Les Amis des Messina: a Sicilian restaurant in Paris

Today on the blog, I’d like to tell you about a fantastic Italian spot in Paris that adds to the collection I’m already curating on this topic. Les Amis des Messina, located on Rue Réaumur, is the second Parisian restaurant from Sicilian chef Ignazio Messina, originally from Cefalù near Palermo. This second address, set near the Les Halles district in Paris, celebrates Sicilian cuisine and products. The chef’s historic first location is situated on Rue du Faubourg Saint Antoine. We first went to discover it in the summer of 2020 in great company with my favorite photographer, as we were joined by our friends Borey and Yoanna. We then returned in August 2023 to experience Ignazio Messina’s private table.

Right away, I was completely won over by the space! The restaurant is long and narrow, offering several distinct areas:

La Bottega, which welcomes food lovers from 11 am to enjoy Italian pastries and the chef’s original creations, prepared on-site with the day’s ingredients.
A Schiticchiata, which features a counter displaying regional Italian products selected for the restaurant (there is also a gourmet deli corner if you’d like to do some shopping).
The Italian wine cellar (we wanted to taste everything!) and the cocktail bar in the restaurant’s basement, where the chef’s private table is also located.
La Cucina, where we sat in 2020 at the back of the restaurant, is under a skylight that makes it a very pleasant place to enjoy beautiful natural light indoors. Since the kitchen is open to this part of the restaurant, it’s also a great opportunity to watch the plates being prepared live!

Interior of the Sicilian restaurant Les Amis des Messina, wooden tables and benches.

Wooden table with a red and white chair in the Sicilian restaurant Les Amis des Messina.

Private table at the Messina Paris restaurant with wine crate wall and glass roof.

Counter of the Sicilian restaurant Les Amis des Messina with coffee machine and Italian products.

Open kitchen of the Sicilian restaurant Amis des Messina with chefs and fresh bread on the counter.

Wooden ladder in front of Sicilian olive oil canisters in a restaurant.

Large wooden table in an area with a wine crate wall.

Customers dining while staff interact near the open kitchen of the restaurant.

Green plants behind an old barred window at Les Amis des Messina.

To taste:

For an aperitif drink, I recommend the Spritz Siciliano (€9) made with Aperol as well as Averna (a Sicilian liqueur).
For appetizers to share, I recommend trying the stuffed Focaccia (€15 for 250g), the Burrata with fresh tomatoes (€12.50), or the Antipasto siciliano platter, which includes a selection of Sicilian specialties (€13.50). We also tasted one of the daily starters, a delicious octopus carpaccio marinated with herbs (€13).
When it comes to pasta, I suggest trying the pasta with anchovies and wild fennel pesto (€15.50) if you like those flavors, or the Anelletti siciliani (€15), a baked pasta gratin with veal ragout. We were a little disappointed by the Carbonara les Amis (€16.50), however.
Finally, for dessert, the tiramisu (€8) is perfectly nice, but it was the Cannolo siciliano with ricotta (€7) that truly won me over! Another specialty I recommend is the homemade artisan ice cream served in a brioche (€8), which is apparently how it’s done in Sicily!

Bottle of Amaro Siciliano Averna, a Sicilian drink from Messina in Paris.

Orange Spritz cocktail with a black straw, lemon, and a basil leaf.

Creamy Burrata with cherry tomatoes, basil, and crushed nuts.

Creamy Burrata with cherry tomatoes, basil, and pine nuts.

Bottle of organic Sicilian wine L'Auratae Nero d'Avola and a glass of red wine.

Focaccia stuffed with ham and mozzarella, served on a slate board.

Assortment of Sicilian antipasti: burrata, grilled eggplant, red peppers, olives, and focaccia.

Glass of Sicilian white wine against a plant background, credit Nicolas Diolez.

Glass of Sicilian red wine, top view, on a wooden table.

Sicilian pasta with fennel pesto and breadcrumbs, served with grated parmesan.

Creamy Sicilian pasta with peas and a basil leaf.

Sicilian cannolo filled with ricotta and garnished with candied fruits, sprinkled with powdered sugar.

Sicilian tiramisu with cocoa and powdered sugar on a red and white plate.

Regarding wines, there is obviously a very fine selection of Italian wines, and having had a quick tour of the cellar, I must tell you that there is a wide choice of products from every region of the country. And as a digestif, we drank the little Limoncello brought by our host very easily!

