Ristorante Francesca

Nestled in the heart of Matera, Ristorante Francesca exudes the essence of Italian culinary excellence. The rustic charm of Matera is seamlessly woven into the restaurant's atmosphere, creating a unique and authentic dining experience. The locally sourced ingredients shine in every dish, reflecting the rich flavors of the region. From the pasta crafted to perfection to the delectable desserts, each bite tells a story of passion and tradition. The staff's warm hospitality enhances the overall charm, making Ristorante Francesca a must-visit for those craving a genuine taste of Matera's gastronomic delights.

I don’t write reviews ever but this was such a terrible experience that I feel a sense of guilt if I don’t warn others. Unfortunately, our hotel made reservations after asking our front desk for a good restaurant recommendation, I am unsure if they sent us here because they make commission but it was truly a HORRIBLE dining experience. Shame on our hotel for the recommendation. Where do I begin? Perhaps most of our issues occurred because my husband and I don’t speak Italian and could not properly communicate. When we arrived, we waited outside at the host station for our reservation-many wait staff walked right passed us and did not acknowledge us. I thought, “no problem, we will go inside and let them know.” When we walked inside, the same thing occurred. Finally, my husband walked up to someone, I am assuming he was the manager since he was dressed differently, and let him know we had a reservation. We were seated at 8:35, no problem since our reservation was 8:30. We waited until about 8:55-9 to put in our order, once again, several wait staff walked passed us and went to other tables. Again, I found this odd but nothing too crazy. I’ve personally never waited more than 5 minutes to put in at least drinks so this was a definitely a first for me. The entrees came out at exactly 9:56 (more than one hour since we ordered). I ordered pasta with bacon, and of course my pasta was missing the main ingredient-bacon. It was under seasoned and completely lack luster. I was very hungry but only finished about 1/3 of it since it was genuinely not tasty at all. Bill in total came out to about $85. My husband and I always tip, even abroad, at least 20 percent, but in good conscience we couldn’t here. Seriously, if you’re used to semi-good service and delicious food, heed my warning and DO NOT EAT HERE!