19a Buca In Matera

BLUF: Amazing space, great food, and wonderful service by Michele. This was a great experience we stumbled into. It is a unique setting inside a cave and has some really cool sections for parties or just lounging. They have a dance hall and extra space in a historic cistern. We lucked out with having Michele as our waiter. He was incredibly gracious and patient with us. He even gave us a private tour of the cistern (prob didn’t hurt that we came at the American dinner time so it wasn’t too busy yet). Regardless, he worked through my broken Italian and ordered two pizzas and two glasses of wine. For someone who lives in Italy and has had many house wines, this was one of the best I’ve ever had. And €4/glass is hard to beat. Small issue in communication regarding the meal but Michele acknowledged the mistake and offered to make it right. Finally, after dinner, he showed both of our children how to make a boat and a peacock out of a napkin. We got dinner and a show. I would absolutely go back and would highly recommend this place for a special event. It is one of the most unique restaurants I’ve seen in over a year and a half of traveling not just Italy, but all of Europe as well.

Excellent pizza... very nice place that lends itself to many things... smart owners

Excellent pizza and professionalism! Excellent environment

Enchanting location. Average starters but the pizza left us speechless. High quality ingredients, crunchy dough on the outside but soft on the inside, light and digestible like a cloud! Very friendly and approachable owner! For the quality of the food, very cheap prices.

Beautiful location, exquisite food, excellent value for money but the real highlight is the hospitality of the staff, able to make you feel at home. To be recommended without a shadow of a doubt.

Highly recommended! Very friendly and competent service, top wines, craft beer on tap in top quality, ambience Very unusual, because it is actually an ancient cistern,

Beautiful experience, friendly staff, fantastic place, combines antiquity and modernity. Must try

Truly suggestive location, really high level food (I recommend getting advice from the owner). The service was the icing on the cake of this beautiful evening.

Terrible service, but the food is very good and the place is spectacular

SURPRISING LOCATION....everything perfect and the PIZZA is delicious!!!!!!