Still Missing Sochi's Sicily

🌟 Hello there! 🌟

I'm still on a high from our October trip to Sochi, and I'm continuing my series of reviews about the amazing places we discovered.

I'm a bit of a food snob, and I'm always on the lookout for great eats when we travel. But let's be real, eating out can get expensive, especially in a touristy area like Sochi. That's why we love to cook our own meals and save money. However, we also like to treat ourselves to a nice meal every now and then. And in Sochi, there are plenty of cafes and restaurants to choose from along the waterfront. But I just couldn't find anything that caught my eye. I was dreaming about pasta - carbonara or fettuccine, to be specific. I was drooling just thinking about it! So, I did what any self-respecting foodie would do - I googled 'where to eat pasta in Sochi' and started browsing menus and prices at various restaurants. That's how I discovered 'Sicily' pizzeria, and we decided to give it a try on our last night in Sochi.

Address: Navaginskaya Street, Building 11, Block 5.Hours: 09:00 to 00:00I opted for the location in the city center since it was more convenient for us. Plus, we wanted to take a stroll along Navaginskaya in the evening, and when we walked by during the day, we had already checked out where 'Sicily' was located, and I liked the look of the place. This pizza chain has several locations in Sochi, spread across different areas, but 'Sicily' has a presence not only in Sochi but also in other cities in the Krasnodar Krai region. What's more, they offer delivery services (too bad we couldn't order from Tver, though 😪)

The menu outside the restaurant is a great touch – it's a small podium with the menu displayed, making it easy to check prices and offerings while walking by. I actually stopped by to confirm that the prices and dishes matched what I had found online.

The location on Navaginskaya also has a summer veranda with a decent number of tables. However, we chose to sit inside since it was a bit chilly in the evening of October, and I'm not a fan of eating outdoors when passersby might stare or there are insects around.

I have to say, the place was pretty empty when we visited - probably because it was a weekday, mid-afternoon, and the main tourist season was wrapping up. We snagged a table in the corner, which got a bit more light. The background music was really mellow - I'm pretty sure it was some smooth jazz or blues (it reminded me of Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley, to be honest). It really added to the vibe of the place. Our server brought over the menu, and we quickly made our picks (we'd already studied it beforehand, so we had a good idea of what we wanted), and I headed off to find the bathroom, taking a chance to scope out the joint. And let me tell you, there's plenty to look at!

A Family-Friendly Pizzeria Like Sicily in Sochi - My Review I was totally stoked to explore and photograph every nook and cranny of Sicily - there's just so much to love! The place is decked out with an incredible amount of decor: greenery, lamps, pillows, figurines, clocks, candles, dishes, photos, and artwork, plus fake windows with curtains... I'm the total opposite of someone who loves minimalism - I adore all the different decorative elements and tiny details, so I was practically bursting with excitement! By the way, if you take a closer look at the photo above, you'll notice that there's a little white bird perched on a ring around each lamp, surrounded by artificial greenery. It's just adorable! As I wandered around the place, I ended up taking so many photos that I had to create a collage just to avoid overwhelming this review. And guess what? I stumbled upon a phone charging station too - that's a definite plus!

A look inside the Sicily restaurant in Sochi - my review One of the things that really stood out to me when I visited Sicily in Sochi was just how much seating they have. They've got cozy little tables for two tucked away in corners, big tables for big groups, and even areas with super cozy lamp lighting or more intimate settings. And then there are the tables with brighter lighting, plus comfy sofas and chairs... I was a bit disoriented when I walked into the second room, and I even double-checked with the waitress - I was starting to think I'd stumbled into a different restaurant altogether! But nope, it's just how massive Sicily is. And tucked away at the end of the second room, I found a kids' play area and a dedicated mom-and-baby room. I was impressed to find a bathroom in the same area as the second hall. Later, just before leaving, I discovered that there's also one in the first hall. If I'm not mistaken, the bathroom is divided into male and female sections, each with two or three stalls. But these aren't just any stalls - they're full-fledged toilet rooms with sinks, mirrors, and hand dryers! Everything you need is provided: toilet paper, soap, and a toilet brush. The bathrooms are super bright and spotless, with no sign of water spots on the mirrors or sink. And, of course, there's no unpleasant odor to speak of! If you just need to wash your hands, you don't even need to go into a stall - there are separate sinks and mirrors with paper towels and hand dryers. And, just like the bathrooms, they're immaculately clean. That's a huge plus for 'Sicily'!

