taverna Antica Grotta In Tropea

20/05/2025: I ordered the catch of the day, and it was just as good as I hoped—fresh and full of flavor. The staff were super friendly and made the experience even better. The only thing missing was some background music to set the mood. Otherwise, everything was spot on!

20/05/2025: We were disappointed after reading the positive reviews. The greeting was not friendly, we were sat on a small table in the corner both looking at a wall. The rest of the restaurant was virtually empty but set out with larger tables. Service was unprofessional and surly. There was no explanation of the menu, and we were asked did we want the pizzeria or restaurant menu - why did we have to choose one or the other? The decor is very hard and brightly lit. The sound is echoing and we heard every word of a conversation at the other side of the room. The staff are unfriendly and don’t smile. My crab pasta was full of whole small crabs, which were inedible. My partner enjoyed his mussels and clams. Overall there was little atmosphere, the staff in the kitchen paid no notice to the customers, they were watching a screen on the pass, and let two young inexperienced individuals struggle. The food was not enjoyable. I told the waiter I wasn’t enjoying it but he just shrugged and walked away. The owners need to consider the customer experience from greeting, ambience, service and food. Edit: The rant below from the owner demonstrates how willing he is to take on feedback. Restaurants are facing tough times and need to take on feedback from customers, not berate them publicly for taking the time to make useful comments. Never mind, there are plenty of lovely restaurants in Tropea.