Mendolia Beach - Menu

"My wife and I have just returned from a 2 week holiday in Taormina, Sicily where we visited this restaurant on several occasions and we LOVED it. Firstly let me say, we also visited Mazzaro beach and much preferred Isola Bella beach (where Mendolia Beach Club is located). For the use of 2 sunbeds and an umbrella it was €20 for the day as opposed to €30 at Mazzaro. We also felt that the atmosphere was much better at Isola Bella and the Mendolia Beach Club was amazing. The staff were friendly and helpful and the food was out of this world. People were able to walk in off the beach, sit at a table and order from the menu. You could have a simple snack or a full dinner. During our 2 weeks we got to know Roberto, who served our table on each occasion. He was a fantastic member of staff and always had time for a laugh and a joke, even when rushed off his feet. On our penultimate visit, I told Roberto that we would be leaving in a couple of days and we wanted to spend our last day on the beach and to have the Catch of the Day as our lunch. When we arrived on the morning of our last day, Roberto greeted us with a wink and a smile as we headed to the beach to relax. Come lunch time, Robert met us at the entrance and showed to a table at the front of the restaurant, overlooking the beach, which he had reserved for us. We hadn’t even thought to reserve a table, but Roberto had taken it upon himself to do so. What a guy. Service as always, was prompt and efficient. A drinks order was taken and served to the table quickly, along with bread and oils, as was the case every day. When it came time to order, we both opted for the Catch of the Day. Roberto asked us to wait a minute and disappeared. He reappeared a few minutes later with what could only be described as a feast for the eyes. Roberto was holding a platter of the freshest fish and lobster, clearly only landed that morning. He proceeded to identify each fish and asked us to choose which we preferred. I opted for the Sea Bass which was served in a tomato sauce. We sat back to enjoy our delicious Sicilian wine and await our dinner. When it was brought to the table, it was absolutely incredible. The fish was presented whole, on a platter, covered in tomato sauce, potatoes, olives and various other veg. It looked amazing…every eye in the restaurant was on the fish. A member of staff proceeded to carefully carve the Sea Bass and serve it up to us. It was a real ceremony and made what was already a special day all the more memorable. The flavour did not disappoint, with long, lightly toasted and peppered bread served along with the dish. It was soooooo delicious and we savoured every mouthful. Upon finishing our meal, Roberto presented us with 2 Limoncello, as a farewell. We could not leave without a picture of Roberto for posterity and hugs were exchanged. If you visit Taormina and are looking for an amazing feed at a stunning location, look no further that Mendolia Beach Club and look out for Roberto. Just be aware that this is a beach restaurant, so it gets very busy at lunch time and does not stay open into the evenings. If you are looking to spend a day by the beach and want a great restaurant and bar, including snacks and coffee, then this is it. Grazie Mille Roberto, sei il migliore."