Grotta Palazzese

Reviews

• Lynn M.

  star star star star star 20 September 2026

  WOW, just WOW
  
  The setting - you can not beat it.  This is the most beautiful restaurant I have ever been in in my life (and I eat out a lot).  Absolutely breathtaking.  Stunning.
  
  When you go to places with an amazing view, you don't always expect the food or service to match as you are paying for the location.  Happy to say, in this case that did not apply.  The food was fantastic.  
  
  The serving staff was also really good.    You have a two hour time limit on your table and you do not feel rushed at all.
  
  Yes it is expensive but it was worth every single penny and will go down of one of my highlights of my trip.   And if we happened to be back in this region, we would go again as our one splurge.
  
  Absolutely worth every penny!

• Linda P.

  star star star_border star_border star_border 17 September 2026

  This was a great experience for the atmosphere.  The view during dinner was beautiful, but we were lucky to get a table right next to the railing.  The price was astronomical and the quality of the food was far below expectations.  The service was extremely slow and it was not worth a trip just to go to the place. If you happen to be in the area sure, but make sure to make a reservation.

• Corissa L.

  star star star star star_border 17 September 2026

  This was the priciest meal (and not necessarily the best with regards to food) that we had in the entire Puglia region. However, it's not always about the price or the food, it's about the entire experience!
  
  I have dined in many fantastic places in the world, but I have never dined in a cave. Actually, the thought of eating in most caves would be repulsive, as they are dark, dank and full of bat guano. However, this cave is a stunning place to dine. We got there just after sunset, as it's difficult to get a reservation during sunset, but I can imagine that the lighting and views would have been spectacular.
  
  We had pretty low expectations for the food, so we were pleasantly surprised when everything was actually pretty tasty, especially the Bon Bon filled with mousse for dessert. The other dishes were good, but made to appeal to lots of different palates. For example, in the pasta with monkfish, the monkfish was totally over powered by the added bacon and pecorino. Both the bacon and cheese were actually unnecessary to the dish, but everything is better with bacon and cheese, right?
  
  Overall, it's a dining experience that I'm glad I had and would recommend that everyone who has the opportunity, to do it once.

• Beth B.

  star star star star star 12 September 2026

  Certainly not 3 Stars. I rarely give 5 stars for anything. But one cannot compare apples to apples here.
  
  is true there are so many great restaurants in this tiny town that it is difficult to compare one against another.  Taking everything into consideration people, places and things this was truly an experience extraordinaire!
  
  We read the reviews and had low expectations of the food, knew it would be expensive and high expectations on the atmosphere.
  
  We booked so we would be there when it opened for dinner, requested a table on the main floor AND asked the waiter to serve us slow.   This along with a bottle of Rosé yields a once in a lifetime experience.
  
  We ordered the three course pre-fix. It was $150 Euro. Per person. Can't really remember what I ate because I was so entranced with the restaurant, the live Jazz saxophonist, the extremely attentive service and the breathtaking atmosphere BUT IT WAS GREAT!
  
  We sat at the front of the cave right next to the Adriatic Sea below the aged rocks above and watched the day turn into night, the swallows in flight, a sailboat drift across the horizon, waves lap the base of the caves.., A DREAM COME TRUE!  
  
  I'm sure one can spend much less and have the same experience. Just go for drinks and appetizers. But if you can... GO!

• Max W.

  star star star_border star_border star_border 1 September 2026

  I very seldom  leave reviews but feel that this experience warrants one
  
  First off a beautiful space...
  
  We start off ordering as cocktail - after much conversation we find out they do not really offer cocktails - an Old Fashioned stumped them.  So....we then tried to order wine from a pretty extensive list - given we were new to region and unfamiliar with wines we asked their advice,  40 minutes later after trying one wine they recommended only to find out is was the opposite of what we  asked for then googling the wines ourselves we found a nice wine- at a place that charges 180 euro a head you would think someone would know the wine list.....
  
  As we were doing our own research and wine we were approached several times, rather abruptly, and asked to order. Given that we had not even had a drink yet we deferred. When we did order we found the food to be average at best. My wife did not enjoy her fish at all as it was quite fishy and did not seem fresh. When they took the plates away they asked if she did not enjoy it she said she did not enjoy it and that it was fishy and did not seem fresh. They came back and offered dessert Or another entrée and we were going to get dessert. Then the maître d' came over to tell us that the fish was fresh and that apparently we were wrong. Kind of wonder why somebody would do that we decided to just leave.
  
  We then get the bill. About €500 and the strangest thing this woman comes up with the credit card machine takes our credit card and doesn't say a word - processes credit card and leaves without a word. Very weird!
  
  In summary this place was beautiful but the food and the service was subpar at any price but given the price it was very disappointing. Too bad they don't offer the opportunity to go there for a drink because that would be the best way to enjoy this place.