Puglia Restaurants | Restaurants |
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This section contains recommendations and reviews of restaurants mostly
within 45 minutes driving time of Casa Rossa and the Val d'Itria area.
These recommendations come from my own personal experience of each restaurant or through reports from individuals I feel I can trust, or at least have similar expectations to me! Initially it will cover only a tiny fraction of the hundreds of restaurants worth visiting. New updates will be added on a regular basis as my travels and stomach will allow, so it is always worth checking back prior to your travel to see these new reviews. Cisternino: Osteria Bel Italia, Osteria Sant' Anna, Via Martina Franca 90 ,Tel: 080.4447036 (Closed Mondays) Set back from one of the roads leading out of town, has a delightful vine-covered outside terrace. Wonderful antipasti which keep coming and are often more than enough! Followed by fresh meat and fish primi and secondi piatti. Sunday lunches are endless and wonderfully relaxing as long as you give them time as the Pugliese do. Very reasonable prices. La Botte, Via Santa Lucia 38,Tel: 080.4447850 (Closed Thursdays except July/August, also closed late Sept/early Oct) Located in the beautiful old white painted town centre, more reminiscent of Greece than Italy. This traditional trattoria has outside seating in the piazza Taverna della Torre, Happy Point Pizzeria,
Masseria Cantone, Contrada Fantese, Tel: 0804446902A beautiful relaxing restaurant in an old manor house with good food. An added attraction is the occasional live music. A number of well known stars having been attracted to perform including Diana Washington. Macelleria Demola and
Arrosteria del Vicoletto, Bar Fod, Il Cucco,
Ostuni: La Sommita, Via Scipione Petraiolo 7,Tel: 0831 305925 Cynics may argue that the "high-for-Puglia" prices here, owe more to style than substance. Restored from ancient wine cellars with a walled garden high up in the old part of town, this restaurant is the height of sophistication and well worth visiting for it's excelent food in the most stunning surroundings. It shows just how much money is flooding in to the town. Osteria del Tempo Perso, Via V. Vanzarella Vitale 47,  Te: 0831 303320 In the Centro Storico, this top class establishment is carved out of the limestone rock on which Ostuni is built, with a 17th century facade. Recommended by the Slow Food Movement, the antipasti here is innovative and of the highest quality. Following courses embrace superbly succulent lamb and pork dishes and of course the best and freshest sea food. The politically incorrect are also catered for, my donkey being quite delicious! Porta Nova, Via G Petrarolo 38, Tel: 0831304819Is a restaurant about food first and foremost, or ambience? If ambience and in particular the stunning views from the terraces of Porta Nova on the heights of Ostuni are what you are looking for, this place cannot be beaten. The food, not bad at all, caused a friend recently to choke on his fave when a simple meal for four came to over 250 euros. If all you want is the view, have an aperitif and get some free nuts and nibbles, then disappear for extras elsewhere.
Taverna della Gelosia,
Locorotondo: Trattoria Centro Storico, Via Eroli di Dogali 6, Tel: 0809315473I have only been once for lunch, but was mightily impressed buy the local cuisine. Bressaola for a starter was a surprise as instead of the expected “wind dried” meat, it was more like an un-minced version of steak-tartare, with olive oil, garlic, ruccola, lemon juice and shaved parmesan. Quite simply superb and refreshing in the warm weather. All the other food was equally good. Very unpretentious, good service and full of locals!Alberobello: La Cantina, Vico Luppolis 8, Tel: 0804323473 I do not really know Alberobello as well as I should, being put off rather by multitudinous Japanese coach parties! I am told though I have not been here that La Cantina is well worth a visit, serving well priced local food. Il Poeta Contadina, Via Independenza 21, Tel: 0804321917 Renowned for high quality sophisticated representation of local cuisine. A bit too chi chi for me. Somehow table cloths and cut crystal don't ring true here! However having said that it is very good, but have you credit card at the ready! It's certainly one of the priciest in the region. Martina Franca: Al Ritrovo degli Amici, Corso Messapia 8, Tel: 0804329249 This place on the main smart and chic shopping street in Martina Franca has two eating areas, one rather old fashioned and 80's in style, the other brighter and more airy. Both extremely pleasant and most importantly the food is of a high standard. Very well thought through local antipasti along with the usual primi risottos and pastas with secondi such as Tuscan fillet of beef and Pugliese lamb. Highly recommended for a special or romantic night out. Torre Canne: Taverna da Santos, Strada Litoranea da Torre Canne per Savelletri, Tel: 0804827777 Amongst all the myriad lidos and seaside bars and restaurants, this is just that bit different and definitely warrants a visit. The old fisherman's house has been set up like a beach side Greek Taverna. You can hire umbrellas and loungers which are placed a discreet distance from each other to give rather more privacy than you will normally find at one of these establishments. The restaurant serves both Greek and Pugliese food in thoroughly relaxed surroundings. The owner Fabrizio who's other claim to fame is racing Caterhams in the UK (ask him about his encounter with Jeremy Clarkson!) will also arrange trips in one of their boats and there are plans afoot to start an unusal car and traditional Vespa rental business There are endless others which no doubt you will find and have a view on. Do please mention the worthwhile ones in our guest book so we can keep enlarging and updating this section. |