Villa Ortigia

I stopped in for lunch on my motorcycle trip, my first visit here. The wood-fired pizza was fragrant and delicious, and I'd recommend it to anyone who loves pizza. I had the 2,500 yen course, which was just the right amount and left me completely full. The staff were really friendly and helpful, and I had no complaints. The toilets were very clean too, a big plus. The entrance may be a little difficult to spot, and the parking lot seems to hold about five cars.

I went for the 6,000 yen course, and the pizza was delicious! It's also great that dogs are welcome.

They only open Mondays and Tuesdays, and lunch service runs until 1pm. In the off-season, if a banner says they're open but the “Closed” sign is on the doorknob, don't be shy about checking with a staff member. I tried the A Lunch Set for 1,380 yen including tax, with mushroom and bacon cream pasta, an appetizer platter and a panini. The panini was small, about palm-sized, and I wished they'd brought a spoon along with the fork and knife. It all tasted good and I'd come back, though it may not be enough for a big appetite. On a later visit I had the 1,400 yen Margherita. It had quite a lot of juicy tomato sauce, which made it refreshing and easy to eat.

Whenever I'm on Awaji Island, I make a point of coming here. Today's choice was cold pasta with conger eel and summer vegetables, and it was delicious. The focaccia and pasta are both good, and the Margherita and whitebait pizza are fantastic too. I was surprised by how well whitebait works on pizza. The staff were very attentive, and lunch felt really satisfying.