La Locanda sul Porto — Restaurant in Monopoli

We booked here expecting a nice meal. From the start it was unwelcoming: the manager (Gianne, older fellow) refused to show us to our table until we proved our booking. Not exactly a warm welcome. When ordering, we told him very clearly that my partner has a nut allergy. His response? A careless “It’s all good.” That’s not reassurance — that’s ignorance. We were served our starter (which, to be fair, tasted good) — but that’s what triggered my partner’s allergic reaction. She developed an itchy throat that worsened until she had to be sick in the toilets. This could have been far more serious. The shocking part: the manager did nothing. No apology, no concern, no attempt to help. Other guests offered us medicine and support. Imagine being in a restaurant where the people at the next table care more about your partner’s health than the manager in charge. The one saving grace was our waiter Patrick, who actually looked after us. Thanks to him we got through it, but it’s unacceptable that the restaurant’s “leader” stood back like nothing was happening. Yes, they comped our bill, but no amount of free food covers up risking someone’s health. And speaking of food: avoid their steak. Bland, lifeless, and frankly embarrassing. A uni student makes a better steak with the cheapest Aldi cut, with no cross-contamination — that alone should put the chef out of a job. This place is dangerous if you have allergies; it is badly run, and not worth your money. Until they overhaul their allergy procedures and management,...

Whilst the steak was decent (and much nicer than the seafood pastas we tried) what was the point when my partner and I had to eat it standing. We were offered the high table which seemed ok however after 10mins it became uncomfortable so we stood and ate, because half the restaurant was empty we asked if we can move (we wouldnt have asked otherwise), the response was as if we had asked for some kind of royal treatment..what became more frustrating is by the time the evening went on and and upto the point we left the restaurant was still half empty..we were left standing and eating at the front of the restaurant for no reason at all. One of the waiters even got spare seat and chairs out and put a table together that was left empty whilst we were there. This place has really poor management ..if it doesn't care about or prioritise it's non Italian customers that's one thing but to have your paying customers eating standing up whilst there are seats available is utterly despicable. Individually the staff were nice and attentive in other ways..this is why I make it a point to say very poor management. The photo uploaded is at the end of the meal and you can see my...

By the port, great views, but disappointing food and service. Unwelcoming, we went in smiling and greeting the waiters before mentioning we had a reservation, the waiters — cross-armed and passive, did not even bother to say good evening. The bread served: stale and hard. When taking the order, the waiter barely spoke (not because he was incompetent in english, but simply, by choice.) The food on the other hand, very mediocre. Ordered the Tuna Carpaccio, uneven slices and wasn’t great fish (overly fishy). Also had the calamarata pasta and the seafood cavatelli pasta. The cavatelli was way too salty and one of the worse ones we’ve had on the trip, and the calamarata pasta was overly chewy and slightly undercooked. The monkfish ragout was thick and lacked flavour. The most disappointing experience on our Puglia trip so far, shame it was also our last night in Monopoli. Go somewhere else where the waiters actually have interest in serving and the food meets the standard of what the...