Palermo Mazara Del Vallo, Ragusa and Catania casual dining and off the beaten path tips

I will arrive in Sicily as part of a tour in a few weeks. I do have the opportunity to have a couple of lunches and dinners on my own and I am looking for recommendations for a tourist friendly osteria or trattoria where I can dine with the locals. I have a few phrases in broken Italian and I can use sign language if nobody speaks English. I did that in other parts of Italy and some of the people I met were so warm and friendly. They left lasting impressions. I also have several hours free on some days and evenings and would like suggestions for places I should visit that are not on most tourist itineraries. I guess I should mention that even though I am very active by age, which is only a number, I am considered elderly so you might keep that in mind with your suggestions. As always I appreciate people taking the time to help.