L'Antica Credenza — Restaurant in Matera

I would like to preface this by saying that in the 15 days we have travelled Italy (several regions) we have had made locals and host remark on how friendly amd polite we are while also being amazed at the effort we put into learning their language before coming. So we are certainly not like some other tourists and we certainly don’t expect service “like home” My review is based in comparison to all other Italian towns and cities we have visited do far.

The server was mostly polite, what was on the menu suggested beef rib with a herb balsamic glaze. The server said “medium rare” I agreed but dis think it an odd statement for ribs. My friend ordered the meatballs. What arrived for me was a thin steak pale brown, it was so well cooked it was as chewy as shoe leather- completely inedible.

My friend was able to eat her dish but the texture and taste seemed to be very frozen meal/pre packaged. I sat my ‘steak’ aside with cutlery together. Despite the main server and 2 others walking past 4 times no one stopped to ask about the meal or at very least clear it away.

I went in to pay and had to queue, it was only at this time the main server came to ask my friend why the meal wasn’t eaten and she said it was yucky as we didn’t know the word for chewy or inedible. He made no attempt to apologise or ask to understand. No attempt made at counter to discount meal or show any sort of good will gesture. We are not the type to make a scene so i paid and left to get food elsewhere. We have been to places like Positiano - and despite being expensive their food was good. This place was on the slightly cheaper end but the food was terrible so in that sense it was an incredible waste of money. I wouldn’t go back and wouldn’t recommend to non locals (seemed very popular...

Very cool place to stop to eat some Matera food. Great Matera soup Cialledda Fredda, meat balls polpette al sugo; great panini with octopus, it was very tender and bread was very soft. Momerj panini was very good. Service was little odd: waiter was complaining he was alone so could not be as fast as he wanted and also using a sense of humor we did really understand l, but in the end it was ok. Tables little small. Toilet cannot always use, little dirty. Food as said is incredible. Thumbs up but not full star for service. We did ask for Weiss beer and was not properly...

Walked around to find a bathroom. As it turns out, the public bathrooms are coin operated and the one we found near this cafe was locked. So, we came in for a drink and use their bathroom, after a number of restaurants don't have one, (what gives?) This cafe had a clean bathroom and the drinks were very reasonably priced. Got a local craft beer for 5 Euros, (regular price beers are around 3). Not a tourist trap. Sat outside across the church of Purgatory watching people go by, while the wife search for our...