After an eventful dinner at the “Bujtina Sidheri”:https://www.silvertraveladvisor.com/review/restaurant/200675 in Korça, south east Albania, we wanted something a little simpler and more straightforward.
“Secret Restaurant and Pizza”:https://www.facebook.com/SECRET.Restaurant.Pizza.Korce/ was listed in our Bradt guide and although it was literally across the road from our hotel, it would have been easy to miss it, as it was above shops with only an unmarked side-door leading up a grey marble staircase.
However, this didn’t stop it being busy at 7.30pm on a Sunday. We were shown to a table which had just been vacated overlooking the busy Boulevard Republika. As the night progressed, it became obvious that the window tables were prime.
It wasn’t a promising start. It took a while for someone to clear the paper placemats and, having had the table wiped down, it was wiped again for a second time by a different waiter. We then waited again for the menus.
There was a good selection of salads, pastas and meat dishes, but the focus was pizza. The service was surly, and the waiter didn’t look us in the eye once or smile as we ordered. The only member of staff who displayed any charm was the sole girl, who was on plate clearing duty.
We chose a Greek salad, which was large and well-dressed and arrived with four slices of a lightly toasted garlic bread. We shared a pizza and couldn’t resist Pizza Edna, as it was my Mum’s name. It was topped with cheese, ham and spicy pepperoni and was a good size for two, with a thin crisp base and plenty of topping which had a real kick to it.
With a half-litre jug of white wine and a large bottle of sparkling water, the bill came to a reasonable 1,300 Lek (just less than £10). On leaving a 100 Lek tip, the waiter at last smiled: service charge is not automatically added to bills in Albania and staff always seem surprised and grateful for whatever you leave them.
As the night wore on, and tables were vacated, there was a constant stream of new customers until we left at 9pm when there was no room at the inn. Many customers appeared to be regulars and as they were also doing a good trade in takeaway pizza, the food clearly has a good reputation.
It wasn’t totally obvious, but from the outside, they appeared to have a second floor, which should really be called Top Secret.
