Al Pescatore — Restaurant in Bari

My friends in Bari recommended this fish restaurant and it did not disappoint Warning long post and also please make a reservation if you want to eat here especially on a busy Sunday afternoon. We almost didn't get to enjoy this fabulous lunch experience. This was one of our "splurge" meals where we decided not to worry about the prices and just order food and wine and sit back and enjoy! We are finding that order the expensive mixed antipasto fish dishes (mix to) are the best value and a great way to sample many different items. We had so much it's hard to remember but perhaps the photos will help tell the story. One of the highlights from this trip to Italy in terms of food has been the raw shrimp Gamberini crudo.. Especially the tiny ones - although all are good, we have really enjoyed the tiny ones the best both here in Bari at La Pescatore and also in Sardinia too! At Pescatore we ordered a mixed crudo seafood and received so many dishes I lost count. We also had a risotto d'mare - which was our first risotto on this trip (every other place has been out of risotto when we've tried to order). It was so tasty with tiny local clams and al dente rice! I think there was also some delicious red shrimp but again, lost track of the specifics. Our bottle of wine - which from our NYC perspective was a bargain, a local rose was light, tart and fruity - recommended from the table next to us, who generously shared a sip with Chef Andrew and who indulged us in answering many questions about the food and the local area. In fact they recommended for us the excellent dinner we had that night in a nearby town about 30 minutes further south which we would have never thought of without their help. It was a bit hot at the table outside - my right arm was in the sun, but we were so happy that they accommodated us in a VERY busy very FULL of locals restaurant - that it was soon forgotten as the delicious food, charming service (the waiters joked with us, even with limited English from them and almost no Italian from us) and were quick and professional. LOVE. And highly recommended! The huge lobsters on display look so tempting but we weren't ready to mortgage our first born (yet). ...

It was likely late in the evening, and the staff may have wanted to go home. However, it's not the customer's responsibility to figure out why the staff is unfriendly.

Let's set aside the emotions and focus on constructive criticism that can be helpful:

How should we greet customers? While it's fine for customers to choose their own table, it shouldn't feel like an inconvenience. I recommend at least pointing them in the direction of the available tables for a more welcoming experience.

How should we set the table? Knife, fork, and spoon have specific placements. If you're unsure where they go, at least take the time to arrange them neatly. Dropping them haphazardly, as if it's a game of Mikado, is not appropriate.

How should we respond to questions like "What's the fish of the day?" or "What can you recommend?" Don’t be thrown off by these questions—you work in the restaurant, so you're familiar with the menu. (Hint: Anything that sells well is usually a good recommendation!) Some customers just want to know your specialties. It's not a strange or offensive question, so there’s no need to react with confusion or irritation.

How should we pour wine? I enjoy a generous pour too, but if you're curious about the proper way to do it, YouTube is a great resource. That said, your generous servings are appreciated! You can also learn which side to serve from if you want to improve the presentation.

Regarding the food:

How should we prepare and present octopus? I understand octopus can be tricky. But crumbling it together on a plate looks like what we did when our parents let us cook seafood at age 10. Try spreading out the legs and grilling them so they don’t stick together. To make it tender and not as chewy as gum, I highly recommend checking out some tutorials online.

Seeing the deiverse comments you have on google, you also have som excelent reviews and positive feedback!

So, there migth be a reason why some days are better for you and others are not. Evaluate what the reason for this might be and take...

*TOURISTS BEWARE * You will be treated with utter contempt at this so called dining establishment. We had to wait nearly 2 hours to be served our food (only after a prompt from our colleague), which turned out to be incomplete (missing pasta dish and spuds). What was more disappointing than the food was the clear lack of care and service towards customers. A colleague was accused of ordering a main dish without a constituent element (being spuds) which was not true. When a compromise was attempted to be reached with regards to the bill, the primary waiter became aggressive,almost verging upon physical violence. We came to this restaurant because we were excited about the fresh fish and produce on offer -in reality, we were met with a thuggish demeanour. I would urge every tourist in Bari to stay well clear of this establishment because you will be treated as an inferior sub class.

One can only hope the establishment learns from this experience and becomes more adept with treating customers with a basic ounce of respect. To be clear, customer service is the bedrock of all restaurant experiences regardless of which country you are in, the main waiter/manager would do well to learn this lesson.

Local Bari residents consoled the group after this experience- a welcome consolation in light of this...