Pulecenella — Restaurant in Massa Lubrense

We stumbled across this little mom-and-pop restaurant in Massa Lubrense, and I truly wish we hadn’t. What should have been a simple pizza dinner for our hungry kids turned into one of the worst dining experiences we’ve ever had in Italy. From the start, the service was appalling. We stood for nearly 10 minutes without so much as eye contact from the staff. The owner ignored us completely until we forced ourselves to ask if there was a table. Once seated, a young girl likely their daughter literally threw menus, glasses, and cutlery onto our table. We brushed it off with humor since she was a child, but in hindsight, it was a sign of what was to come. We were told there’d be a 20-minute wait for food. Reasonable enough. But after an hour and a half, not a single dish had appeared. Not the fries for our kids, not the pizzas, not the calzone, not even the grilled beef. Meanwhile, multiple tables who arrived long after us were served full meals within minutes. Takeout orders were filled in front of our eyes while our family sat there completely ignored. Each time we asked, the only response was “five minutes.” It was a blatant lie, repeated over and over. What made this even worse was the attitude: no apology, no explanation, no acknowledgment of how long we had been sitting there with children waiting to eat. Not a single person smiled or showed the slightest courtesy. When we finally gave up and asked to leave, they still charged us for the water and sodas, knowing full well they had kept us waiting for over 90 minutes with nothing to show for it. We walked down the street to another restaurant, ordered nearly the same meal, and had hot, fresh food on our table in under 15 minutes. That contrast speaks volumes. This wasn’t just slow service it was neglect, dishonesty, and complete disregard for paying customers. Whether our order was lost, ignored, or intentionally pushed aside, it doesn’t matter. The result was the same: a family left sitting, waiting, and treated as if we didn’t matter. If you value your time, your money, and even the most basic level of respect, avoid this place at all costs. There are so many incredible restaurants in Italy. Don’t waste your time going...

Wonderful family run restaurant. The owners are lovely. The food is some of the best in the area for half the price. The best pizza we had on the sorrento peninsula. Fantastic tomatoes and veg grown on their own land.

An attempt at Italian goes a long way here and the owner will love it and you for it.

We went 3 nights out of our 10 stayed in massa Lubrensse, get the timing right and you can watch the sun set behind Ischia whilst enjoying some gorgeous antipasti.

If you're in the area don't miss this place! It's a must!

Recommend: fried small fish (anchovies) Mixed meats Any pizza! (Italians always keep it simple, so when in Rome...) Grilled salciccia 🤤 And anything the owner recommends! (always get the local white wine)

Antipasti, prima piatta, secondo piatta and 1/2l craft of white wine usually came to aprox £60 for two. Cheap...

We wandered in here looking to have a more casual dinner out. Firstly, the service was very friendly and welcoming. The family atmosphere is lovely and it's a great location. We had the caprese salad to start, and the lady helping us was kind enough to give us foccacia to enjoy with it as well as the regular delicious bread to start. We also had gnocchi, ravioli, and steak that's from the family farm, which was recommended. Everything was delicious and we were so full that we had to take it home. We also had the house wine which we enjoyed more than our $100 bottle from another night out. There were many locals coming in for pizza during our dinner and we really enjoyed the vibe...