just appetizers! There was no menu paper included, so I can only recall from memory, but another reviewer wrote a detailed review that was almost identical to what I received. - 5 Appetizers: - Chicken breast cutlet with lemon - Salsiccia (sausage) and potatoes - Round rice croquette-like dish - Clams in a spicy tomato sauce with garlic toast - Marinated sardines and spring onions - Grilled Pasta: - Grilled pasta with lots of fennel-like vegetables (the photo shows only one of the two chicken cutlets placed on my own plate due to the large portion) Every dish was delicious, and I couldn't stop eating. The "grilled pasta" in particular was incredibly tasty, even though it had cooled down a bit. My husband and I couldn't resist and ended up eating until we were completely stuffed. Just preparing a salad at home turned into a lavish meal that filled the table, making the takeout feel very economical. I hope they continue offering this even after the coronavirus situation ends. Additionally, I wish they would also sell wine together with the food! This time, I bought wine from a nearby store "Yamaya" before going to the restaurant, but if they provide reasonably priced wine that pairs well with their dishes, I would definitely order it together. There seems to be a temporary relaxation of regulations for the sale of alcohol for takeout to support restaurants during the coronavirus, so I really hope they consider this option.

First visit to a location right near JR Ibaraki Station East Exit. Entered at 18:25, no other customers. The interior has a calm atmosphere, with the natural feel of wood and earth walls. The small-scale restaurant with 2 tables x 3 seats is run by a male owner. The menu seems to focus on fish in spring and summer, and meat in autumn and winter. We reserved the course menu for 6,150 yen. The dishes served included: [Appetizers - 7 dishes] 1. Sweet shrimp and sardine marinade 2. Sauteed turban shell 3. Fava bean omelette, stewed leeks and tomatoes, hamburger 4. Fried halfbeak fish 5. Grilled octopus [Pasta] 6. Sea urchin cream pasta (additional 350 yen) 7. Manila clams and pistachio oil pasta [Main dish] 8. Grilled sea bass and potatoes, green salad [Dessert] 9. Strawberry and pistachio cannoli, tea. Impressions: - The individual dishes were rated around 3.5-3.9, but the seasoning of dishes 2, 5, and 8 was similar (strong saltiness and acidity), affecting the overall course rating slightly. - Dish 2 had a buttery sauce that was enjoyable to sip from the shell or dip bread in. - The restaurant strictly focuses on seafood, with only dish 3 deviating slightly. More variety in cooking methods would be appreciated. - The constraints of being a one-man operation, specializing in Italian regional cuisine, and focusing on seafood seemed to limit the chef's creativity. - Those with experience living in Italy might appreciate the dishes more. Left at 21:00, with one group of 2 remaining. Despite planning to visit bars afterwards, we were too full and decided to head home instead.

Located just a 1-minute walk from JR Tsukimino Station East Exit, this small cozy restaurant on the corner has a takoyaki shop nearby. It specializes in Sicilian cuisine, a local genre that attracts customers not only from the city but also from outside the prefecture. The reviewer made a lunch reservation at 12:45. The restaurant serves meat dishes in autumn and winter, and fish dishes in spring and summer. The main difference is not between meat and fish, but rather that the courses are focused on either meat or fish. All wines served are also from Sicily, with red wines priced in the 3000 yen range. The reviewer enjoyed a variety of meat dishes for the meal, including chicken, sausages, and horse meat hamburger, which was a first-time experience. The chickpea risotto had a gentle and simple flavor. The pork main dish was minced meat wrapped in thinly sliced cream, seasoned simply with salt and pepper. The portion sizes were generous, with spinach sauté served on a separate plate. Despite struggling to finish the dessert, the reviewer found the overall portion size suitable for sharing between two people.

I spent the long weekend relaxing at home, but my husband suggested going to a restaurant that we had been curious about. We made a lunch reservation at this place, which is about a 3-minute walk from JR Ibaraki Station East Exit. The entrance to the restaurant is on a corner, so it might be a bit difficult to find if you're not paying attention. The interior of the restaurant is small, with 3 tables on the first floor and a maximum capacity of around 8 people. It was run by a young male staff member. The lunch menu was priced at 3800 yen (excluding tax) and included 5 appetizers, a main dish, risotto, and dessert. They offer a choice of 1.5L carbonated or non-carbonated mineral water to start. We knew we were having a meat-based lunch, so we ordered red wine. The appetizers included sautéed mushrooms and pork on bread, pistachio sausage, olive-covered soft pumpkin, fried chicken wings, and a lemon leaf-wrapped horse meat hamburger. The flavors were bold and masculine, especially with the heavy feeling right from the first dish. The main dish was a pork and cream mushroom bake, and the risotto was chickpea-based and light. The dessert, made with chestnuts and almonds, was delicious and satisfying. The portion sizes and variety were generous. The food was seasoned heavily and had a unique taste, which paired well with alcohol, but may not be to everyone's liking. The timing of the food being served was impeccable, and the staff's passion for cooking was evident. The lack of special service or friendliness added to the charm of the restaurant. The meal, including the course, 2 glasses of house wine, and a carafe of red wine, came to around 11,000 yen. It was a luxurious lunch experience.

