00 Doppiozero — Restaurant in Lecce

This is the review that has been reposted after the owner's reply to my initial one as I believe it is fair to update the assessment after a third visit yesterday. The atmosphere is very cool and warm. Kitchen is offering a menu basically centered on mediterranean recipes. We tried several things and they were of good quality. Wine selection is very good with a remarkable offer for the Antinori wines. Entering the place, we noticed several vintages of great Antinori wines such as the Tignanello. At the glass, they offer a selection that is only reported on a board entering the place. On 3 different visits we needed to insist with the waiters to be told which wines they had. None of them remember the winemakers and more than a couple wines. This is a pity, considering that some of the wines offered at the glass are very interesting as the D'Arapri that none of the waiters remembered was offered at the glass. I am specifically reporting this as the owner insisted on the fact that the wines are "well written on a board". The places has different rooms and the board is only at the entrance. The prices are fairly high, compared to similar places in the region. The owner replied that he disagrees, but we had various experiences in many parts of the region and we cannot avoid confirming that they are fairly high. Being the majority of the visitòts we found in 3 nights tourists, this is understandable. Especially considering that a good number was from abroad where prices are definitely much higher. The owner invited us to come in winter when there are mainly locals, of course. The point on the prices remains. Especially if you are ordering a bottle of wine, be prepared to pay as in a similar place in downtown Milan or Rome. A good place that is still...

Went here on Friday evening for some apperitivo and drinks on our honeymoon - one waitress told us not to sit on the main area but instead to sit on some seats off to the side. We obliged, sat down and started looking at the menu online (no one came to show us a physical menu for at least 15mins) when they eventually did a different waiter came over to tell us we were sat on a table that was reserved on 30mins time. When we asked if there was somewhere else we could sit he said no and walked away. There were several tables free so this felt insulting. I asked the original waitress if we could have a different table she said this was only possible if some couples who were sitting at 4 person tables (simply 2 person tables pushed together) would let us share. A lovely Italian couple invited us over to sit at their table which we thanked them for and began to do at which point the waitress decided this was not ok and claimed the table could only be used for 4 people. The couple explained they were happy for us to sit with them but the waitress - with no explanation - claimed this wasn’t allowed. We asked why - the couple also asked why and she just explained we couldn’t say. This felt like a discriminatory attack - I was reduced to tears and left. When there is space at a restaurant and they go above and beyond to make you leave even with othwr guests trying to help you stay and are confused as to why the staff are making up excuses for you to leave - it t is very hurtful. No food would be worth how they made us feel - would advise no one to ever visit. The discrimination...

Buyer beware .. no welcomes or goodbyes from the staff here, you’ll be lucky just to catch their attention to make an order, pay your bill, or walk out of here without getting ripped off. The place is geared towards tourists so they should have every incentive to be welcoming towards the non-Italians. We stopped in for essentially a pasta dish split for two adults, a beer for me, and a lunch for little one. Ordered two fried eggs for little one and they tried billing us for the €9 “Fried eggs with black truffle” when we had been served no truffle and no bread on the side. It was reduced to €6 when I said something .. they thought they could get away with €9 for two sunny side ups! In addition there were multiple surprise cover charges .. €2 per adult cover when no bread or anything of the sort was brought to the table and €2 for a bottle of filtered tap water .. €6 in total. It’s a shame really as the Orecchiette with turnip greens and anchovies was quite good, as was the craft beer .. and the decor was enticing and charming .. but the disdainful attitude towards the customers’ purse spoils any of that.

Update - the restaurant posted a response to the effect that "the receipt shows we didn't rip them off as much as we could have" -...