I migliori ristoranti di cucina italiana in Lecce

30/09/2025: We chanced upon this restaurant while walking after dinner, and stopped for a drink and to enjoy the beautiful view of the port and peaceful side of the fortified wall area of Otranto's historic centre. Based on that enjoyable experience we dined there the following evening; it was wonderful. It's a beautiful setting, the service was excellent, and the food was very good; I had a vegan dish, tofu tataki, which was very tasty and filling. For dessert we shared tiramisu and it was literally the best one I've ever had; somehow light and not overly sweet or gooey, just a beautiful balance of flavours. Perfect! Because it's a little off the beaten path it's quieter than some other restaurants in the tourist area, which was delightful.

28/09/2025: Very attentive service and fine food.

22/04/2026: A very good restaurant frequented by locals. Fresh ingredients, curry risotto, gnocchi alla vongole, grilled swordfish, tiramisu. Impeccable service and a swim at the beach to aid digestion.

22/02/2026: The Universo restaurant is truly a universe of flavors and Salento hospitality. I stopped for Sunday lunch and everything was delicious: fresh and tasty dishes, good house wine, and the orange and almond cake that finished it all was excellent. The staff were truly kind and helpful, never intrusive.

27/04/2026: Beautiful place in the sun. Good service. Yesterday, perhaps they could have been a little more attentive given the season ticket, but they were truly very kind and helpful.

21/04/2026: An environment suitable for both adults and children, surrounded by nature and golf courses, is the perfect combination for those who love this sport! A little game and... food! 😍 Exquisite food, equally delicious staff, highly recommended. It's always like being at home there with them 💙

10/05/2026: Our favorite pizza! That's all I can say! We come every week. The people are kind and always smiling, polite, and above all, they love animals!

11/04/2026: Super pizza... especially the typical one with Roman-style toppings like matriciana or cacio e pepe

14/02/2026: A truly lovely evening of dinner, the warmth and kindness were top priority, and we found the staff to be truly helpful. The atmosphere was truly beautiful, and the food was excellent. See you next time!

16/11/2025: Enjoyable dinner at Estia Restaurant, where the dishes are carefully crafted and presented. The atmosphere is elegant and relaxed, and the service is courteous and professional.

01/02/2026: A welcoming restaurant with a beautiful open kitchen. The risottos are the best I've ever had in a restaurant, paired with excellent wines, and Diletta is truly kind. We can't wait to return.

05/01/2026: An intimate and well-kept restaurant. Attentive and friendly service. Truly exceptional food; we opted for the tasting menu: - Glimpses of flavor: tomino cheese, zucchini blossom with anchovy, and mozzarella, both delicious. - Tasting of three risottos: honeyed chestnuts with speck and mascarpone ice cream, turnip greens with sausage and caciocavallo cheese, Franciacorta with citrus zest, and shrimp carpaccio (the latter was exceptional). - Desserts: salted caramel tiramisu (I'm a tiramisu lover, among the best I've ever had) and lemon and basil ice cream (artisanal, incredible basil, delicious). The choice to focus on risottos is innovative; gluten-free options are also available. The chef is truly talented. High-quality products, fair prices. For two, with two glasses of wine, €75 total. I absolutely recommend it, a new favorite.

01/05/2026: Truly excellent pizza and the delicious and plentiful first courses. I had the best spaghetti aglio olio e peperoncino: divine 😍. With friends, we ordered two central pizzas, six first courses, a Margherita, a beer and wine, and we spent 20 euros each...👍👍 Returned here after two years: we tried their other dishes and they didn't disappoint at all. Generous portions and excellent. Highly recommended!!!!!!🤗

19/04/2026: Great hospitality, kind people and good food. Really recommended.

01/11/2025: I don't recommend it! We ordered a portion of orecchette (we had eaten elsewhere and liked them) and a portion of lasagna, and when they were brought to us we were surprised that they didn't bring us the parmigiano, only after we requested them and waited for a while. The basil was burnt on the edges (a sign that it had been put in the oven with the lasagna, but unfortunately we overlooked this "detail"), and the portion of orecchette was swimming in a soup of something that was supposed to be a sauce. What was annoying was that the orecchiettes were cooked differently (some soft and others very hard) and when we told them this they said they couldn't do it, then that if we wanted we wouldn't pay for them, then that they would bring us more, finally the woman who served us didn't come to the table and sent the bar boy to collect our bill (in full of course) who told us that we had eaten the portion anyway so it had to be paid. We asked for someone to come and discuss it with us and things had already escalated. We asked to pay and we left with a bitter taste. Total lack of professionalism.

24/10/2025: I tried the “Gnocchi di patate al sugo” and they were delicious—very flavorful with an excellent texture. For dessert, I had tiramisu and I really liked it too. The prices are great — I paid 20 euros in total — and the service was very friendly and fast. They also have the traditional orecchiette, which look amazing as well. I’d definitely repeat the experience!

29/03/2026: Promises kept: from social media to the table! As a Level 8 Local Guide, I always strive for the right balance between expectation and reality, and tonight 'Il Re della Pizza' in Gallipoli nailed it. I'd seen Cristian's viral videos, and while he's hilarious and captivating on social media, it's in front of the oven that he shows his true worth. The pizza is exactly as he describes it: light, easy to digest, and made with top-quality ingredients. It's not just marketing, it's true passion. The atmosphere is pleasant and the service makes you feel at home. If you're in Gallipoli, this is a must-see. Highly recommended!

23/03/2026: Simply fantastic pizza! Light dough and super fresh ingredients, you can taste the quality from the first bite. Fast service and super friendly staff. I'll definitely be back!

11/12/2025: Great family experience. We went with friends (other families) and had a great time. Excellent service and helpful staff, great location, truly a beautiful place. Well done...I would recommend it.

28/07/2025: Terrible place to eat. The owner is truly arrogant and presumptuous. He mocks customers and says untrue things. The food was truly awful and the price was high. I ordered bombette and he brought me a stewed meat that was spicy and extremely salty, practically inedible. I strongly advise against it.

05/04/2025: You can stay inside and outside in the open and green

11/05/2026: Authentic cuisine, well-run by the family, a good place to eat.

28/04/2026: The food was disappointing; the dishes lacked flavor and, to make matters worse, weren't very generous. Above all, the price was exorbitant (almost €50 for two pasta dishes and a limoncello – €5 for the limoncello itself...). In short, it's easy to see why the Rough Guide gave it such a bad review.

28/04/2026: I was recently there and was speechless at the quality of the place and the food prepared with care and so much love. I found the staff so courteous and the chef truly top-notch. What more can I say? I'll definitely be back.

25/04/2026: We, a group of 13, went there for the first time because we'd seen great advertising on social media. Unfortunately, our experience was quite different. The service was truly poor; they had no knowledge of wine and forgot some items on our order, which is a common occurrence. The waiters were rude and unhelpful. The food is difficult to rate. The appetizer was very good, but some of the main courses were nearly inedible and we had to send them back. For dessert, we had to find out for ourselves, so someone told us. Everything was very slow, which isn't ideal when you have children. We also expected the food to be cooked over an open flame and for the chef to be present, as shown in the videos. We drove a long way specifically for this place and were disappointed. Unfortunately, we won't be returning.

22/04/2026: The best clam pasta, good wines, pet-friendly, highly recommended

13/04/2026: Great view, very good food, good service