When I was working in Ibuki, I enjoyed going there regularly. At first, they offered a balanced selection of seafood and meat dishes, but later they changed the menu to seafood only in spring and summer, and meat only in autumn and winter. I experienced the spring and summer menus, but seven years passed without trying the autumn and winter menus. The price is 3950 yen per person (including tax, cover charge, and mineral water). You can choose between sparkling and still mineral water. Each pair gets a 1500ml bottle of Italian San Benedetto water. The meal includes: - 5 appetizers: 1. Mushroom salad with rocket and cheese. 2. Homemade sausages with pork and mushrooms. 3. Fried chicken wings. 4. Baked mushrooms with tomato and cheese. 5. Mushroom soup with bacon, onions, and croutons. - Bread: Not too salty, perfect for soaking up sauces. - Pasta dish: Ring-shaped pasta with mushroom oil sauce. - Main dish: Roasted pork with chestnuts in red wine vinegar sauce and oven-baked potatoes. - Dessert: Roasted chestnuts in syrup. - Drinks: Peach tea, lemonade, and Marsala. The lemonade has a gentle sweetness from honey. The meal was heavy with meat, large bread, potatoes, and cheese, which filled up my stomach. Personally, I prefer the seafood dishes in spring and summer. However, the chef's dedication to Sicilian cuisine is admirable. The restaurant used to be fully booked two months in advance when I used to visit regularly, but nowadays there seem to be more empty seats. It's a bit concerning.

I finally visited a nearby Italian restaurant, Il Pistacchio da Salvo, which I had been wanting to go to for a long time but never got around to. The drink I started with was beer, specifically Messina. Mineral water is included in the course price. Additional water is available for a fee, with 500ml provided for each person, but we were given a 1.5L bottle for two people. The bread that arrived first was delicious. The antipasto included 7 dishes of the day's appetizers, all of which were tasty. The main dishes were also excellent, such as the pork gelatin, roasted chicken breast, and lamb dish. The pasta dishes were also top-notch, with the asparagus soup pasta and pork ragu risotto standing out. The main course, Farsumagru, a Sicilian version of meatloaf, was delicious as well. The meal ended with a choice of desserts, including cannoli, Sicilian pastries, pistachio gelato, or dessert wine. The total cost for one person, including drinks, was 6000 yen, which was surprisingly affordable considering the quality of the food. The restaurant has a cozy atmosphere with only 8 seats, so reservations can be hard to come by on weekends. Overall, the Sicilian cuisine at Il Pistacchio da Salvo was delicious, and I look forward to returning to try their summer seafood dishes next time.

I was taken to this restaurant by a friend from work. It is a quietly famous Italian place in the local area. The entrance to the restaurant is quite modest, and once inside, I noticed there were only 3 tables and a total of 8 seats. This is because it seems that the owner, who also appears to be the chef, handles the tables by himself. When I first arrived, I was asked if I wanted sparkling or still water, and when I chose sparkling, a large bottle of overseas brand water was served, which felt quite luxurious if it was complimentary. The menu seemed to consist of set courses (which makes sense if there is only one person running the place, as it would be difficult to handle a la carte orders). I wasn't given a menu when I sat down. The alcohol menu mainly featured wines, and I ordered the house red wine, which was very easy to drink and delicious. I didn't take photos of the courses, but they were not only delicious but also quite generous in portion size. When a pasta dish (macaroni-like pasta with a unique twist, tossed in meat sauce) was served before the main course, I was given the option to upgrade to a larger portion, which I did (laughs). I also had a refill of the house red wine, and in the end, the total bill came to 6100 yen per person. The combination of delicious food and great value made me worry about the restaurant's profitability. I would definitely like to visit this restaurant again.

I was invited by my senior who loves delicious food to a restaurant that serves very delicious Sicilian cuisine. It turns out this hidden gem is located near Ibaraki Station, which is quite unexpected. The dishes, Sicilian wine, everything was delicious. There were some unique elements that set it apart from the usual Italian cuisine, and it made me realize how much I love Sicilian cuisine. It was a delightful and enjoyable experience, and I had a great time. Thank you for the wonderful meal!

The dishes came out one by one, and we shared them between the two of us. The food, including pasta that I had never tried before, was very delicious. It was evident that a lot of time and effort had been put into preparing the dishes. The bread had a unique texture and shape that I had never experienced before, and although it was tasty, I couldn't finish it all. When I mentioned this to the owner, they kindly offered to pack it up for me, which made me happy. Even though the owner explained the dishes to us, I couldn't catch about half of what they were saying, but that was also okay - it was funny in a way. After all, even if I had heard it, I probably wouldn't have understood it (laughs).

This is a Sicilian restaurant that my family and friends have visited many times. They used to have fish dishes month and meat dishes month alternately for lunch menu, but now they have stopped that division. You can check the updated menu and availability on the blog of "IL PISTACCHIO da Saro." Whether it's meat, fish, vegetables, or coffee and dessert after the meal, I am always satisfied with the food. Not only the delicious food, but also the restaurant's thorough COVID-19 measures (such as disinfection facilities in the second floor restroom) make it a safe and enjoyable place to dine even in these times. It's a great restaurant to bring anyone to without any doubt.

The interior of the restaurant is small but clean. The chef works alone, so it takes about 2.5 hours for the meal to be finished, but the dishes are prepared very carefully. The pasta on this day was delicious and wonderful. The portion size is quite generous, so make sure to go on an empty stomach. The prices are unbelievably cheap compared to the quality of the food. If you love Italian cuisine, this is a must-visit restaurant. It is located right near JR Ibaraki Station.

Had a delightful meal with great company☆ It was delicious as always~♪ Very satisfied‼(o^－^o) Thank you very much!