Cammalleri Pastificio — Local services in Ghent

As a Sicilian I really wanted to give it a try and it is absolutely legit! The people working in there are Sicilian as well, truly welcoming and extremely kind and professional. You can feel they love what they’re doing. Me and my boyfriend tried different plates and a Sicilian wine that I was pleased to find here in Gent (finally!) it’s the Donna fugata, a white that goes well with vegetarian dishes and fish as well. We tried: -pasta Fresca al pistacchio (11/10 come la farebbe mia nonna) -spaghetti al tartufo (10/10 the truffle was fresh and a true delicacy) tortellini ai 4 formaggi ripieni con gorgonzola cheese al cucchiaio (10/10 delicious ! For cheese lovers) -Focaccia: soft, light, tasty and delicious, many to try! Paradise for vegetarian and meat lovers. In Sicily we know how to make good food for every one and this place makes no exception! I felt at home. Highly recommended. And don’t forget to buy groceries as well, too many good...

We visited Cammalleri Pastificio around 2pm, planning to have lunch. I told the lady to eat there while cleaning the table and she didn’t mention that it’s not okay. However, when the server finally came over, she informed us that typically lunch is only served between 12–3pm, but that she’d make an “exception” for us. That already felt a bit unwelcoming.

What really surprised us was the complete lack of hospitality of her colleague. No greeting, no warm welcome. We were never asked if we wanted to try the tasting champagne, which we saw being offered to others. They even let them sit which I was confused, I thought it’s not allowed? To be honest, we got the strong impression they assumed we were just some broke teenagers.

The food might be good (we did eat), but honestly, the experience was overshadowed by the cold and dismissive service. A place that prides itself on Italian tradition should remember that hospitality is just as...

Extravagantly overpriced. Not realistic & Not Right.

Even a fine cut of flavor, artisanal concept, price what they are asking is way too beyond borders. It is even abusive I may say. I bought a small 2 pieces of focaccia + 1 artichokes = it total was 20eur. It is not even food for a 1 person + it was a take away tasting. What is it? hardly found truffle jewelry you sold me? Olive oil on bread + 3 olives + 3gr of tomatoes....I mean you can get a best artisan organic pizza in the town elsewhere for 14 eur, how can you dare to ask 2 simple focaccia this price? They do maybe tasty artisan stuff, but not targeting the mid-income people ( even Gent standards), maybe it is a conscious strategy for those who have no clue about food. Therefore, this becomes nothing but destroying the simplicity, abusing the minimalist cultural food codes in a fancy way of unrealistic food chauvinism.

Finally, never and never again. Even...