If you ask me where to eat in Termoli if  there any good restaurants?  I’d say : yes, for example  La Sbirra.

Termoli in Summer and Winter

Termoli, a small town, is sleepy in winter, with a few locals hanging out in the few open pubs, but bustling in summer. Tourists come to the town because of its sandy beaches, summer parties, and a multitude of bars and restaurants serving more or less delicious dishes. The problem of “where to eat doesn’t exist in Termoli.

Where to eat in Termoli? My Favorite – La Sbirra

Of all the restaurants in the town, my favorite is La Sbirra. To the Neapolitan owner, who’s always happy to see his customers, I’d add delicious, consistently excellent food. I mean, it spoils like all food; but I mean that it’s always just as delicious because the cuisine maintains a consistently great level. It’s not so obvious – many restaurants start out great but then decline over time.

Where’s La Sbirra

Most restaurants in Termoli are located in the city center; La Sbirra is also there, at Via Adriatica 30. It’s a small side street off the main passage leading to the sea. If I remember correctly, La Sbirra is the third one from the passage. You’ll recognize it by the people sitting at the brown tables outside and the colorful wall shelf made from a wooden pallet with flowers sticking out of it.

How I Discovered La Sbirra

Just by chance; a few years ago, I was working in Termoli, and on weekend evenings, with the other teachers, we would wander around the local bars and restaurants, as there was nothing more to do.

With just six tables covered with oilcloth, La Sbirra was tiny back then and looked like a cheap Neapolitan eatery with an open kitchen. Since then, it has expanded, the interior has become more modern, the tableware has become fancier, and the kitchen has been moved to the back… What remains unchanged is the delicious food and the super-friendly owner, who still greets us like old friends, even though we only go there once a year.

What’s worth eating at La Sbirra?

In my opinion, everything. The menu changes twice a year, during the spring/summer and autumn/winter seasons. This is due to the closed season for certain fish species; La Sbirra, like other restaurants in Termoli, focuses on fish and seafood. But meat lovers – don’t worry, you’ll also find something to enjoy there.

Our last visit – what we ordered

We generally don’t eat the same thing, i.e., we order different dishes and share them; in this sly way, we try more meals. Unfortunately, we always order too much; according to Neapolitan custom, the portions at La Sbirra are solid. And then we roll out…

Appetizers – Must-Haves

We always order the seafood starter. It’s served cold, but it also includes mussels and grilled octopus. The starter is smaller compared to a few years ago, but that’s good because it was huge before. Next, we ordered the frittata, a mixture of fried sardines and calamari. Then “baby octopuses” appeared on the table, served in tomato sauce; the poor octopuses were unlucky not to have had time to grow.  Despite feeling guilty about eating babies, I really enjoyed their taste.

After that we enjoyed a rather unexpected and surprisingly good combination for me, but typical of Neapolitans – cooked calamari with pasta and chickpeas.

Main Courses – Brodetto and Fish Lasagna

Since we hadn’t burst yet (but the seams in our clothes were starting to come apart), we ordered fish soup (brodetto) and fish lasagna. Besides green leaves, brodetto is my favorite Italian dish. Every coastal region has its own recipe, so at La Sbirra it’s in a Neapolitan-inspired version. If you like fish, all kinds of mussels, and other sea ‘worms’, be sure to try it – it’s fantastic.

The fish lasagna – if I remember well – was the owner’s original recipe. I really enjoyed it, although the combination of fish and lasagna sheets seems a bit odd. The whole thing is soft, baked in tomato sauce, and melts in your mouth. At La Sbirra, you can also have dessert, but we usually don’t have room for it anymore.

We had house wine served in a clay jug (recently, it’s been served in more elegant bottles), and to help digestion, the owner offered us amaro. I still didn’t explode. Yay!

Prices – how much does it cost?

I think around 80 euros, however I’m not really sure. Anyway , the prices are average for restaurants in Termoli.

Is La Sbirra really the best?

Yes. Of course, this is my subjective opinion; I don’t know every restaurant in town, although I’ve visited quite a lot. Choosing a place where to eat in Termoli, you can of course go to more stylish places that serve much more exquisite dishes, like the excellent tuna steak at Restaurant Svevia, but it’s not just the food that makes a restaurant great.

Summary – Why It’s Worth It

That’s why I can recommend La Sbirra – for me, the best restaurant in Termoli. If you don’t want to break the bank and want to have a good time enjoying delicious food – be sure to check it out while you’re in town (and better book a table, because it’s getting really popular). And just in case, wear something with an elastic waistband.

If this post made you laugh, made you angry, or simply reminded you of your favourite restaurant, let me know in the comments or by email. I love reading about your experiences in similar places. And sign up for the newsletter – a new post once a week (usually Wednesdays at 6:00 PM). No spam, no “most beautiful Italy ever.” Only authentic events, small wonders, and off-the-beaten-path places. I’m waiting for you!