La Locanda del Ballerino In Lecce

I checked the TripAdvisor reviews before booking. 99% were positive. Out of curiosity, I looked at the 1% with negative reviews. The user review "Parisian chef with bossy wife," a true script for an episode of an Italian comedy, convinced me to book. At lunchtime, I introduced myself as a friend of the "Parisian chef." The manager, described by the Parisian chef's wife as "aggressive, misogynistic, and lacking in charm and elegance," and we laughed about the incident. We ate very well, spent the right amount, and returned the next day to try other dishes. You can't stroll through the heart of Lecce's historic center and not stop at Locanda del Ballerino. The origin of its name is already a story worth telling. If you decide to go, introduce yourself as a friend of the "Parisian chef with bossy wife." 😉😂

Lovely surprise ☺️ super recommended!

Amazing staff Rino and Chiara very welcoming and friendly. Made my Christmas visit to Lecce great😊

Very attentive staff, good food

A very pleasant evening, with a charming location and a warm atmosphere. The menu offerings were interesting, even if they didn't always fully meet our personal tastes, but the dishes were crafted with skill and imagination.

Nice atmosphere, fast service. We expected a little more from the food. Low quality/price ratio.

Excellent food! Super friendly staff.

Vegetable flan and the pasta dishes were very good

The welcome was very warm and welcoming, the customer service was excellent, the dishes were beautifully presented, and the ingredients were excellent. The prices need to be reviewed, as they're justified by the quality of the ingredients, but not by the simple, readily available products: 5 potato panzerotti for €11 and a mixed local fried platter (panzerotti, meatballs, and pettole) for €13 are way overpriced.

We ate well but alone in this large restaurant so no atmosphere.. The waitress was walking around in circles in front of our table, it was a bit embracing. Given the reviews, I was disappointed because the dishes were not extraordinary, very simple tastes, good but nothing more.