So I was on a tasting vacation with my Girlfriend in Southern Italy this past May. If you have not…read morebeen to southern Italy, and you want a relaxing time with great food, check it out. While we were in Lecce we came across La Torre di Merlino. It had a Michelin guide sticker, and we wanted a fancy meal, so we went in, and sat outside. It is in the old city center, and it is a great place to be outside.
Usually, when I eat at this level of a restaurant, I like to let the chef decide what he wants to make me, so I say to the server, "chef's choice." That gives the restaurant the chance to either move things they want to get rid of, but more often it allows the chef to show what the restaurant can do, and it usually is off the menu. Upon my order of chef's choice, the waiter rolled his eyes, and decided to pick items from the menu himself. To his credit, the food was good. But the server's air of arrogance for the rest of the night because he was put out at having to pick things from the menu was almost too much to take. Needless to say it ruined what should have been a great meal.
I will say the food, by itself, would be worth trying it again, and it would probably be great. But I only have this one experience to go on.
But DO visit Lecce.
Cheers,
David
