Osteria Monacelle is one of our dependable dinner choices when we eat out in Ostuni. They serve typical regional dishes consistently well.
If fave with cicoria and octopus are on the menu the chances are that will be appearing on the table. Their orecchiette is always tempting and the polpette usually just as good. Having only recently blogged that in Puglia polpette aren’t polpette unless they are walnut sized, mixed with soaked bread and first fried, imagine our surprise on our last visit to discover polpetta di carne alla vecchia maniera which were none of these, but incredible.
They also had chicken on the menu on that visit.
Monacelle has three eating areas. The narrow alleyway outside the restaurant, the main dining space which is the second door up, at street level where the outside menu is located, and the upstairs area which the first door that you come to walking up the hill.
The main dining space is adjacent to the main kitchen, too hot in summer. The upstairs area is (slightly) cooler, with fewer tables. You won’t find yourself near the bathroom which sometimes happens with a table for two downstairs.
The alleyway is too narrow for privacy, with many passers by on a summers evening.
From June - September booking is recommended to avoid a long wait, or being turned away.