Osteria del Tempo Perso

I visited Osteria del Tempo Perso with high expectations based on its reputation and charming location in the heart of Ostuni. The ambiance of the restaurant is intimate and cozy, with a rustic cave-like interior that definitely adds to the Southern Italian charm. The food was good, though nothing particularly memorable. The beef tartare with truffle was the highlight of the meal—well-presented and flavorful. However, the lamb racks left much to be desired; they were under-seasoned and lacked depth. A touch more care in seasoning would have elevated the dish significantly. One major downside was the rushed pacing of the meal. I received a message insisting I arrive exactly on time, and from the moment I sat down, I felt hurried. The staff were attentive, but too eager—taking our order immediately upon arrival, bringing out the starters within two minutes, and delivering the mains the moment we finished the appetizers. There was no breathing room, and the whole dinner felt pressured and transactional rather than relaxed and enjoyable. In short: good food, great location, but the experience was rushed. With a more relaxed approach to service and attention to seasoning, this place could be fantastic.

We came on a friday, easter week in mid april. While walking around we came and asked if we could reserve for tonight and they had a place for 7.30pm. We were very lucky to get a place. We stayed until 9.30 actually since it was not the peak season we ate calmly. They offer a starter upon arrival, fried balls with cheese and pieces meat. Very tasty. We ordered an antipasti later “zucchini flowers filled with ricotta”, it was very soft and delicious. I’d recommend ordering it. I ordered beef and it was cooked perfectly, so soft, easy to eat and topped with some rucola, cherry tomatoes and cheese. Tiramisu was so soft! The ambiance, attention to detail in the plates, elegant decorations were very nice. The staff was friendly. We were on the second room which looked quite nice and cosy. Eating in a cave is an experience here so I’d recommend reserving a table here. It is also perfect for a romantic date if you are looking for a place to surprise your partner!

One of the best, if not the best, restaurants I’ve been to in Puglia. From the moment you step inside, the atmosphere feels special. Housed in a beautiful stone cave, it’s full of character and far less touristy than other spots in Ostuni. Everything from the presentation to the decor is thoughtfully done. The staff were friendly and attentive, even though the place was busy. We dined in the second room, which was intimate and cozy, perfect for a romantic evening. If you’re in Ostuni, this is a must-visit. Book in advance if you can, and try to get a table in the cave, it’s an experience in itself.

Lovely staff and amazing food. The interior design is also outstanding. Even though it’s a restaurant to be known as touristic, it’s 100% worth the hype. Def recommend it and don’t forget to book it.

we were lucky to get a table on very short notice (i recommend making a reservation in advance!). service was fantastic! fava beans spread and the orecchiette (ordered without anchovies to make it vegan) as well as the wine were all delicious!

Delicious meal and we were happy to get a table on the same day. The food was very good although we felt rushed through the meal. The servers take your order and appetizers come quickly. We got the zucchini flowers and calamari fritti, which were very good. They do two seatings at 730 and 9 and make it known you have to arrive on time so they can have the next table ready.

Our 2nd visit, 5 years after our 1st. The food remains superb. A delightful tuna tartare ( shown) and truly fantastic pasta, finished by the best lemon sorbet I have had. Service was quick. The wine list really good. Plus they now have a cocktail bar next door for a pre-dinner drink, which has some innovative cocktails; the Motel Milano was wonderful.

Lovely restaurant tucked into a cave. Well decorated. Believe it or not they had gluten free bread and gluten free pasta available and the staff was knowledgeable on options available.

Nice restaurant, casual but elegant yet still relaxed. The food was very good but seeing that it was mostly foreigners as patrons, the prices kinda reflect that. We had the eggplant parmigiana and the ricotta stuffed zucchini flowers to start, both ok. We also tried the sea urchin and vongole pastas. Both were tasty but a bit on the salty side. The staff was great, friendly, attentive and helpful.

A place for American tourists. Extremely mediocre food in different service relatively reasonable prices however pasta, gummy and ill prepared sliced steak and arugula tough cheese, appetizer, undistinguished, hard and tasteless however, very large wine selection.

This restaurant is on the tourist path in Ostuni, which is one of the busier towns in Puglia. So this may have been one of the busiest restaurants we went to in all of Puglia, but it's worth the visit. Make a reservation, and ask to dine in the cave, which is quite cool. We started off many of our meals in Puglia with a charcuterie and cheese platter, and did the same here. The highlight on this platter was the burrata, so delicious and creamy. We shared a bottle of Rose, which we discovered was our favorite of the local wines, and enjoyed handmade pasta and the pork ribs. The porks ribs are a must get, the flavors are amazing and the meat super tender. The best part is the little ice cream bon bond they serve after the meal. You don't order them, but you wish you could because I would have eaten a dozen. This place is full of tourists, but it was a tasty meal and nice representation of Pugliese cuisine.

A beautiful restaurant inside a cave, the food here is fantastic and definitely worth a visit. The big orecchiette w/ burrata, yellow tomatoes, and bacon was just that - but the sauce was fantastic and the bacon's crisp texture added another layer to the flavors and textures of the dish. The Straccetti di Podolica was equally delicious, with the sauce and artichoke providing a delectable experience. Highly recommended and worth a return visit.

Was recommended but we were totally disappointed. Herded people in. Menu limited. Our fior di zucchine were over battered and filled with ricotta but totally bland. There were two lamb dishes that seemed interesting and turned out to be almost identical lamb chops and roasted potatoes. Baba au rhum dessert was pieces of a long ago baba (maybe) piled under a bunch of whipped cream. Touristy. Average cooking skills. Nothing pugliese about it. Avoid!!!

This the best restaurant In Ostuni! We ordered 4 of the pasta off the menu, all were fabulous! Enjoy

Excellent food! The BEST in Ostuni, by far! Excellent service! We will definitely return!

Osteria del tempo perso has the rare combination of amazing, seasonal dishes with fantastic value and great service. We ordered an appetizer sampler plate and the food kept coming - it was enough for both of us as our complete meal. Great wines by the glass, and a fine selection of grappas.

Nice and romantic location, great selection of wines. Prices reasonable. We asked one first dish and one meat dish in two, to split, as we weren't quite hungry , and there were no problems ...we had Strascinate alle cime di rapa and involtini di asina ( donkey rolls) - both quite good. The wine by the glass ( Primitivo) was of good quality.