Urban l'assassineria urbana — Restaurant in Bari

Brief Update - The restaurant replied (see below) but they only addressed the fact it was hot outside, they failed to answer any other issue, presumably because they have no answers.

If you hate money and love bad food and service then I highly recommend this restaurant.

Reserved table for four for a Saturday night. I got an email confirming but stating the restaurant had no air-conditioning, which we accepted.

When we arrived the half empty restaurant was lovely and cool. When I mentioned I was happy they do in fact have air conditioning I was told that we would have to sit outside (in 33 degree weather). I calmly queried the empty tables and was told they were all booked.

So we sat outside and ordered. The food was average at best and the portions were minuscule. Each taco was about the size of a match box (you get two for 6 Euro) and the contents consisted of raw salmon on what looked and tasted like Philidelphia cheese. The Cod Croquettes were all exact same shape and texture so I presume they were bought in frozen.

The waitress who served us appeared to hate us. We were pleasant from the outset so unsure why this was ... perhaps because she had to leave the lovely cool restaurant to go outside into the furnace to bring us our food? Either way she slammed down the dishes, scowled and generally let us know she was not happy we were there. As always we responded with nothing but kindness, eventually this tactic paid off and we got a begrudging thank you in reply.

The male waiter who took our order was a lot more pleasant, but he forgot to order my main course. When we asked where it was he was very apologetic and offered to get it, but by this stage we were hot, disappointed in the food we had received and unsettled by the waitresses behaviour so we told him it was okay to leave it.

I went into pay (72 Euro for 2 starters and 2 mains) and saw the restaurant was still half empty. I mentioned this to the person taking the bill, they shrugged and said the tables were reserved. I asked for what time as they had been empty from the time we arrived till now and they shrugged again. I explained I was unhappy with the service and that my main had not been ordered, I got another shrug as they took the full 72 Euro.

By now I was genuinely confused - I don't think it was personal (we were pleasant throughout) - maybe it is because we were tourists (the majority of those made sit outside were either foreign or solo diners). It could be that they sit us in the heat and treat us badly knowing we leave quickly so they can have higher turnover or maybe they were just having a bad night.

I actually emailed them two days later to complain but never got a response. I did get two email surveys asking how they did and I filled them in including my email, but again, heard nothing back and I suspect I will hear nothing from them when this review is posted.

So I can only assume the above is due to arrogance. The restaurant has forgotten than it exists because of customers. It believes it is beyond reproach, that people will be willing to put up with any level of bad food and service just to have a chance to frequent it.

We had some amazing meals in Bari and felt genuinely welcomed by so many restaurants, but Urban L'assassineria was by far our worst experience eating out in Italy so if you are looking for somewhere to go, I highly recommend you avoid this place...

While researching our stay in Italy we stumbled upon a television program produced by Actor Stanley Tucci called "A Taste of Italy" whose Bari episode featured a visit to Urban. It looked really good, so we decided to include it in our upcoming stay in Bari.

We were able to be seated without a reservation that particular night, but i'd still recommend getting one. Their website is easy to use. The staff was friendly and courteous, quite a few speaking English better than my broken Italian.

They start with a delicious pre appetizer that you simply have to experience. We had the Sweet Potato fries for the starter, which I'm normally not a fan of, but theirs were delicious. Not sure if it's an Italian thing (Different Potatoes in America?) but they were just amazing.

For the Primo I had the Spaghetti Al'Assassina Classic version, My partner the Al'Assassina 2.0 which comes with Stracciatella cheese. IF you think it will be too spicy for you, don't worry, it's not. I'm not a fan of too much spice, and this was just perfect. I know they have spicier versions on the menu, if that's what you choose, but the Classico was just fantastic. One of the most unique pasta dishes we'd tried anywhere, and just Delicious.

For the Secondo we shared a plate of their insane bombette. So crispy and light and yet meaty and rich, just Fantastic.

We later decided that the night before we flew home we wanted this to be our last meal in Italy, so we once again dropped in, this time they had to squeeze us in,(again, RESERVATION!), but it was just as good. This time I also had the 2.0 with the Stracciatella, and Oh wow, the levels it added were...

Our visit to Urban L'Assassineria Urbana was a dining experience that was both nostalgic and thrilling, made all the more special by our personal connection to the dish. Our son introduced us to spaghetti all’assassina long before Stanley Tucci’s celebrated visit to this now-famous spot, and it was a real treat to savor this iconic dish in Bari, the very town where it was born.

The spaghetti all’assassina itself lived up to every expectation. Unlike traditional pasta, this dish is pan-fried to create a caramelized, crispy exterior while remaining saucy and rich on the inside. The slightly spicy tomato sauce had a depth and intensity that can only come from the combination of slow-simmered, high-quality tomatoes and a secret blend of spices that gave the dish its distinct heat. There’s an art to getting that perfect "burnt" flavor without crossing the line, and Urban L’Assassineria has it down to a science.

The restaurant's ambiance was a fitting backdrop to the meal: modern, vibrant, and as lively as the dish it’s known for. Urban L'Assassineria takes pride in the origins and traditions of Bari, which we felt in every bite.

Eating spaghetti all’assassina in Bari wasn’t just about the taste; it was an immersion into the culinary culture of the city, connecting us to local traditions with a shared passion for a dish that Miles had made so familiar...