La Talpa — Restaurant in Matera

La Talpa, nestled in the captivating setting of Matera, presents itself as a pizzeria, yet my recent lunch experience left me feeling it caters more towards tourists than those seeking an authentic Italian culinary experience. While the location itself is undoubtedly appealing, the offerings and policies left something to be desired. One of the most perplexing aspects of my visit was the unavailability of pizza during lunchtime. Despite clearly identifying as a pizzeria, the menu presented at midday focused on pasta dishes and other, generally more expensive, options. When I inquired about this, the explanation provided was unclear and ultimately unsatisfying. For a restaurant branding itself as a pizzeria, the absence of its signature dish during a standard mealtime is quite puzzling. The food I did sample was, in my opinion, average. While not offensive, it lacked the distinct flavors and quality I've come to expect from genuine Italian cuisine. It felt as though the dishes were geared towards a broader, less discerning palate, perhaps prioritizing speed and ease of preparation over authentic taste. The overall atmosphere seemed pleasant enough, likely benefiting from the unique charm of Matera itself. However, the focus appeared to be on capitalizing on the tourist traffic rather than delivering a truly authentic and satisfying Italian dining experience. In conclusion, while La Talpa benefits from its location, those seeking a genuine taste of Italy, particularly pizza for lunch, might find this restaurant to be an average and somewhat disappointing choice. It seems to prioritize a tourist-friendly approach over the culinary authenticity one might hope for in a city like Matera. edit: response of the...

While the quality of food was good the service was incredibly poor. The staff ran around confused and generated a most unwelcome and uninviting atmosphere. The manager was in a constant state of stress visibly arguing and criticizing other staff including the head chef in the kitchen. We had the fried vegetable plate, pumpkin garbanzo bean soup (which was lukewarm), and a salad. We were supposed to be served a pizza, but after waiting for more than an hour it never came. All the while we were completely ignored as pizzas were being delivered to other parts of the restaurant. Only when we got up to pay our bill and leave did the manager ask, what about your pizza? REALLY?? At no point was there any hint of an apology and in fact the attitude was, “this is how we roll here”. If this had occurred in my home country I would have been expected to walk out without paying a cent and told that manager to kiss my ass for ruining not only a dining experience but a whole evening. And by the way, we were not alone in how poorly this restaurant treats its guests this evening or in the past. Read the reviews and skip...

If I could give a zero I would. I cannot speak about the food because I don’t know but there are plenty of pizza places around that I don’t need to go to this one. The service is subpar. They put the profit ahead of the attention to the client, mistreat them and expect not to elicit a reaction. I’m traveling from California in poor health, we made a reservation for the night to dine outside and when we arrived there was no spot. They tried to convince me that they were justified because a group too big had arrived and they had to give them priority. Right… Priority because their profit would have been bigger with them than with us. When I explained I didn’t have a leisure to go walk around with my bad knee and that I had made an effort coming from California, they wished me a safe trip home. To that I couldn’t keep my cool anymore. And then they accused me to be rude! NEVER AGAIN! Do yourself a favor! Go somewhere else. In the end we went to the pizza place called Austin, excellent service and food.

Update: that’s a lie. Your collaborator was rude to me. But there you go! Thanks for...