Bam Bar, in Taormina, is practically an institution when it comes to granita. The colorful, distinctly Sicilian decor, combined with the unique personality of the owner Rosario Bambara, known as "Saretto," makes this spot a real magnet for tourists (and locals alike). Such fame couldn't go unnoticed, so here I am to review their pistachio granita.
If you take a moment to observe the number of people lining up for a table and the speed at which the granitas are served, it feels more like a highly efficient granita factory than a bar. Everything seems to run really well. The prices, for being in Taormina, are absolutely not exaggerated.
When we order, Saretto listens to every request with the utmost attention and is keen to point out that the pistachio granita is very similar to gelato, as it is made with milk (an important note for those who are lactose intolerant as well). A person from Messina would shudder, but for me, being from Catania, it is (alas) acceptable, so I proceed. I also add panna (whipped cream) and brioche to enjoy the full experience.
Upon tasting, you are truly struck by the truly superlative pistachio flavor, probably the granita with the most intense pistachio taste I have tried to date, and it's not even too sweet, for that matter. The downside is that, unfortunately, Saretto was all too right; in fact, calling it a granita is really wrong—this is gelato! The resemblance to gelato is truly excessive, and in the end, what remains in your mouth is the "heaviness" of the milk fat, rather than the freshness of a nice Sicilian granita. I had never eaten, in all of Catania, a granita this "gelato-like."
The brioche and panna are also excellent, though the latter, being fresh, is quite rich and dense (not a flaw, but worth mentioning).
In conclusion, given the phenomenal pistachio flavor, it deserves a rating of 5 pistacchi, but personally, I wouldn't order it again (I might as well just get a gelato), preferring instead one of their fantastic fruit granitas (among the best I've ever eaten).
