Awards Candidates 2019

05/08/2026: Had a delicious meal. Fresh ingredients. Nice balance of flavors. The waiters also assist you with your choice. Had both sushi and meat. Portions are a bit on the small side, so you need to order enough.

02/08/2026: Absolutely terrible. Starting with the "welcome." These restaurants in touristy locations need to understand that not everyone is from the north or outside Italy. There are locals who would like to spend a nice evening at home. Terrible service; the owner treated us poorly, perhaps because he saw a young couple (not knowing who he was dealing with) and couldn't even recommend a dish (he clearly didn't want it). Mulled white wine (they had to put it in the blast chiller) and other oversights, including taking away our dirty cutlery and not replacing it. Dishes you can find even at an average all-you-can-eat. Four courses for almost €180. Not to be repeated.

07/02/2026: After a few years, everything remains confirmed... atmosphere, kindness, attention and high quality... and on top of that, a delicious tartare!

01/02/2026: Comfortable, welcoming, and above all tasteful, for those who appreciate the small details and their artisanal products, displayed inside the bar at the entrance, are an excellent calling card. It continues with comfortable seating around tables, well-arranged to optimize space. The excellent wine list, available for sale in the characteristic cellar, can be paired with a simple yet tasty pre-dinner aperitif. Or paired with something more serious for dinner, with their succulent dishes composed of refined products and presented in an elegant and contemporary manner. Compliments to the owner and his management, which certainly demonstrates a great deal of research behind the scenes... highly recommended.

10/07/2026: During our stay in Ostuni, my boyfriend and I decided to head inland for one of our dinners. We were pleasantly surprised by this restaurant's extensive selection of appetizers, first courses, and second courses, both fish and meat! To start, we ordered a surprisingly rich raw seafood dish and a mind-blowing mussel sauté! To continue, we ordered perfectly cooked salt-baked prawns and an octopus catalana, both incredibly fresh! The owner kindly left the bottle in the middle of the table for us, even though we'd only ordered one glass. This restaurant's location is very commercial, but the quality of the dishes exceeds all expectations.

14/06/2026: Everything was excellent from the service to the food to the location... Great Giuseppe

02/07/2026: Our first night in Bari, and looked for a nice cozy place to have dinner. Glad we chose this one! They have great website with the actual, updated menu - which can be also scanned by QR on the table. Polite staff, very fast serving and great starting look for the table - really liked the cork as a cuttlery "shelf" on the table. 😊👌🏻 Small details make greater impacts. The interiour is air conditioned, not too hot, not a freezer either. And the decoration... instruments everywhere, nice little lamps. The music was also good, not too loud. Food was excellent, and they have a bunch of craft beers and lots of wines to chose from. I really recommend this place. 👌🏻✌🏻

30/06/2026: Had to come back because the salmon/tuna sandwiches are absolutely delicous! I will miss them!

22/01/2026: Great experience, a beautiful place with a quality menu.

20/12/2025: Let's start by saying that the service was extremely slow: almost an hour just to get the first appetizers. The location is very intimate and well-kept, but the menu is a bit confusing, as are the internet redirects: you might think Taqoz exists (which is also available on major delivery platforms), only to arrive and only see Mezcla, oh well. We ordered mostly "Mexican" food: a very timid guacamole, almost tasteless, and with almost no onion, it felt like eating a blended avocado with cherry tomatoes. The tacos were quite poor, with a questionable consistency and inconsistent fillings. We also ordered quesadillas, hoping to reevaluate the cuisine: absolutely tasteless! I don't know how it was possible, but despite the presence of five or more ingredients, it was very difficult to distinguish even a single flavor. The prices are completely disproportionate for both the quantity and quality of the products: a measly quesadilla costs a whopping 9 euros. It's a shame, because despite the slow and confusing service, the staff have always been very friendly; this place deserves a thorough re-evaluation. I seriously doubt I'll return.

