If you’re looking for an authentic Italian dining experience near Lake Arrowhead, Puglia Italian Restaurant is an absolute must-visit! From the moment I walked in, I was welcomed with warm hospitality and an ambiance that transported me straight to Southern Italy.
The food was outstanding. The flavors were rich, authentic, and clearly made with love.
The service was exceptional. My server was attentive, knowledgeable, and made great recommendations.
Puglia Italian Restaurant is a true hidden gem, and I can’t wait to return for another incredible meal. Highly recommend!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Countessnuffy
Great friendly service. Great food. Absolutely love the pet friendly atmosphere.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Lasagna
Matt Knight
Delicious!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Braciole Pasta
Margot ROBERT-AUMERCIER
It might be one of the best Italian restaurant I had in a long time. I might consider driving up just to eat at Puglia! The service was on point, and the food and drinks delicious. The olive oil they served was incredible. I wish I could bring some home!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Tiramisu Flambe
Noah Beauvais
Great home made legit Italian food! Good selection of Italian wines from several regions.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
April Lipan
I give the food 5 stars; I am a regular customer, and although I have had issues with the wait time and the price, I keep coming back. I came here because someone I recommended the place to checked the reviews left by customers, and oh, what a surprise! I’m not surprised by what they say because I have experienced most of it myself. What does surprise me is that the supposedly “prestigious” owner responds in such an arrogant and boastful manner, which makes him look bad. He should simply apologize and try to fix what customers say is wrong. There is no need to brag about being “famous”—that reputation crumbles with a bad attitude.
A place with good food and good service promotes itself, and a true professional, with all the training he claims to have, stays quiet and ensures that the customer is happy and satisfied with their experience. Sir, you should stop boasting because it only makes you look bad. Best of luck with your business.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 4
Service: 1
departamento tepic
Hello, I just wanted to say that we visited this restaurant over the weekend for a family gathering, and the service was really awful. The food was good, which is why we have always returned whenever the family gets together, but this time the service was truly disappointing.
They seated us on the second floor, and once we were there, they only took our drink orders and later the appetizers, but then they completely forgot about us. We went to check what was going on, and they said they were waiting because two people in our group were missing, but we told them we were ready to order. They finally took our order, and about 10 minutes later, the two late arrivals joined us and placed their orders.
It took an hour and a half for them to bring our food, and one dish was missing. When we complained, they said the delay was because two people had arrived late, and that’s why they hadn’t prepared the food quickly. However, when they brought the food, the first order served was coincidentally one of the late arrivals. When we complained about the long wait, they said it was because we were a large group, which supposedly caused the delay.
When the waiter went downstairs, we could hear the staff at the reception area talking loudly. The place is small, so we could clearly hear everything they were saying from upstairs. They were blaming us and using very inappropriate and offensive language. I strongly disapprove of such behavior, especially in public and directed at customers.
This is why I am giving this rating.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 4
Service: 1
José Romo
I just went there last night and had probably one of the worst experiences I've had in a restaurant. None of us were informed that there was only one pizza oven and so after an hour and a half of waiting, we finally got our food and my pizza was no longer hot, it was room temp. It was for a party of 10 and four of us ordered pizza, so I would expect some sort of communication that the pizza might take a little longer than expected because there's only one oven, and yet, none of us were made aware of that. And to make things worse, when we asked about our food politely, we all heard a female staff member say some blatantly disrespectful comments, 10 feet from our table. My sister posted a review a couple hours ago, and the owner had the audacity to respond and make it seem as though that could've never happened. Clearly there is some sort of delusional attitude going on, because how are you going tell all nine of us that attended that we heard incorrectly?! Last time I checked, we were the last people in the restaurant that night and the music was already turned off so we heard it clear as day. Very disappointing from the restaurant owner to respond to my sister's review that way because I usually don't write reviews, but I'm writing one now because I can't believe the delusion of the restaurant owner. Also, the owner states that he was there last night, but we voiced our discontent to our waiter (who was very respectful and understanding btw), and as far as we saw, the owner was nowhere to be seen, and he didn't bother speaking with us when we would've loved to speak with him.
