Locanda Mamma Rita

Locanda Mamma Rita

I absolutely love the vibe of this place, I don't really know why, I think it's because it feels like one of those kitsch Italian restaurants that's been there for 30 or 40 years with the check tablecloths and the cheesy pictures on the walls, and the grumpy staff and the massive menu that's probably never changed forever. But it's also basically in a garage unit with a little forecourt out front so I think it equally appeals to my Hackney Wick/Tottenham warehouse vibe (London basically), even if it couldn't be further away from that in terms of culture.

As for the food, whilst it’s a pizzeria, it’s got a big pasta/main course list too. This is granny cooking, proper nonna plates like you get at a family dinner in Salento just served up in a restaurant format…

Read More
La Succursale
Pizza, Dinner, Recommended, One Star Oliver Kenny Pizza, Dinner, Recommended, One Star Oliver Kenny

La Succursale

La Succursale (literally ‘the branch’) is the Lecce outpost of Barrueco in Santa Caterina. This younger sibling is not quite as picture perfect a location as the original for a pizza, but still without a doubt one on of my favourite places (possibly my favourite place) to go in Lecce.

The pizza here isn’t the cheapest in town but it’s well made with good quality ingredients. I’m struggling to write why the pizza is so good because it’s quite hard to explain succinctly without decending into pizza dough obsession.

Read More