Pescaria on Piazza Aldo Moro is easy to find. Just look out for the line of people that regularly forms outside from around 12.30pm until after 2pm. Epic raw, fried and cooked street food, an established favourite of residents and visitors.
Famous for its fried octopus sandwich, this is no ordinary panino. The lightly battered polpo comes with with cime di rapa, garlic and oil, fig syrup, ricotta and pepper and anchovy oil. The cime might be a little bitter for some, but bitter is a firm Italian favourite.
After the legendary polpo panino the red shrimp tartare with buffalo mozzarella, passion fruit mayo, spinach salad with oil and lemon, murgina apple, chopped pistachios and Polignano carrot chips comes a close second choice for us.
There is an English menu outside by the door, and everything is good. So good in fact that we usually order three dishes between two of us, with a selection of starters on top.
La Salina beer, brewed with seawater, is our usual beverage. It just makes sense. It is not overly salty, tending to have an almost citrus zing.
Oh, and they also do fish and chips.
Order your selection at the counter, pay. Whether you eat in or are ordering carry out, take your drink. Staff will come looking for you shouting out the ticket order number, so listen carefully. Just beware that sometimes the wait for food can be over long. Only once did our polpo panino come cold, so we sent it back. It should be freshly fried and while it wont be soggy, it is best enjoyed freshly fried and crisp.
Pescaria has been so popular that it now has restaurants across Italy. You can find them in Milan, Turin and most recently, Naples.
More | pescaria.it | €-€€ | be sure to read the Big Guide to Polignano a Mare ahead of your visit