11/08/2026: Hagakure Fusion & Sushi in Monopoli has long been my go-to place for a special dinner. As a regular customer, I can confirm that the quality is exceptional and, above all, consistent: the fish is always incredibly fresh, the cuts are expertly executed, and the fusion combinations are designed to delight the palate without ever being cloying. Each dish is a feast for both the eyes and the palate, demonstrating ongoing research and immense passion in the kitchen. The atmosphere is refined, elegant, and welcoming, perfect for unwinding. Special praise also goes to the wait staff: always attentive, professional, smiling, and ready to pamper guests, making them feel at home from the very first moment. For those in Monopoli looking for a top-notch sushi and fusion experience, Hagakure is an absolute guarantee!

03/07/2026: The nigiri, salmon tacos, and tuna rice rolls were out of this world. But the tuna taco was really really bad which hit me hard right in the middle of my meal. And the specialty rolls after were not too great either. The service was great but they did not have a lot of the items available that were present on the menu including the drink list I think the first few items were so fantastic that I can't give this a 3 star but I would be cautious

15/07/2026: Quinta Essenza is one of those restaurants that manages to harmoniously combine technique, creativity, and local produce. Each course is meticulously crafted, with distinct flavors and elegant presentation, yet never overbearing. The tasting menu is well-crafted, with a pleasant pace and dishes that surprise with their balance and personality. You can sense a great deal of research behind every offering, always focused on the palate. The service is impeccable: discreet, knowledgeable, and never intrusive. The wine selection is also excellent, with pairings designed to enhance each dish. The atmosphere is refined, intimate, and relaxing, perfect for a high-end dining experience. A restaurant that is definitely worth a visit and represents one of the finest examples of Apulian cuisine.

09/07/2026: My French friend and I dined at this magnificent "cadre" and were thrilled with both the culinary experience and their impeccable service. Starting with the extremely professional welcome we received at the reception. The best thing was that they made us feel at home with delicious dishes, which is not a given in locations like this, and the bill was fair, I must say. A special mention goes to Simone, Domenico, Pasquale, Giandomenico, and Saverio.

23/07/2026: Friendliness, excellent peasant appetizer as a first course, stracinati with black flour with mushrooms, sausage, cherry tomatoes and salted ricotta, truly Top

19/07/2026: Found almost by chance on Maps while visiting relatives in Canosa, this osteria was a wonderful surprise. We booked by phone, and it was a great move: there's not a lot of seating inside, and even though there are more tables on the main street, in the summer heat we decidedly preferred the inside, which is perfectly air-conditioned. There's no set menu here, but the host passionately explains the daily specials. We started with a selection of exquisite appetizers: about a dozen small selections, each one better than the last. Wanting to try a traditional first course, we were won over by the Strascinate di grano arso (a type of burnt wheat pasta) with zucchini flowers (local cucuzza greens): simply fantastic! Satisfied with the first courses and appetizers, we had to skip the second course and move straight to a delicious selection of local desserts. The house rosé wine was also excellent, and the amaro (a bitter bitter) definitely deserves a mention. The value for money is exceptional. If you're in the area, it's definitely worth a visit!

26/07/2026: Excellent service. Tito, Vito, and Rosa have the right empathy for this job! Congratulations again! You were exceptional! The welcome entrée was good, but unfortunately there was a bit too much focaccia... 😣... the prices were a bit high... fried seafood €43... cover charge €14 for two... green salad €8... I'd go back just for the service I received!

20/07/2026: I was with my wife, on our anniversary, everything was very good

20/05/2026: A wonderful experience, the welcome was excellent and the food was delicious, I highly recommend it. Arrivederci

06/05/2026: What can I say... it was a wonderful discovery!! I bought some wedding favors and they were a huge success!! Francesca, the lady I always interacted with, was very kind and helpful. I live in northern Italy and the boxes, despite the courier, arrived flawlessly and on time as requested!! Even the inside of the favor boxes were well protected from impacts... and simply wonderful!! The packaging was impeccable, simple yet striking! We chose the decorated glass bottles and they are truly beautiful and sturdy, not to mention the oil inside, which is truly delicious!! I highly recommend this company!!!