My family has been going here for years and this was the very first time I showed up to this restaurant and I was super eager to try the food and experience the ambience of this restaurant, but I was severely let down.
In case it wasn't clear already, I do not recommend this place.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 3
Service: 1
Yolanda Romo
I’m very sorry, Mr. Owner, but that happened. We don’t have to lie, because in reality, everything we heard clearly hurt us a lot. I’m not lying when I say that a young woman who works there was speaking with some bad words, not appropriate at any time and even less in a place where you are consuming the product of what you cook and that’s why you have a job. Everything that happened yesterday was very rude, and when we left, you were there going down the stairs and you were not good at apologizing, because I’m sure that the waiter told you of our discontent and disappointment. You say that your employees are trained enough for that job; well, yesterday they didn’t prove it. Also, let me tell you that the first pizza they delivered was ordered by the person who arrived last! And it took 1½ hours for our order because they were late? That doesn’t make sense; just bad service
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 4
Service: 1
Adriana Romo-Hernandez
We had a reservation at 7, we ordered our food at 7:20 and the waiter did not come back upstairs till 8:40, after we asked where our food was. Nobody communicated with us that the pizza was made one at a time and that it would take them over an hour to make 4 pizzas. None of our food was ready in a timely manner and it was cold when it got to our table. The worst part was that the waitress got upset that we walked down the stairs and started talking badly about us. We heard it clearly from the upstairs because there was no music playing. I have never been treated and insulted by a server in my life. We drove here from over 2 hours away and will not be returning. The fact that the insults came from downstairs and they said it clear as day, results in a bad review and a report on their horrible service. Apparently they are on their best behavior when their boss is in the building, he was not there, and the staff was cussing up a storm. Not worth the drive. Not worth your time. Rude people. Food would be better at Olive Garden.
Update: Sir, we literally saw you walk out of the restaurant before we got seated at our table and you left. We saw you leave. Another point to make is that if you staff is well trained, why would they not go up and explain that? We had no idea that the pizza takes that long. We had no idea that because we had such a big party, we were pushed to the back. We didn't know. So when we go down and have to ask to a refill of water and an update on our food, and your staff speaks badly about us and our "big ass" order and how we are "dumb and should know" that is not okay. You can defend your staff all you want sir. Just know, that we know for a fact that you were not there, you did not hear her say that and insult us, and Xavier tried to fix the issue, but he was not the one that said it. If your staff wants to insult customers, they can do it in the kitchen or far away from the ears of customers that actually appreciate and like your food. It is unfortunate that as an owner, you would respond this way and lie and say you know your staff didn't say anything. Pull the cameras, hear how your staff speaks badly about your customers, then you can fix the problem which is within your staff.
Food was good with large portions, but took an hour to receive. It was busy for a Monday night. They were sweet though and gifted me a dessert for my birthday! The tiramisu was amazing. Good, kind service as well. Very small and cozy seating indoors.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 4
Mike Coaty
This is the second time we said we’re never going back again. We should have stuck to our decision the first time. The food was okay but double the cost it should have been for what we were served. And when I complained that it took over an hour to get our food when there was only one other table with guests in the place they said “it takes as long as it takes.”We got one order of pasta, a steak, and two glasses of wine for $170 not including tip. No appetizer, salad or dessert.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 2
Michelle Merriman
The food and the atmosphere were amazing! The food was such a unique mixture of spices and seasoning that it was so tasty.
Dietary restrictions: They don't use MSG!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Sean Luo
Best pizza ever!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
T. Mistretta
Such wonderful, authentic Italian food & atmosphere! My husband is 100% Sicilian, and much of the food reminds him of home. Great service, too. They import the olive oil and wine from Puglia, Italy, and it is the best!