While I was exploring the restaurant, our order was already ready, and as soon as I sat down, the waiter brought out our food. But before I share my thoughts on the dishes, let's take a look at what's on the tables and what the menu has to offer. On each table, you'll find: salt, pepper, toothpicks, napkins, hand sanitizer, a payment and tip card, and a cute little basket with utensils. And, as a nice touch, they also gave us wet wipes for our hands, packaged in their own branded container. That's something I've never seen before in any restaurant.

Ah, thank goodness, the menu is in a printed format, not some cryptic code. And it's beautifully laid out, with a photo for each item. That's the kind of menu I love, and I approve!

Despite being a pizzeria, Sicilia's menu goes far beyond pizza - it's incredibly extensive. When I first looked at the website, my eyes widened - what do I want to order? But my desire to try their pasta won out Of course, I took a photo of the menu, but trust me, it's not even half of what Sicilia has to offer! They've got breakfast options, business lunches, soups, salads, all sorts of appetizers, pasta dishes, potato dishes, rolls, over 20 types of pizza, desserts, a kids' menu... and a wide selection of drinks, with everything from tea to coffee. And the flavors of their pizzas and drinks? I've never seen anything like it in our city. For example, they've got 'apple pie tea', 'blueberry and pinecone tea', 'lemon meringue raf', 'strawberry-basil latte', 'smoked cherry ice tea', 'crab and tomato pizza', and 'duck and caviar pizza'.

Family Pizza Place Sicily, Sochi - Review I was still mixing and matching photos and listing everything out - I was drooling so hard! By the way, the prices are way more budget-friendly than many other places in Sochi. For instance, I initially wanted to go to Fettuccine, but not only was the menu a bit pricey, but the prices themselves made me consider other options. In Fettuccine, the cheapest salad costs 590 rubles and goes up to 950 rubles (about 250-300 grams on average). Meanwhile, the priciest salad at Sicily costs 695 rubles - everything else is more budget-friendly. And when it comes to pasta, Fettuccine's prices range from 690 to 820 rubles, while Sicily's top-out at 775 rubles. It might sound weird, but when we went to a pizza place, we didn't order the pizza... We wanted to try a full meal, and we knew that if we got a hot dish and then added a couple of pizza slices on top, we'd end up walking out the door like stuffed dumplings (and I was wearing jeans that wouldn't have fit anyway)! Plus, I had fallen in love with one of the desserts on the menu, and no pizza was going to cut it for me.So, our order was...

Alfredo Pasta - 650 rubles (currently showing 625 rubles on the website).Ingredients: fettuccini, chicken breast, mushrooms, cream, parmesan.This was SO delicious! It was exactly the pasta I had been dreaming of! Everything was perfectly cooked and seasoned, with a great balance of flavors. I literally forced myself to eat slower, even though I wanted to gobble it all up in two minutes. The portion was generous and filling. I'd definitely recommend it!

Pork Stew - 650 rubles.Ingredients: potatoes, pork, bacon, mushrooms, green onion, garlic.The dish looked appetizing and matched the menu picture. The portion seemed big, but for a guy, it might be a bit small, so it's better to order something extra to go with it. As for the taste, I really enjoyed it. I don't eat pork, so I can't give a proper review, but I did steal a potato from it. The potato was delicious.

