The Risto Pazzeria, Bari — Restaurant in Bari

I visited this restaurant twice. The first time I went there with my husband and we were truly delighted – the quattro formaggi pizza was delicious, and my husband’s pasta as well. On top of that, the atmosphere was fantastic: the owner sang famous Italian songs, even danced with guests – we really felt the warmth of true Italian hospitality and left with wonderful memories.

That’s why, during another trip to Italy, I convinced my friends to come here with me. Unfortunately, this time it turned out to be a big disappointment. The pizza crusts were burnt and hard, and from the very beginning the staff gave us the impression that we were not welcome to stay too long. Even though some of us were still eating and we had ordered another round of Aperol, we were told that if we didn’t order more food, we would have to leave the table because other customers were waiting. I felt like I was in a fast-food bar – poorly prepared food, pressure, and the rush to serve as many people as possible in the shortest time. The unique atmosphere from my first visit was completely gone.

In summary – the first visit was magical and full of Italian charm, but the second one was the exact opposite. I now have doubts about returning to this place during my next stay in Bari, because I’m not sure which side of the restaurant I would experience.

Edit.

Thank you for your reply. I understand that a restaurant needs to manage tables for new guests, and I respect that. However, the way it was communicated to us during my second visit with friends made us feel rushed and unwelcome, which completely ruined the atmosphere I had so warmly remembered from the first time.

During my first visit, the combination of delicious food, warm hospitality, and a truly Italian spirit made the evening unforgettable. That is exactly why I returned with my friends – I wanted them to experience the same magic. Unfortunately, the burnt pizzas and the pressure to leave the table quickly made us feel like we were in a fast-food place rather than in the charming restaurant I had previously recommended.

I also don’t understand why guests who order a drink or a bottle of wine should be treated as less important than those who order pizza. Does this mean we have to rush to finish our drinks or even leave them half-full just to give up the table?

Usually, when I go to a restaurant with my husband, we order starters, main courses, and after a short break, also dessert. This time, however, my friends and I didn’t even have the chance to finish our drinks before being told that unless we ordered more food, we had to leave the table. Such a message felt very inappropriate and immediately took away all the joy of the evening.

I would also like to add that during my first visit there were no free tables at all – the restaurant was full, and yet the staff managed to create a wonderful atmosphere without ever making us...

The food was good, but the service was very disappointing. Right after finishing our pizza and drinks, the table was cleared without anyone asking if we wanted anything else. We tried to get the waiter’s attention, but were ignored. When we finally asked to order tiramisu, we were told the waiter had to check with the boss because “this is a restaurant” and they needed our table for other guests.

We waited quite a while for the dessert, and during that time we overheard staff talking about our table. One waiter took our dessert order, while another came to ask if we were ready for the bill. There was no communication between the waiters, which was very confusing. Once the tiramisu was finally served, the plate was taken away almost immediately after we finished eating, leaving us no time to enjoy the meal.

We’ve been to Italy many times before and never experienced such a cold, unwelcoming attitude. Despite the good food, we wouldn’t recommend this place.

This experience was supposed to let us finish our trip with joy and a great time, but it was the opposite.

PS. It's impossible that you've already responded to my family's review, as the situation happened just yesterday and the review was written shortly after we left the restaurant. You might be confusing us with someone else, as nothing unusual occurred and we didn't even have any interaction. Respect works...

The food was good and it has a wonderful atmosphere, all in all I would be happy to give it 4 or 5 stars.. we went there twice during our stay. Unfortunately on both nights we were overcharged for our meals. They don't give an itemised bill, instead you just get a sum written on a piece of paper. I never thought about it the first night, but when the bill arrived the second night and was exactly the same amount I grew suspicious. When I went home I totted up what we ought to have paid each night (frlm the prices on their online menu) and we were overcharged by €5 the first night and €7 the second night - this is taking into account the €2 service charge per person. I feel disappointed because I don't believe it could have been accidental two nights in a row. We also left a very generous tip each night, so between the overcharging, the service charge and our tip they got an extra €14 - €16 each night. We have been travelling around Italy for 5 weeks and we've always been provided with an itemised bill and we have never been overcharged elsewhere. My advice would be to keep a very close eye on what you're being charged and ask for an...