Finding where to eat in Termoli is easy, but finding the best is harder. I have no more this problem: my go-to is the best restaurant in the town – La Sbirra. 

Termoli in Summer vs. Winter: What to Expect

Termoli, a small town, is sleepy in winter, with a few locals hanging out in the few open pubs, but bustling in summer. Tourists flock here for the sandy beaches, summer parties, and a multitude of bars and restaurants serving more or less delicious Molise regional cuisine and Adriatic seafood dishes. Many of them offer an authentic Italian dining experience, but I’d still send everyone to La Sbirra.

My top-rated restaurant in Termoli: Why La Sbirra wins

 A few years ago, I was working in Termolil; with the other teachers, we would wander in the evenings around the local bars and restaurants, as there was nothing else to do. One evening, we discovered La Sbrirra.
With just six tables covered with oilcloth, it was tiny back then and looked like a cheap Neapolitan eatery with an open kitchen.

Since then, it has expanded. The interior is more modern, the tableware more sophisticated , and the kitchen is in the back. And judging by the number of people eating there,it has clearly become a local favourite.
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. And that’s why La Sbirra my number one in Termoli.

And that’s not as obvious as it sounds. Many restaurants start out great, but over time the quality drops. Here, it hasn’t. The food is always at the same excellent .

Location: Finding Via Adriatica in the Termoli City Center

Most restaurants in Termoli are located in the town 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 colourful wall shelves made from a wooden pallet with flowers sticking out of it.

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The Menu: Fresh Adriatic Seafood and Seasonal Specials

La Sbirra offers a seasonal menu, i.e., spring-summer and autumn-winter. Like other restaurants in Termoli, they focus on fish and seafood. In addition to standard dishes, they also offer plates based on local fisheram’s catch, so during the closed season for certain species, they have to modify and create new courses.
And this actually works out well for them. As their (almost) regular customer, I’ve never felt like I’ve already eaten the entire menu, as is often the case in restaurants. At La Sbirra, there’s something new to try every time.

And if you’re a meat lover – don’t worry, in La Sbirra you’ll also find something to enjoy.

What to Order: From Seafood Appetizers to Brodetto Soup

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. And because in La Sbirra they serve you generous Italian portions, after lunch we usually roll out… Hm, but we also order too much.

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.

The last time we ordered the frittura, 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 (zuppeta) 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?

We paid 90 euros, which in my opinion, is a great value for money. Termoli is a very touristic place, La Srirra is getting more and more popular, and they still serve solid portions of great food. Even if the bill was higher, I’d feel like I had fulfilled my mission of spending my money well at the restaurant. 

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. When choosing a place where to eat in Termoli, you can of course go to more stylish places that serve much fancier 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. Neapolitan vibes, the owner remembering you even after a year and welcoming you like an old friend, and great food. Additionally, if you don’t want to break the bank and want to have a good time enjoying your dishes – 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, annoyed you, or just reminded you of your own trip, tell me in the comments or drop me an email. I actually want to hear about your experiences—the good and the frustrating.

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