Reviews
Rating by month
| Month | Reviews | Average | Owner replies |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-11 | 1 | 5.00 | 0 |
| 2026-10 | 8 | 4.25 | 0 |
| 2026-09 | 1 | 5.00 | 0 |
| 2026-08 | 14 | 2.36 | 0 |
| 2026-07 | 4 | 3.50 | 0 |
| 2026-06 | 6 | 3.17 | 0 |
| 2026-05 | 3 | 5.00 | 0 |
| 2026-04 | 4 | 4.00 | 0 |
| 2026-03 | 3 | 4.67 | 0 |
| 2026-02 | 2 | 5.00 | 0 |
| 2026-01 | 6 | 3.00 | 0 |
| 2025-12 | 3 | 5.00 | 0 |
| 2025-11 | 2 | 4.50 | 0 |
| 2025-10 | 3 | 5.00 | 0 |
Latest reviews
I visited this restaurant with high hopes for a seafood dinner, but the experience was a complete disaster from start to finish. The fried food completely fell short of expectations. It arrived barely warm, clearly compromised by the use of used oil and not the right temperature, which made the dish heavy, greasy, and difficult to digest.<br>The quantity served was decidedly paltry for the asking price, with minimal variety and a clear prevalence of poorly selected, defrosted products.<br>A dish far from the minimum standards of seafood. An experience not to be repeated. To top it all, the final bill was disproportionately expensive and extremely expensive for the extremely poor quality of the food and service. Totally nonexistent value for money. Highly not recommended.
They welcomed us at 2:30 PM, and for me, coming from the north, it was a surprise. The service was informal and elegant. The view of the canal was beautiful.
Everything was excellent, the location was enchanting, the food was top-notch, and the staff were incredibly friendly. A dream dinner.
They definitely need to install fans outdoors during summer it's impossible to enjoy dinner.
We decided to spend our anniversary there, as tourists, but the experience was very disappointing. We'd asked for a table overlooking the canal and were told they'd grant it. When we got there, the table was somewhere else entirely, under a tree, in an extremely uncomfortable position. The manager, instead of apologizing, mistreated us. Plus, we waited over an hour for a fried food.
I kindly called to reduce the reservation from 4 to 2 people, and the owner, both on the phone and in person, told me he wouldn't accept us "because it's a special evening and because it's Il Canale and not just any trattoria" (I quote). Therefore, I find myself giving one star, but if I could, I would have given zero. Goodbye, there are better and certainly more polite restaurants both in Taranto and the surrounding area.
A terrible experience, not so much because of the food—which we didn't even get a chance to try—but because of the owner's behavior.<br>Once seated, we were told we were supposed to order at least two dishes each. This seemed absurd, especially considering we were simply customers who wanted to eat without being forced to order what the owner deemed appropriate.<br>Once he realized we had no intention of complying with his requests, his interest in our table virtually disappeared. No one came to take our orders. We waited about an hour, without being served, and finally we got up and left.<br>This was even more unpleasant because I was with my parents, both now in their late 80s, and one of them has a significant disability. In the end, we had to make do and go eat somewhere else.<br>I completely understand that a restaurant may have rules, but there are ways and means to communicate them. Deliberately ignoring a table because a customer doesn't want to order what the owner decides is, in my opinion, simply rude and disrespectful.<br>The view of the canal and the Taranto Swing Bridge is certainly picturesque, but it's not worth enduring such treatment. There are many other places in Taranto that offer equally pleasant views and, above all, know how to treat customers with courtesy and professionalism, even when they're not local.<br>What a shame. A beautiful location completely ruined by the attitude of those who should be making guests feel welcome.
FORCED TO ORDER TWO COURSES AND THEN INSULTED: SHAMEFUL<br><br>A surreal and embarrassing experience.<br><br>We made a reservation for nine people. When ordering, after repeatedly insisting on who wanted raw ham as an appetizer, the manager informed us that everyone was required to order at least two courses. This was a condition that was never communicated when we booked and which I find absurd in itself: there were also two 80-year-olds and a 14-year-old woman at the table. In a restaurant, you should be able to order based on how much you want to eat, not based on how much the restaurant expects to charge per person.<br><br>The manager insists, telling us he'd give us time to choose "at least two dishes each," and disappears. For half an hour, no one comes back to take our orders, while he continues to wander around the table, ignoring us.<br><br>We then decide to get up and leave. As we leave, he passes by one of the ladies at the table and tells her, verbatim, that we were "making a fool of ourselves."<br><br>I think this statement, said by a manager to a customer, describes the quality of the place.<br><br>Reading other reviews, I discover that the two-course requirement isn't even a novelty. If you have a mandatory minimum, communicate it before booking, instead of imposing it on guests once they're seated.<br><br>Arrogance, rudeness, and embarrassing customer service. I've never seen anything like this in a restaurant.
Too bad. The location is beautiful. The service is terrible, the staff is generally rude and doesn't make you feel comfortable. The food is quite good, but the atmosphere it creates unfortunately overwhelms the rest. I don't recommend it.
Il Canale has become a fixture for us. We don't get to go as often as we'd like, but we still return several times a year, and each time, we leave with the same feeling: the quality of the ingredients is truly extraordinary.<br><br>The fish is always incredibly fresh, and you can immediately sense the meticulous attention to detail in selecting the ingredients. This time, we started with a simply divine raw fish platter: the purple shrimp was spectacular, of exceptional quality, and the squid tartare was delicate and truly delicious.<br><br>The hot appetizers were also top-notch, carefully prepared and rich in flavor. To continue, we chose a stunning salt-baked sea bream, cooked to perfection, flavorful, and enhanced without unnecessary embellishment: when the ingredients are of this caliber, they truly take center stage.<br><br>A special mention goes to the service: the highly trained, elegant, professional, and attentive staff are always present but never intrusive. A high-level service that significantly contributes to the overall experience.<br><br>For us, Il Canale remains one of the best places in Taranto for those seeking fresh, quality seafood. It consistently meets, if not exceeds, our expectations.<br><br>With an EXCLUSIVE view of the swing bridge.<br><br>A truly deserved five stars.
The food was also good (though decidedly expensive), which is why I'm giving it two stars instead of one. Terrible service: a handful of unprepared waiters, an hour to get the appetizers. Extremely rude staff: when the legitimate question "how long will it be?" was asked, the response was something along the lines of "how long it will take, don't rush us; if you want, I'll cancel your order and you can leave; we're not a fast food restaurant." Now, considering there were children at the table, can you respond like that in a restaurant that's otherwise highly rated? I won't be returning: for the same price, you can eat better elsewhere, and in less time than a wedding. The quality of the service and the organization of the place are also evident in these aspects.