If you’re looking for an authentic Italian dining experience near Lake Arrowhead, Puglia Italian Restaurant is an absolute must-visit! From the moment I walked in, I was welcomed with warm hospitality and an ambiance that transported me straight to Southern Italy.
The food was outstanding. The flavors were rich, authentic, and clearly made with love.
The service was exceptional. My server was attentive, knowledgeable, and made great recommendations.
Puglia Italian Restaurant is a true hidden gem, and I can’t wait to return for another incredible meal. Highly recommend!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great friendly service. Great food. Absolutely love the pet friendly atmosphere.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Lasagna
Delicious!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Braciole Pasta
It might be one of the best Italian restaurant I had in a long time. I might consider driving up just to eat at Puglia! The service was on point, and the food and drinks delicious. The olive oil they served was incredible. I wish I could bring some home!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Tiramisu Flambe
Great home made legit Italian food! Good selection of Italian wines from several regions.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I give the food 5 stars; I am a regular customer, and although I have had issues with the wait time and the price, I keep coming back. I came here because someone I recommended the place to checked the reviews left by customers, and oh, what a surprise! I’m not surprised by what they say because I have experienced most of it myself. What does surprise me is that the supposedly “prestigious” owner responds in such an arrogant and boastful manner, which makes him look bad. He should simply apologize and try to fix what customers say is wrong. There is no need to brag about being “famous”—that reputation crumbles with a bad attitude.
A place with good food and good service promotes itself, and a true professional, with all the training he claims to have, stays quiet and ensures that the customer is happy and satisfied with their experience. Sir, you should stop boasting because it only makes you look bad. Best of luck with your business.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 4
Service: 1
Hello, I just wanted to say that we visited this restaurant over the weekend for a family gathering, and the service was really awful. The food was good, which is why we have always returned whenever the family gets together, but this time the service was truly disappointing.
They seated us on the second floor, and once we were there, they only took our drink orders and later the appetizers, but then they completely forgot about us. We went to check what was going on, and they said they were waiting because two people in our group were missing, but we told them we were ready to order. They finally took our order, and about 10 minutes later, the two late arrivals joined us and placed their orders.
It took an hour and a half for them to bring our food, and one dish was missing. When we complained, they said the delay was because two people had arrived late, and that’s why they hadn’t prepared the food quickly. However, when they brought the food, the first order served was coincidentally one of the late arrivals. When we complained about the long wait, they said it was because we were a large group, which supposedly caused the delay.
When the waiter went downstairs, we could hear the staff at the reception area talking loudly. The place is small, so we could clearly hear everything they were saying from upstairs. They were blaming us and using very inappropriate and offensive language. I strongly disapprove of such behavior, especially in public and directed at customers.
This is why I am giving this rating.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 4
Service: 1
I just went there last night and had probably one of the worst experiences I've had in a restaurant. None of us were informed that there was only one pizza oven and so after an hour and a half of waiting, we finally got our food and my pizza was no longer hot, it was room temp. It was for a party of 10 and four of us ordered pizza, so I would expect some sort of communication that the pizza might take a little longer than expected because there's only one oven, and yet, none of us were made aware of that. And to make things worse, when we asked about our food politely, we all heard a female staff member say some blatantly disrespectful comments, 10 feet from our table. My sister posted a review a couple hours ago, and the owner had the audacity to respond and make it seem as though that could've never happened. Clearly there is some sort of delusional attitude going on, because how are you going tell all nine of us that attended that we heard incorrectly?! Last time I checked, we were the last people in the restaurant that night and the music was already turned off so we heard it clear as day. Very disappointing from the restaurant owner to respond to my sister's review that way because I usually don't write reviews, but I'm writing one now because I can't believe the delusion of the restaurant owner. Also, the owner states that he was there last night, but we voiced our discontent to our waiter (who was very respectful and understanding btw), and as far as we saw, the owner was nowhere to be seen, and he didn't bother speaking with us when we would've loved to speak with him.