A Family-Friendly Pizza Place in Sochi - My Review Tomato Salad with Borodinsky Croutons - 375 rubles. The salad consists of tomatoes, onions, rye bread, basil, and garlic. We're used to having a main course or making a salad at home, and sometimes we even snack on fresh cucumbers - basically, we have some veggies together. But at 'Sicily', we were faced with a dilemma: what kind of veggie dish to order? A full-fledged Caesar salad wasn't what we were in the mood for (we already have meat in our dishes), and a salad with shrimp or tuna wasn't my thing either... That's when my eyes landed on this tomato salad. We didn't need to order a bread basket - the croutons did the trick (they're not garlic-infused, just in case). As a side dish to our hot meal, it worked out perfectly. However, I think the price for two sliced tomatoes, onion rings, and a few croutons is a bit steep...

Tea Infuser 'Lychee-Pineapple Oolong' - 390 rubles (500 ml). It was a delicious and rich tea that was perfect for the two of us.

Сметанник - 395 рублей.В составе: сметанный бисквит, пропитанный сгущенкой, сметанным кремом и ягодной прослойкой + свежие ягоды.Oh man, I'm not even kidding - I had a full-on gastonomic orgasm while eating this cake. It's so ridiculously tender and melts in your mouth, completely without any artificial stuff, and with this lovely berry undertone - I wanted to savor every single bite! I was literally on the verge of tears because I didn't want it to end! As of now, this is the most delicious cake I've ever had!

What's even funnier is that only halfway through eating the cake, I suddenly realized that the cake on the menu picture is topped with strawberries, but they gave me raspberries instead. And let me get this straight, I absolutely hate raspberries - in fresh form, as a flavor enhancer, or even as a scent... But the combination of flavors was so spot-on that I didn't even notice I was eating raspberries!

Family Pizza Place 'Sicily', Sochi - Review I have to admit, I took a risk last year when I ordered the strawberry tart at 'Travellers Coffee'. It was so bad that it completely turned me off. But this mascarpone cheesecake with raspberries? I devoured every single raspberry without hesitation - okay, maybe I left one behind. When the waiter came over, I asked if the raspberry layer inside was made from fresh raspberries. He confirmed that it was, and I was blown away: who can make something that's not even their favorite, and they'd actually order more of it? I didn't ask why they swapped the strawberries for raspberries - I figured the photo in the menu was just a sample, and they use whatever's in season (like it says on their website now, this cheesecake comes with chunks of dehydrated strawberries). I genuinely praised the waiter on all the dishes, especially the cheesecake, and asked him to pass on my thanks to the chef. It was clear that the guy was happy too

Speaking of service, it was top-notch - our server was super friendly and really helpful. He even gave us a tip on how to get a discount by downloading the app and paying through a QR code with a promo code. We ended up tipping him the amount of the discount, which was the least we could do.We ended up spending 2210 rubles in total, including the discount. It actually worked out cheaper than I had budgeted for (I'm the one who handles the finances in my family, even when we're on vacation).

That's the thing I'm sad about.We only got to visit 'Sicily' on our last night in Sochi, and we didn't have time to go back. And to make matters worse, there aren't any other locations in our region. But if I ever find myself back in Sochi, I'll definitely be heading back to 'Sicily' and indulging in their amazing food - and maybe even trying some new things like their pizza and coffee.

I highly recommend checking out 'Sicily' on Navagin Street (I hope the other locations are just as great!). I'd give them a solid 5 stars with a big plus sign because I was thoroughly impressed with everything - no complaints at all.

I wish 'Sicily' all the best and continued success!

A Family-Friendly Pizza Place in Sochi, Russia - My ReviewI hope my review was helpful and entertaining. If you're looking for more recommendations in Sochi, Kazan, Cheboksary, Moscow, Tver, and the surrounding area, check out my other reviews.Thanks for reading, and I'll catch you in the next one!

Cheers, 💋