Read this review if you're not local.

As one might notice, I'm not a very active reviewer. It's those edge cases - either very good or very bad - that pique my inspiration to review, write and inform other fellow visitors in the area.

This place was recommended to us by a local.

I shall start by saying that whilst I'm not an Italian myself, I've lived in the country for some time to understand many different cultural aspects and dynamics of Italian life, obviously speaking and understanding the Italian language myself.

One might think why all this introduction is relevant for a Google review of a rather non-special, pretty ordinary yet recommended trattoria in Lecce. The short answer is that it sets the scene.

We went for lunch on Wednesday. It was around 12:40, the place just opened and there was one Italian couple in front of us waiting to be seated. The waitress - who is the main antagonist in this review - approached us with a warm greeting in English and gave us English menus. We continued the conversation in English. We had roughly three minutes to chose. We were rushed. When I asked whether the red wine she had recommended (which goes well with roasts, meats and other types of similar dishes etc.) will go well with a seafood pasta, the response was 'It is going to be just perfect'. This type of red wine does not go with seafood. And then she took the menus away. I was in for the game.

The place started to fill up with locals and several other foreigners. The same waitress' attitude towards locals was completely different. Better recommendations, more offers, better and rational suggestions, no rush, even a little chit chat - everything one would expect from a good service - were all notable. She was visibly arrogant towards people who, according to her rather uneducated guesses, were foreign. It felt, and actually was, discriminatory. Also, her ignorance was rather perfectly evidenced in a moment of embarrassment when she had guessed incorrectly that a couple of ladies were foreigners, gave them English menus and started going through the same drill in English as she did with us, when in fact one of the guests interrupted and started talking to her in Italian. The change of the waitress' attitude was pretty amusing.

The food itself was pretty good, but nothing really special. We were rushed through antipasti. Pasta was served whilst still finishing our antipasti. We got our coffees served whilst still finishing our bottle of wine - clearly not what we had asked for. It wasn't pleasant at all.

Hope this long-winded post will be useful to my fellow non-Italian visitors. Please think twice if you're looking for a local food and experience. Especially whilst this waitress will be serving the guests, there are better alternatives elsewhere. A lesson for me is that sometimes, a tourist trap is defined not by the quality of food one gets, but by the professionalism and attitude of people who work there. If you're non-local, take your service elsewhere.

It is not the type of atmosphere and 'attention' one wants to get whilst enjoying the city/region or the country itself. It is unfortunate and disappointing to be treated like this. It was not welcoming. It is not the Italy I know. Shame on you.