Dolia Gaeta — Restaurant in Gaeta

If I could give this place ZERO stars, I would.

I don’t write reviews often — only when I’ve had an exceptional experience, or when something goes so poorly that I feel compelled to warn others. Unfortunately, this is the latter.

We stumbled upon this restaurant during a one-night stopover in Gaeta, Italy. With no dinner plans, we were drawn in by a Michelin plaque displayed at the front — naturally, we assumed we were in for something special. What followed was easily one of the worst dining experiences of my life.

We were told they were “very busy” and could only accommodate us during the first seating — yet the restaurant never filled. Only two other guests came through the doors the entire evening. When we inquired about the Michelin plaque, the waiter admitted they didn’t actually have a star — they were just “on the road” to one. Let me tell you: this place is miles away from earning that kind of distinction.

The food? Disgraceful. I ordered a Niçoise salad — a simple, classic dish — and received something truly unacceptable. The green beans were mushy, the tuna was canned (and full of scales), and the whole thing tasted like it came from a supermarket shelf, not a restaurant striving for excellence. My husband’s pasta with mussels was equally disappointing. The mussels were served out of the shell (which is not traditional), tasted far from fresh, and neither of us finished our mains.

We politely sent the dishes back, expecting at the very least a professional response. Instead, the chef stormed out of the kitchen and screamed at us — yes, screamed — claiming his seafood was fresh and aggressively waving purchase receipts in our faces (please see attached photos of the man I’m referring to). The worst part? As a young woman, every ounce of his anger was directed at me, while my husband was completely ignored. It was degrading, intimidating, and deeply upsetting. I left the restaurant in tears.

They initially offered to remove just one main from our bill, even though we hadn’t eaten either. We had to argue to have both mains removed, and after some back-and-forth, they finally agreed. At one point they even said, “Let us make it up to you — we’ll prepare something different.” But after the experience we’d had — from the unappetizing starter to both inedible mains — we didn’t want to risk it. We were genuinely afraid of getting sick from this food and just wanted to leave.

The entire exchange was hostile and shocking.

I’ve traveled the world and had the privilege of dining in true Michelin-starred restaurants across Japan, Thailand, France, Spain, Canada, America, the Caribbean, and beyond — and never, not once, have I experienced something as offensive and unprofessional as this. From the terrible food to the appalling service, this place isn’t just far from a Michelin star — it’s in a completely different galaxy.

The number one rule in hospitality is: the customer is always right. The way we were treated was absolutely disgusting. You never know who you’re speaking to — so be kind. Because karma? It...

We sadly do not share the many positive recommendations for Dolia. Maybe it is because we went there after the holiday season or because we went there on a thursday.

We ate the 4 course dinner, 1 wine pairing 1 glas of wine and a bottle of water for 185€.

The waitress was friendly but emotioneless - she just rapidly went through the text she must have memorized 1:1 before to explain about Dolia and the owner - which apparently has had a Michelin star before. It set the bar higher but Dolia for a reason is not a 1-star restaurant in our oponion (anymore?).

The starters where nice, the bread and cream cheese also very great.

The wine pairing was good and was benefiting the courses.

The presentation of all the courses was great, also the plates. The cutlery was all scratched up, but that does not matter for us.

The first course was anchovies cream with sea urchin - it had a great texture and tasted like the sea. We liked it a lot. Maybe put a small piece of sea urchin on top to try soly, because that is something I could never try before - I just saw it in videos.

The second course was raw fish with a pepper dip. Both the taste of the wine and the fish completely were covered by the way to hot pepper sauce. The dish lacked depth overall - the quality of the fish was great tho.

The third course was the pasta with lobster sauce. It was more like a lobster soup, the texture was great. My pasta was a little undercooked, but not bad. The lobster sauce was also very flat, lacked flavor and spices. The piece of lobster tail was raw and didnt fit the consistency of the pasta. Maybe if it was cooked a bit more. A real No-Go was, that there was lobster skin on my piece which I had to spit out again.

The last dish was monk fish with pak choi. It also completely lacked spices or taste - I dont like too much salt, but please, add just a little! The fish was also not cooked through. At first I was quite impressed by the texture and that the fish did not fall apart. Later I was disgusted by a piece of tendon which I also could not swallow - No-Go(2).

In one sentence - the ingredients are good but the outcome was bland. It was not an experience, but rather dull dishes.

Sry for the quite negative but very...

Dolia, situated in Gaeta, offers an extraordinary dining experience that marries the comforting essence of familiar flavors with innovative twists inspired by the chef's international journeys. The dishes are not only scrumptious but also visually striking, making each meal a multisensory treat.

The presentation of the food is captivating and contributes to the overall pleasure of the dining experience. The quality of the ingredients is top-notch, and the chef's inventiveness in assembling them demonstrates a genuine passion for the culinary arts. The menu takes inspiration from classic dishes while incorporating a personal, enjoyable spin.

It's evident that the chef places a higher emphasis on the artistry of cooking rather than just operating a restaurant. This makes Dolia an exceptional choice for a satisfying and unforgettable dining experience. If you're looking for a creative, well-executed fusion of familiar flavors with a keen attention to detail, don't miss out on Dolia in Gaeta....