Vino fritti e cucina — Restaurant in Ceglie Messapica

Came in on a Tuesday night in October, we were the only people in the place. Our waiter was our chef, a delightful chap, he proceeded to bring us about 10 different little plates of lightly fried food, like arancini, hush puppies, battered and fried anchovies and cod. There was also the traditional bacalà, artichoke hearts, sautéed olives, Capicola cured meat and delicious bread. We were washing this all down with a bottle of local Negromaro and if we hadn’t told him it was time to move on to the primi and secondi he would probably still be bringing us little plates. We split a wonderful pasta dish of orecchiette with a bright turnip greens sauce, and the braciola in a tomato sauce was our main dish. Once this was finished off, the torta di mandorle found its way to our table, and our waiter left a bottle of amaro and another of a homemade cherry liquor for us to drink as we please. So we did. A lovely meal in an adorable little spot all for €50, we took the long way back to the car to try to work off some of the...

To say I’m disappointed is an understatement! We shared the antipasti (on the menu as €15). What I didn’t know/understand is that it was €15 per person for a minimum of two people! Now don’t get me wrong, if it was worth €15 per person, I wouldn’t complain, but this wasn’t even worth €15 for one person! From memory, there were seven small dishes brought out comprising of (and forgive me if I don’t describe them poetically): 8 or so small potato polpette fish pâté/tartare fried olives two bite size arancini cheese fondue (basically melted cheese on a plate) 8 small pieces of battered fish 2 fried artichokes No dish was outstanding and I’m sorry, but I’m emphasising this again, it was not worth €30. So… my other half and I left feeling like we had been robbed!

If you do go, my advice - avoid the extremely expensive and underwhelming antipasti. Perhaps get a more reasonably priced (and hopefully more satisfying) plate of pasta. In hindsight, we...

Disappointing experience despite having read good reviews about this place. Menu consisting of a selection of antipasto - some of which were missing and poorly substituted (deep fried asparagus is not a worthy substitute for tuna tartare- whatever they may think). Very slow service. Over an hour’s wait from the first to the final antipasto. Poorly executed with small portions. 4 of us seated on a small table for 2, despite having made a reservation a few days prior. Competent but unfriendly service with a general disdain for customer service. Asked to see wine list and was informed there wasn’t one. So asked for prices - and curtly informed prices start at €15. How can you make informed choices or know what to expect to pay? Poor. Would...