Da Zione - LA MADDALENA

We went to this Trattoria (or supposed to be) with high expectations. I did not care about some bad reviews because I had the feeling they were not reliable. I WAS WRONG, this is NOT a place to go. 1) Expensive compared to quality 2) Rude staff my story: As appetizer, we ordered Anemoni Fritte for 12 Euros, and we got 5 tiny pieces of Anemoni, the smallest I ever seen for this price. Then we had to wait 30 minutes for the first entries: Pasta cozze e rosmarino and pasta arselle e bottarga . The Pasta with Cozze was way overcooked with 5 (FIVE) cozze (mussels) and the past with arselle and bottarga was way overcooked as well (I think the forgot the pasta while it was cooking). Each of these supposed to be pasta costed 15 euros each (in the centre of maddalena you can find similar pasta from 8 to 12 euros). After all of this, we decide to give them an extra chance and we asked for the menu. It was and error, we had to wait 25 minutes and we ended up without a menu!!! Have you ever seen a place where they don give you even a menu. Then, very frustrated, we asked for the check....well after 39 counted minutes and having asked 3 times we got the check. 47 Euros. In short: We stayed there for 2 hours and waited in total for 1:30 for very low end food. To not forget as experience so we won 't go there again.

We searched out this restaurant due to good reviews on TA. It is out of town and we like local neighbourhood restaurants. Admittedly when we arrived to reserve a table as it was a Friday the place was empty but it was 3 ish. We duly arrived at 8.30 pm and the place was still deserted. No worries we thought, Italians eat late or in this case not at all. The young waiter, although pleasant enough hovered at our table and gave us no time to consider the menu. My husband ordered octopus salad which he had eaten several times on the island. This was the worst. I tried a morsel, too late to discover how slimey it was. I can only assume it was not fresh. My husband did not finish it which is unheard of. I only had a mixed salad. Tomatoes were good. Next I had the calamari and prawns. It was ok but no better than you would get anywhere and a lot worst then we had eaten before. By this time one other couple had shown up. We recognised them from our hotel and did consider telling them to make a run for it but we were so glad to have company. Overall very disappointing and the prices are the same as if you were eating down in the port where you would have a much better view and better food.

Da Zione is located away from the main tourist part of La Maddalena a very good thing and it shows in the clientele who are almost entirely Italian. Excellent pasta and seafood, friendly helpful service (even with some English to help us stupid Brits) and the outside terrace underneath a canopy of vines is the perfect place for dinner. Prices are very reasonable but the main thing is that the food is great!

Great dinner. good and well cooked fish. excellent availability.

Characteristic restaurant inside the country great food and courtesy certainly make it a value. to return safely