Anthony Stedman
Google
You know by now that I only bother rating exceptional places. We have friends who spend an inordinate amount of time in Puglia who recommended this restaurant to us as a must go to.
After a day of traveling from Paris, and renting a car (always a horrendous experience), we arrived in Ostuni on a 30 degree late afternoon in early September.
We were so exhausted that we didn't bother ringing to see if they had a table (thankfully). We arrived at about 7:50 pm following an exhausting trek through laneways and were greeted by Roberto, front of house, in his elegant, intimate (and air conditioned) dining room. Unphased by our expecting a table without a booking, he quickly confirmed a no show meant we actually managed to get a table for two on the spot. Lucky for us...
Whilst we felt slightly under dressed at first, most diners also choose heat appropriate clothing, thankfully.
Anyway, on to our meal.
We choose to go a la carte given the tasting menus felt they may be too much on such a warm evening.
Roberto served us with sparkling mineral water (our choice) and a lovely selection of home made breads. That brown bread roll with toasty seeds was incredible and important for soaking up the incredible sauces each dish was graced with.
I asked Roberto for guidance on a dry white. His recommendation was perfect. A Cantoline Carpentieri. Not fussy but ideally suited to the food we were ordering.
We ordered the Seafood pancake, scampi jus and wakame seaweed, and the Courgette flan, dried fig jus, cacioricotta cheese.
Both were simply stunning. I'm a terrible food photographer but my efforts are attached. The figs were ripe and sweet and the touch of wasabi in the seafood pancake was a delight.
For mains we ordered Catalan-style lobster and the Veal tomahawk, mango and courgette curry.
The lobster was fab. Simply served as a salad with tomatoes, cucumber, sliced boiled new small potatoes. Ideal for a hot dinner evening. The veal tomahawk, served medium rare was exactly what you'd expect. Melt in your mouth with a hint of the mango and curry served via the courgette.
Dessert is not my strong suit so inevitably, I agree to share something. We had the Chocolate flan with Altamura bread ice cream. The flan was served piping hot. It's sweetness balanced by the salted caramel ice cream.
A perfect evening topped off by meeting the most important half of the team that makes this restaurant so amazing, Marilea.
We cannot thank you both enough. A wacky chance filled dining experience, at the no show peoples expense, wonderfully relaxed evening of amazing food and service.