Osteria Monacelle In Ostuni

16/02/2024: Celebrating Valentine's Day at a former Michelin-starred restaurant brought with it the anticipation of a memorable dining experience. While the food was adequate without being exceptional, the decor contributed a quaint yet slightly outdated charm to the evening. Unfortunately, the wine selection fell short of expectations, not quite reaching the level of variety or quality anticipated for such a setting. Despite these aspects, the overall ambiance and the significance of the occasion ensured a pleasant evening. The essence of dining out, particularly on such a special night, often transcends the culinary details, focusing instead on the shared experiences and the atmosphere that, despite its nods to the past, created a unique backdrop for the celebration.

07/02/2024: The place is discreet, minimal but clean and welcoming. The service, on any Wednesday evening, is courteous and fast. Once the order has been placed, they tell me that the dish I chose is no longer available. Not bad, order something else. But saying it first would be better. There is music in the place, mostly jazz at a low volume; It doesn't disturb, on the contrary, it's pleasant. As an appetizer I had some fried polenta flakes and creamed cod. The plating isn't the best but the food is excellent. An excellent pairing; the cod then melts in your mouth. As a second course I ordered a first course. Some spaghetti with sea urchin pulp and bottarga. Here the plating is beautifully done. The portion served on a huge plate seems small but this is not the case. Excellent dish and perfect spaghetti cooking. The recommended paired wine - a rosé negroamaro - served at the right temperature. The dessert is crumbled babà on Chantilly cream. Good As a closing note on the piano in one room, in addition to old de Andrè vinyl, a photographic book on Senna stands out in plain sight. Nice to sit down and browse through. Overall a good restaurant. Too bad about the missing dishes.