Vini Menhir Salento S.R.L. — Restaurant in Minervino di Lecce

This wasn’t our first time visiting your restaurant. We’ve always been impressed by the quality of service, the exquisite dishes, and the perfectly paired wines that complemented the tasting menus. Each visit had left us feeling delighted, and we would often purchase several bottles of wine for our collection. Naturally, when we learned that the restaurant had earned a Michelin recommendation, our expectations were even higher. We invited a group of friends to celebrate my husband’s birthday, eager to share what had been one of our favorite spots. The reservation was made last year in anticipation of this special night.

Before arriving, we informed the restaurant that we intended to have a lively celebration, asking if we could be seated in a more private area. While we were not explicitly told the seats were unavailable, it was clear they chose not to seat us elsewhere, despite the restaurant not being fully booked. This felt disappointing, as it seemed entirely possible to accommodate our request.

Regarding the food: while one could argue about whether the flavors were spectacular (as taste is subjective), the ingredients were undoubtedly top-notch, and the presentation was beautiful. We had a tasting menu for eight people. However, the experience was marred by the service, which unfortunately did not live up to expectations.

At the start of the evening, we were informed that our favorite waiter was no longer with the restaurant, but reassured that we were in capable hands. As the evening unfolded with great food and wine, we were enjoying ourselves. But soon things took a turn. The courses were being served before the wine, and often, due to the small portions, our plates were empty by the time the wine arrived. The pairing fell completely out of sync. While the waiter described the wine, no one explained the dishes, leading to confusion at the table—a chaotic experience overall.

At one point, a guest from the nearby table approached us, claiming we were too loud, which led to tension between our tables. I agree that the staff did nothing to diffuse the situation, which likely escalated the conflict. To make matters worse, just before dessert, our waiter stood in front of us and openly complained that we had been a problem all evening. This was the breaking point for us. Instead of discreetly addressing the issue with our host, the waiter chose to publicly reprimand us in front of everyone, like schoolchildren. It was deeply unprofessional, and his tone was incredibly unpleasant.

That was when we decided to leave the restaurant without finishing the meal. It was simply too much to tolerate, especially on such a special occasion.

Meanwhile, three new couples were seated near us—perhaps hoping for a quiet, romantic evening—but the blame falls on the management for seating them so close to our lively group, when there were quieter sections available. When you’re out with friends celebrating a special occasion, you want to enjoy the moment, not feel like you’re walking on eggshells. After all, isn’t Italy synonymous with great food, wine, and lively conversation? If the goal is to turn the restaurant into a museum-like atmosphere, there is a long way to go, especially when it comes to service.

In our view, this place has lost its magic.

My response to management answer:

I am deeply disappointed by your response and strongly disagree with the accusations you have made. First and foremost, the bill was fully settled, so your insinuation that it remains unpaid reflects very poorly on the professionalism of your establishment. Such claims are completely unfounded and offensive.

Additionally, the situation was clearly mishandled by your manager, who did not effectively address the concerns that arose during our visit. I would appreciate it if you could address my entire previous message, rather than sidestepping the issues I raised. Our expectations for the evening were high, particularly due to your Michelin recommendation, but unfortunately, the overall experience fell far short of...

We had been planning my 51st birthday celebration at the Menhir Salento restaurant for almost a year, excited to enjoy my favourite wine, produced by the winery that owns the restaurant, along with a delicious meal. This was my third visit, and I have been purchasing their wine for over a decade, always being a great fan. Furthermore, we were thrilled that the restaurant had received recognition from the Michelin Guide. Our group consisted of eight people, and we were all looking forward to a memorable evening.

Unfortunately, what should have been a special celebration turned into a disappointment. A group of customers from the USA, who were dining in the same room, began to complain that our table was being too loud. First, after many years of travelling across Italy, I’ve learned that meals in Italy are a time for lively conversation and joy, not for sitting in silence. Second, before dinner, one of my friends asked the staff if we should be seated elsewhere to avoid disturbing other guests, but we were assured that it wasn’t necessary. Third, the American table was equally loud, particularly a lady dressed in white. It’s unclear why they felt entitled to impose their behaviour on us.

The choice of this restaurant was based on my previous wonderful experiences, but unfortunately, I now find myself agreeing with the gentleman from the other table—on this occasion, the service failed us in many ways. The staff didn’t handle the situation effectively, allowing it to escalate unnecessarily. My guests eventually decided to pay the bill, and we left without finishing the tasting menu with wine pairing, which ruined my birthday.

Moreover, the overall quality of the service was far below what I experienced in the past. In previous visits, the staff was impeccably dressed, and Antonio, in particular, was a star—sadly, he no longer works there. This time, the food and wine were poorly coordinated, and no explanations were provided about what we were eating or drinking.

I believe the restaurant needs to decide whether it wants to become a very posh place where guests dine in silence, which would require changes to both staff and clientele, or remain a typical Italian osteria where people enjoy fantastic food and wine in a lively atmosphere.

What saddens me most is the owner’s response, stating that we are no longer welcome in the restaurant. I find this reaction inappropriate, and to make matters worse, the comment from Kris seemed copied directly from the ‘American’ table, shared by one of my friends.

I hope this feedback will help the owners realise the mistakes made, as I believe this restaurant has the potential to return to the high standards I once knew and greatly appreciated.

Edit after the restaurant’s response:

Before leaving, we settled the bill that was presented to us by the staff. As proof of this, I have attached the receipts with payment confirmation. To suggest that our behaviour was an issue is, frankly, a serious misunderstanding. As I mentioned earlier, the problem arose when we were repeatedly admonished by other guests who, in fact, were not behaving perfectly themselves. While their behaviour did not bother us, their self-assumed right to lecture us did.

It is deeply disappointing that the staff failed to manage this situation appropriately. We were not there to cause trouble; we were there to celebrate a special occasion in a place I had long held in high regard. Instead, the evening was soured by the inability to defuse a situation that should have been handled discreetly and professionally.

I expected much more from a restaurant that had always offered me great experiences in the past. It’s a shame that this lack of attentiveness from the staff ultimately led to a ruined evening and tarnished what should have been a joyous...

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I thoroughly enjoyed the careful wine pairings with the dishes. each course was accompanied by a glass of locally produced wine. I noticed and appreciated the great attention in the choice of raw materials, the egg for example was one of the dishes I liked the most, served with sponsale and roasted yellow tomato. the eggs were km0, from local hens. Even the rabbit souse, with which they prepared the ragù for the first course, was cooked with locally produced animals. We ate an amazing Pasta Mafalda with meat souse and dry tomatoes.

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