Taverna A Mare - CAROVIGNO

We just stopped in this cute little town for lunch and I am pretty sure that Taverna a Mare was the only place open. That's the downside of Puglia in Off-Season. No tourists but never trust the opening hours on google. Anyway we got a cute table right away even tho it was pretty packed. The food was fantastic! We had two delicious pastas for a very decent price!

Coming to Costa Merlata out of season makes it slightly tricky to find somewhere that's open! We stumbled upon Taverna a Mare totally by chance, as our original choice for a pizza lunch was nowhere to be seen. Lunch: Arriving 20 minutes earlier than the restaurant open time, we were invited in for an aperitif while the kitchen got ready. We were given the English menu and seated at a nice table out of the sun, with a view to their fruity/herby garden with banana trees, bay, lavender and sage. Perfectly chilled prosecco was accompanied by complimentary olives, warm crusty bread and olive oil. The menu is a double sided page with pizza options on reverse BUT pizza is only served in the evening. Our disappointment that pizza wasn't part of the lunch menu didn't last long. My steak medium done was melt in the mouth, and the side of French fries... perfect. Properly crisp on the outside with a fluffy centre. To close, a complimentary lemon sorbet drink to refresh the palette. We had such a lovely experience, we returned the same evening for pizza!

Awesome food and wine! Nice staff! Highly recommanded!

Ottimo ristorante, personale accogliente e professionale. Consiglio!

È stata una piacevolissima scoperta. Il titolare Piero persona gentilissima, il personale molto cordiale, locale ben curato. E che dire della cena, tutto ottimo, difficile trovare una frittura di paranza così squisita, pesce freschissimo e cottura perfetta, prezzi molto onesti, ci torneremo prestissimo. Grazie da Annamaria e Leo.