My family has been going here for years and this was the very first time I showed up to this restaurant and I was super eager to try the food and experience the ambience of this restaurant, but I was severely let down.
In case it wasn't clear already, I do not recommend this place.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 3
Service: 1
I’m very sorry, Mr. Owner, but that happened. We don’t have to lie, because in reality, everything we heard clearly hurt us a lot. I’m not lying when I say that a young woman who works there was speaking with some bad words, not appropriate at any time and even less in a place where you are consuming the product of what you cook and that’s why you have a job. Everything that happened yesterday was very rude, and when we left, you were there going down the stairs and you were not good at apologizing, because I’m sure that the waiter told you of our discontent and disappointment. You say that your employees are trained enough for that job; well, yesterday they didn’t prove it. Also, let me tell you that the first pizza they delivered was ordered by the person who arrived last! And it took 1½ hours for our order because they were late? That doesn’t make sense; just bad service
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 4
Service: 1
We had a reservation at 7, we ordered our food at 7:20 and the waiter did not come back upstairs till 8:40, after we asked where our food was. Nobody communicated with us that the pizza was made one at a time and that it would take them over an hour to make 4 pizzas. None of our food was ready in a timely manner and it was cold when it got to our table. The worst part was that the waitress got upset that we walked down the stairs and started talking badly about us. We heard it clearly from the upstairs because there was no music playing. I have never been treated and insulted by a server in my life. We drove here from over 2 hours away and will not be returning. The fact that the insults came from downstairs and they said it clear as day, results in a bad review and a report on their horrible service. Apparently they are on their best behavior when their boss is in the building, he was not there, and the staff was cussing up a storm. Not worth the drive. Not worth your time. Rude people. Food would be better at Olive Garden.
Update: Sir, we literally saw you walk out of the restaurant before we got seated at our table and you left. We saw you leave.
Another point to make is that if you staff is well trained, why would they not go up and explain that? We had no idea that the pizza takes that long. We had no idea that because we had such a big party, we were pushed to the back. We didn't know.
So when we go down and have to ask to a refill of water and an update on our food, and your staff speaks badly about us and our "big ass" order and how we are "dumb and should know" that is not okay. You can defend your staff all you want sir. Just know, that we know for a fact that you were not there, you did not hear her say that and insult us, and Xavier tried to fix the issue, but he was not the one that said it. If your staff wants to insult customers, they can do it in the kitchen or far away from the ears of customers that actually appreciate and like your food. It is unfortunate that as an owner, you would respond this way and lie and say you know your staff didn't say anything. Pull the cameras, hear how your staff speaks badly about your customers, then you can fix the problem which is within your staff.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 1
Recommended dishes: Pasta Al Forno
Restaurantji Recommends
Food was good with large portions, but took an hour to receive. It was busy for a Monday night. They were sweet though and gifted me a dessert for my birthday! The tiramisu was amazing. Good, kind service as well. Very small and cozy seating indoors.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 4
This is the second time we said we’re never going back again. We should have stuck to our decision the first time. The food was okay but double the cost it should have been for what we were served. And when I complained that it took over an hour to get our food when there was only one other table with guests in the place they said “it takes as long as it takes.”We got one order of pasta, a steak, and two glasses of wine for $170 not including tip. No appetizer, salad or dessert.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 2
The food and the atmosphere were amazing! The food was such a unique mixture of spices and seasoning that it was so tasty.
Dietary restrictions: They don't use MSG!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Best pizza ever!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Such wonderful, authentic Italian food & atmosphere! My husband is 100% Sicilian, and much of the food reminds him of home. Great service, too. They import the olive oil and wine from Puglia, Italy, and it is the best!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Braciole Pasta, Lemon Cake, Tiramisu Flambe, Rigatoni Bolognese
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