Ignazio Messina’s private table

In 2023, the restaurant introduced a new concept: the private table of chef Ignazio Messina, which offers a gastronomic journey in the spirit of his native Sicily through a surprise menu (private lunches and dinners in the cellar available by reservation for groups). This private table is set up in the restaurant’s cellar, and it is the chef who chooses the meal and cooks for his guests during a moment of sharing!

Practical information: The number of seats for this private table is limited to 6/10 people to ensure an intimate and personalized experience for each guest. Reservations can be made by contacting the restaurant directly. A tailor-made menu based on your preferences will be offered to you.

Vaulted cellar of the Sicilian restaurant filled with wine shelves.

Parisian wine cellar with rustic table and shelves filled with wine bottles.

Pieces of Sicilian cheese with honey cut with a knife and fork.

Plate of Sicilian cured ham (Prosciutto) with a basil leaf at Les Amis de Messina.

Sicilian hand of Ignazio Messina, a hand taking a bite on a wooden board.

Sicilian fish tartare with herbs and olive oil at Les Amis de Messina Paris.

Sicilian twisted pasta lifted with a fork with a glass of red wine.

Bottle and glass of Guali Calcareus red wine at Les Amis de Messina restaurant.

Smiling couple in the wine cellar of the Les Amis de Messina restaurant in Paris.

Sicilian breaded fish on a bed of fennel with pistachio pieces at Les Amis de Messina.

Bottle of COS Pithos Rosso red wine and a glass of Sicilian wine in Paris.

Dessert at Les Amis de Messina Paris: ice cream in a bowl with brioche on a plate.

Ignazio Messina’s private table
Pricing: menu from €120 per person, food and wine pairing included

Sicilian Finger Food by chef Ignazio Messina

In 2023, the Sicilian chef launched a Sicilian Finger Food service for private or professional events.

Finger food: fennel and burrata soup with almonds and lemon zest; pizza margherita; bottarga, lemon, and anchovy pizza; line-caught white tuna crudo with citrus olive oil, fresh herbs, and crispy breadcrumbs; eggplant caponata; sfincione siciliano; arancine; parmesan and honey; plain focaccia; Mamma Lina tart; gelati.

Fried Sicilian arancini presented on a tray at Les Amis de Messina restaurant.

Chef Ignazio Messina garnishing Sicilian dessert verrines in his kitchen in Paris.

Cut focaccia and Sicilian finger food verrines on a wooden table.

Chefs preparing Sicilian appetizers with fresh mint in Paris.

Creamy Sicilian finger food verrines with slivered almonds and mint.

Sicilian finger food appetizers in verrines with wooden mini-forks on a tray.

Chef Ignazio Messina presenting Sicilian appetizers in Paris.

Two options are offered for all private or professional orders
Simple delivery of trays (Paris and suburbs) or a “Chef at home” event (quote upon request)
For any orders or quotes, go to the contact tab on the restaurant’s website

Thanks to Les Amis des Messina for these lovely invitations.

Terrace of the Sicilian restaurant Les Amis des Messina at 81 Rue Réaumur in Paris.

Les Amis des Messina
81, Rue Réaumur 75002 Paris
Open Monday to Sunday, lunch and dinner
Prices: signature cocktails between €13 and €16 / small tasting plates €7.50
Link to the restaurant’s website

Neapolitan pizza with anchovies, cherry tomatoes, mozzarella, and pesto.

Find my restaurant reviews in Paris below:
⇒ My restaurant reviews in Paris
⇒ My Italian restaurants in Paris

MY ITALIAN RESTAURANTS IN PARIS
⇒ Pizzeria addresses in Paris
⇒ Little Nonna gluten-free pizzeria
⇒ Italian brunch
⇒ Dai Dai
⇒ Ammazza
⇒ Gemini Family
⇒ Simonetta, trattoria on the Canal de l’Ourcq

MAP OF MY FAVORITE FOOD SPOTS IN PARIS AND THE ILE-DE-FRANCE REGION

Restaurant Bar Patisserie / Bakery Tea room / Coffee Shop
Brunch Ice cream shop

Photo credits: Nicolas Diolez
Photos are not royalty-free, photographer's permission required before any use

Les Amis des Messina: a Sicilian restaurant in Paris

Ignazio Messina’s private table

Sicilian Finger Food by chef Ignazio Messina

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