Zia Leunora — Restaurant in Pula

Angry owner has no patience for his clients or his staff. Doesn’t like tourists. Probably doesn’t like many people. Read the negative reviews before you decide to gamble on this one.

We were enchanted as we arrived through pedestrian streets to a quaint and very local-frequented restaurant. In retrospect, I’d say things were already a bit off, as we seemed to be bothering the waiter(later discovered to be owner) by asking for a Prosecco suggestion.

Things further deteriorated when I asked if there was gluten free pasta. There was, of course, because Italy is amazing with food allergy protocols. But immediately you could tell he was more agitated than with the Prosecco.

A little background on us….we are foodies, planning entire vacations around eating. Spending nothing on hole in the walls or something on Michelins, we eat out A LOT. So we are pretty Open and patient and flexible. If gluten free was a problem I’d order something else. I was told they had it.

So…in comes a Spanish speaker, who hears us trying to communicate in our best Italian Spanish. He helps us choose a fish from the display, while his boss is standing by, very obviously annoyed with our lack of fish knowledge. You can tell the server is embarrassed and tries to placate the angry boss.

So we eventually get the order in, two sides of spaghetti, one gluten free, only olive oil, and a giant fish. Also, I’ve mentioned I can’t eat tomatoes just so they don’t sneak them in somewhere. Food alllergies again not well received.

Appetizers come. Though the owner said they are small portions….that was the furthest from the truth. The tuna tartare could be a main easily on its own. It was delicious too but we were already feeling this was going to be too much food when the pasta arrived. Not the side of pasta with olive oil we had ordered but a full dish…two giant clam and tomato spaghettis. Mine was gluten free but covered in tomatoes

When we mentioned this was not our order the poop hit the fan. The owner began yelling in Italian in front of everyone and from what I understood, he said this is the way pasta is served in Italy. They don’t do sides of pasta. It always comes just like this. LIE number two. Because we’ve eaten sides of pasta in Italy this very week.

Well we sat there in such shock that my poor husband said « that’s okay I’ll eat it » even though it’s not what he ordered AND is WAY too much food. I, of course, could not placate the boss, so I sat for 20 minutes watching my husband eat. I’m just SOL. Husband said, « I’m sad to say, but it’s delicious ». No replacement pasta ever came for me. As if they couldn’t make pasta with olive oil bc it’s against Italian standards.

Of course, After that moment service was obviously awkward. Boss man disappeared, our female waitress also (probably a relative) and the only guy left was the guy who spoke Spanish (who clearly felt so bad).

Anyway, the fish came. Scorpion fish. It was the actual fish we ordered (unlike other reviews where selected fishes were changed for lesser quality) AND it was delicious (unlike other reviews). My husband was no longer hungry because he had two main meals already. So I ate the fish.

But honestly, the rest of the meal was so uncomfortable bc of the way we were treated, there was no saving grace even with delicious food. We were never offered more water or another drink, we finished the 2nd main with no water. By the time the fish came we were talking about stopping for water on the way home.

We still ordered dessert bc we knew it was going to be good…and it was…the best tiramisu of the trip. Again…sadly. We asked for the tab which took 20 minutes and surprisingly did not include the mistake of the owner. So my review is much less scathing for this...

Absolutely best restaurant in Pula..As a business owner I take reviews with a grain of salt .. we have good and bad ones .. but many more good than bad..I Read some less than pleasant reviews … not sure where they came from .. this is the real deal , the top dog , best place to eat n Pula bar none.. had the crudo di mare ( raw seafood antipasto) … having 2000 years of coastal Adriatic blood on my veins I’ve gotta say this felt just like home ! Fresh , delightful, perfect accompaniment by the citrus ! Want to lick the plate…had the fregula alle vongole ( fregula with clams ) … the perfect combination of delectable clams and the outstanding Sardinian pasta ( fregula ) ! Wow ! After being here for 3 days I’ve gotta say I’ve finally had a meal conducive to the superior artisanal ingredients ubiquitous to the area! I’m ecstatic! Do yourself a favour and come ! And btw the service is great for this part of the world ! .. your in sardegna, slow down and melt into the peace and tranquility The location is the so fitting.. off the beaten path down a thousand year old street.. with a lovely vaulted ceiling inside and a beautiful...

I’ve had the pleasure of dining at Zia Leunora, and here’s my take on their dishes:

Polpo alla Diavola: This dish has a special taste, so be prepared for a more or less interesting surprise. My wife didn't like it at all and switched plate 🍽 with me. The octopus was well cooked , with just the right amount of spice.

Trancio di Ombrino: The fish cutlets in the seafood stew are nice and the flavors are interesting.

Tagliatelle della Zia Leunora: These homemade tagliatelle noodles were the best in our order. They’re cooked al dente and served with a flavorful sauce.

Homemade Tiramisu: End your meal on a sweet note with their tiramisu. Creamy, coffee-infused layers make this dessert a good ending of the dinner.

Overall, Zia Leunora offers a cozy ambiance, reasonable prices, and a variety of Italian and seafood dishes.  Our dog Toffee 🐕 🐶 was also welcomed and felt pretty well.  Overall I would rate the place as a good average so between 3 and 4 stars ✨ to be fair I will round it up to 4stars . If you’re in Pula, give it a...