Trattoria del Caveoso

If I could give a 6-star review, I absolutely would! This excellent restaurant serves classic Italian dishes that are fresh, local, and bursting with flavor. I loved the option to enjoy a selection of different antipasti and desserts, allowing you to truly explore the depth of their wonderful cuisine. The service was impeccable—professional, attentive, and efficient. They were very accommodating with our baby and promptly catered to all our needs. I highly recommend this restaurant, whether you’re looking for a quick, delicious lunch or a memorable dinner

One of the best meals I had during my time in Italy. The food was delicious. We sat outside on the patio, and the old town around us made for a very nice atmosphere.

Judging by the reviews and the number of customers each evening, this is one of the more popular places in Matera. I went there for dinner, aiming for 7:30 p.m. when it opens. A good decision, because 20 minutes after opening, the restaurant's spacious garden was already full. All the places inside had been reserved before they opened that evening (!). My order included a wonderful, local soup called crapiata which consists of various types of legumes and boiled cereal grains. This traditional dish from Matera and the surrounding area is, strangely, not widely available in local restaurants. I had a bit of trouble finding a place that serves it. For the second course, I took a portion of grilled meat which I regret a bit, considering the wide range of original pastas with interesting sauces (based on various Italian cheeses or fresh vegetables). Portions of meat were cut and served without any restaurant craftsmanship, so I had to fight with bones, cartilages, etc. A definite plus was the opportunity to try sheep organ meats which is rare wherever you eat. For me, however, this dish was a bit too heavy and simply difficult to eat. For a starter, I ordered very tasty oyster mushrooms. The whole thing cost 32 euros (two courses plus a starter), which I consider a very good price!

The food was amazing! I had the ravioli with local beef ragu, and mixed grill (lamb, pork sausage, and pancetta) My partner had the steak with mushrooms. All of them are so delicious! Make sure to book a table before you come, it gets very full during rush hours!

Worst experience we’ve had in Italy. The food was extremely overrated and not tasty at all. The pork was so bad we couldn’t even eat it. But honestly, the food wasn’t even the worst part. What really upset us and made us leave was the terrible service. The girls working there were rude, gave us attitude, ignored our requests, and didn’t even bring us plates until we asked multiple times. We felt completely unwelcome… Replying to your comment about the smoking, I’d like to elaborate: First of all, your staff was rude from the very beginning — even though we arrived exactly at the time you requested (7:30 PM), when the restaurant had just opened. So there was no excuse of being overworked or tired to justify the attitude we received. 1. The service started poorly. Bread was thrown on the table without plates, oil, or cutlery. We had to ask for plates multiple times, and the response was passive at best — one plate arrived, no oil, although we were two people. We asked again, and another staff member brought just the plates. Ironically, the neighboring table — the ones who later complained about the cigarette — were the ones who made us feel welcome: they offered us salt from their table and smiled. That was the only gesture of kindness we experienced. 2. The food was disappointing. We were recommended the pork, but it was so dry we couldn’t finish it. Still, we didn’t complain — we simply didn’t eat it. When the waiter asked why, we politely explained that it was too dry. Her response? A blunt, “That’s how pork is!” It felt rude and dismissive. 3. Throughout the evening, the hostess was cold and unwelcoming. She snapped at us every time we asked about the dishes, making us feel like we were a burden. The general vibe was: just eat and leave. 4. As for the cigarette — I was fine not smoking, even in an outdoor setting. But the way the waiter spoke to me was the final straw. The tone was rude, abrupt, and completely uncalled for. That was the moment I said, “Enough. Get me the check

Everything was delicious!!! Even the sweets. Especially 'Hot ricotta cake'. Also the service was exceptional!

Great food, service and location. Anna was super welcoming and provided us with such an authentic / charming service. They even arranged for desert to go when we couldn’t eat anymore, which we then enjoyed in our room. Everything was top.

The Service, Atmosphere perfect and Starters were delicious, the fish was really good but the pasta needed just a few more minutes to be cooked, it was really hard, I am not complaining, would definitely come back here

Our dinner at Trattoria del Caveoso in Matera was an unforgettable dive into the heart of Southern Italian flavors. Starting with the Fave e Cicorie, we were swept away by its creaminess--a perfect balance of earthy beans and fresh chicory. Then came the Baccalà dell'Immacolata, a masterful dish of dried, salted cod simmered with tomatoes, olives, laurel, onions, and potatoes. Each bite was a testament to the rustic, soulful cooking of the region. The Paccheri del Casaro delighted with its delicate flavors, each pacchero coated in a sauce that was rich yet subtle, showcasing the simple, beautiful ingredients of the Italian countryside. We also couldn't resist the Bombette, which were every bit as great as promised, filled with savory goodness that left us wanting more. Paired with their Vino della Casa, a robust house wine, our meal felt like a true celebration of Italian culture and culinary tradition. From start to finish, Trattoria del Caveoso offered us a dining experience that was warm, authentic, and deeply satisfying. If you're in Matera and seeking an evening steeped in authentic flavors and a cozy, inviting atmosphere, this is the place to be. Saluti

We had a miserable final meal in Italy at Trattoria del Caveoso. It was so sad to end our trip this way. We were seated in a narrow hallway that contained one other table of Americans, a coat rack, and a serving station. The waiter seemed annoyed at our presence, and just glad to get the job done. We saw Italians walking in, going into presumably a bigger room, hugging the chef, looking like it was a real favorite haunt. We looked up at the coats. A side of broccolini was steamed--maybe boiled--into the sort of mush I remember from 1960s frozen vegetables. It came, solo, on a giant plate as (I guess?) a first course. I got lamb, which turned out to be very small and cooked until dry. Honestly, I don't remember what else we had. Maybe a cheese plate? We were going to cut our losses and skip dessert, but it wasn't offered, so not an issue.

This was recommended in my Frommer's guidebook, but didn't live up to the recommendation. Service was a bit arrogant (particularly we noticed, to Americans), and food was at best, average -- some of the worst we had in our 3 weeks in southern Italy. I had pasta topped with chili peppers and breadcrumbs, which I'd had (and LOVED) the night before at Il Cantuccio, and it paled by comparison. Didn't even finish it. on the other hand, veggies were good.

Went here for dinner at 8:30 pm. We had reservations so we were seated right away. We had to wait a bit for a lady who spoke English to come over. We ordered 2 pastas and one meat dish. The meat dish was two local sausages. Very tasty. The pastas were excellent. I had a linguine type noodle in a pesto like sauce with sprinkled shaved almonds on top and the little mound sat on purée potatoes. A local specialty. My wife had a pasta with a light tomato sauce with some greens on top. I cannot remember the names of the dishes. I would go back. We had the poker dessert. 4 tastes of different dessert. All were excellent but the one I remember most was chocolate with a cherry inside. Almost like a crazy dark brownie that was very moist. Almost pudding like.

We had such a wonderful dinner here on our first night in Matera. Just getting to the restaurant on the main street was a delight. The service was outstanding and the food - both the pastas and other entrees were wonderful. Even though it was a Saturday night and every restaurant including this one were busy we weren't rushed and had a leisurely meal that included excellent tiramisu. The restaurant itself is worth going to just to see the beautiful cave-like interior with multiple levels. We all were so happy to be in Matera. Every dining experience we had there was memorable, including this one.