Il Pozzo Spagnolo - SALERNO

We were a group and we had a set menu and although the restaurant wasn't full the service was very slow and we were almost full eating bread that was being served everytime the basket ws empty. Food was good but the seating was very tight and the ambiance wasn't that good

We ate twice at this restaurant near the Teatro Verdi and we have two very different tales to tell. The first time was after a performance at the Teatro Verdi, for which the location was perfect. We chose the Italian menu for a seafood meal, starting with an excellent warm insalata di mare with vongole, mussels, and shrimp. One of our two main courses was the baccala and totanetti fritti con cipolle all’agro. This was very flavourful and slightly crunchy, with the fried onion adding a Spanish touch. The other main course was one of our favourites, spaghetti alle vongole, which was also very good. We chose a bottle of Fiano Beneventano from the Masseria Frattasi which we liked very much. Adding to our pleasure was the warmth of the room (there was a powerful heater near our table). Our second visit was the following evening, a Sunday when many restaurants in Salerno are closed. This time we chose the Spanish menu. We started with tapas misto, which were moderately successful but not very interesting. We also had the polpo galiziano (octopus), which was nicely sautéed and richly flavoured. Then came the paella nera di pesce. Surely a restaurant that calls itself Spanish will do a good job with paella. However, what we got was a tough mass of overcooked rice with squid ink overpowering everything, especially the little bits of half-identifiable seafood. We chose a red wine this time, Setaro’s Don Vincenzo, which was OK. We sat at the same table as the night before, but this time instead of heat there was a cold draft coming down from an opening in the wall behind.

During ten days in Campania here we had the most enjoyable dinner in regards to atmosphere, food and service. We found this place by coincidence, when walking through Salerno 's old town. It is almost at its northern end, but well advertised. It doens 't look like much from the outside, but then one goes into a lovely cellar with an arched ceiling, from which are hanging strings of dried peperoncini and garlic. And for once there is no TV. They have no wine by the glass, but small bottles of excellent Lacrymae Christi, that famous wine from the Vesuvio area. We tried both the white and the red and they were equally very good (nowhere else did we see this wine on offer). The mineral water, which we ordered as well, came decanted in a glass caraffe. The young waitress, all dressed in black, was friendly, not obtrusive and well informed. Before dinner we were offered complimentary stuzzichini, based on white tuna. As a starter we had Crema di patate speziata, con salmone affumicato e scorzette di sfusato amalfitano (Potato cream soup with smoked salmon and pieces of Amalfi lemon). The other starter choice was Paccheri (that very special local pasta) ai crostacei (with all kind of crustaceans). After a Grigliata mista main course we ordered an espresso and a limoncello, which came very beautifully presented with small complimentary 'baba ', that famous Neapolitan rum-soaked sweet. In retrospect I would have preferred to go back every evening to this place instead of trying out other much higher rated restaurants, which in the end turned out as much worse.

I was in this wonderful place to celebrate my onomastic in the company of my family. friendly place with the family. mr. maurizio owner and chef prepares beautiful and tasty dishes..ci recommended marine appetizers and conclude paella di fish to say little delicious. We enjoyed everything and will definitely come back. absolutely recommended.

Pleasant environment, welcome, as the service. high quality fish appetizers, the fish paella however did not satisfy me completely, the Catalan cream to review. price a little high but can remain.