Albergo Ristorante Bar L'Usignolo In San fele

After a morning spent among the serene waterfalls of San Fele, we chose L'Usignolo restaurant for our Ferragosto lunch. The experience, however, was marred by a few disappointing details worth mentioning. At the time of booking, we were asked for a 50% deposit via bank transfer, an unusual practice, but one we accepted given the unique nature of the day. Upon our arrival, before even being seated, we were asked to pay the full amount for lunch. This approach, more akin to that of a fast-food restaurant than a traditional restaurant, created a rather unpleasant and unwelcoming atmosphere. Once inside, the setting truly transported us to the past. The decor, seemingly from the 1970s with a slight update in the 1990s, has remained unchanged over time. Despite the feeling of a place "frozen in time," the overall cleanliness and order were not lacking. To complete the experience, live music in the style of a Romagna dance hall accompanied our meal, an element that, unfortunately, didn't fit well with the idea of a relaxed lunch. The menu matched the restaurant's retro atmosphere. We tried dishes such as mezzepccheri with confit cherry tomatoes, speck, and chopped pistachios, a lasagna with artichokes and béchamel sauce, and roast suckling pig with potatoes. Despite our concerns about the ambiance, the food was a positive: the dishes were decidedly enjoyable and well-prepared. L'Usignolo restaurant offers honest and enjoyable cuisine, but the overall experience was marred by inattentive customer service and a dated atmosphere. If you're looking for good food and don't mind an old-fashioned setting (and paying in advance), it might be a decent choice, but for a more modern and welcoming experience, you might want to look elsewhere.