Benvenuti al Sud In Gioiosa ionica

26/05/2026: While strolling through Chianalea, we decided to stop at this place for a quick dinner, and we can honestly say we made a good choice. The restaurant is family-run; the owner welcomes guests and waits at the tables, while his mother devotes herself to the kitchen with love and skill. Recommended.

12/05/2026: An absolutely fantastic evening, we wholeheartedly give it a perfect score! My friend Rudi called about half an hour beforehand and we got a table right away. A quick call is definitely worthwhile, as this restaurant seems to be very popular, and rightly so. For our starter, we had swordfish carpaccio, and we can honestly say we've never eaten swordfish carpaccio like it. Incredibly fresh, buttery soft, and simply sensational in taste. It looked as if the fish had been freshly sliced. A real highlight! Afterwards, I was even allowed to choose my lobster directly from the tank. It was cooked on a charcoal grill and was simply perfect, wonderfully juicy, not at all dry, and with that wonderful aroma from the charcoal grill. A true taste sensation. Rudi had fritto misto, and it too was superbly prepared, fresh, crispy, and very delicate in flavor. The service was exceptionally warm and welcoming. Whether it was the owner himself, we don't know, but we received incredibly friendly and attentive service and felt completely at ease all evening. We also had a beautifully chilled bottle of white wine from Calabria, which was even served in a cooler – a lovely touch. And then came the big surprise: when we each wanted to order an espresso and a grappa at the end, they were complimentary. You don't often experience something like that, even in Italy! All in all, it was an unforgettable evening with excellent food, superb service, and an incredibly pleasant atmosphere. We will definitely be back and can wholeheartedly recommend this restaurant!