Lunch in Puglia

Yes the area around the trulli is touristy, but I had one of the best focaccia I’ve ever had by just wandering a little bit in Alberobello, so I would not rule it out entirely.
Neighboring Noci has a well regarded sandwich shop you could check out. It’s tiny—you can’t miss it.

Alberobello
https://maps.app.goo.gl/SaUBtWjyLJz19wtU7?g_st=ic
https://maps.app.goo.gl/sioWsNyjP54XDNbb8?g_st=ic
https://maps.app.goo.gl/FscF4arKJy1EUZNH6?g_st=ic
https://maps.app.goo.gl/AiMCx2UKVme2BXRo8?g_st=ic

All recommended by locals, but the last one couldn’t try because it was booked and full.

Locorotondo
https://maps.app.goo.gl/S4GmKKGrZXXVvq5H6?g_st=ic

There are two very well-regarded restaurants in Noci, which you could pass en route to Alberobello from Matera; it's an hour from Matera. They are inland, so feature meat, cheese and vegetable dishes,, not seafood.

In these types of rural restaurants in Puglia, you should probably start with the mixed appetizer platter.

ANTICA LOCANDA (in the town)

AL BOSCHETTO (edge of town)

Thank you for your responses. I’m not sure that I explained my request clearly. We are checking out of our hotel in Matera in the morning and picking up our car there. Then driving an hour to Alberobello, arrive there by mid-morning and spend a few hours there. We do not want to eat lunch there. We will head to Monopoli by way of Castellana Grotte, rather than Locorotondo as we will be visiting there in a few days as a day trip from Monopoli. We would like to eat lunch somewhere between Alberobello and Monopoli, possibly in the Castellana Grotte area - just 20-30 minutes from Alberobello.

So…. any suggestions for that area would be helpful. Apparently my question seemed clearer in my head than it did in writing ;) !

All I can add is that the two restaurants I mentioned are within a 15-minute drive of Alberobello.

I second the idea of eating at L’Antica Locanda in Noci --- we've eaten there twice after visiting Alberobello and they had interesting local foods on the menu, like fried wild grape hyacinth bulbs (in spring). Traditional, Slow Food, and not fancy, but you will probably need to make a reservation.

I also second the advice to order mixed appetizers anywhere in Puglia.

I think we will look into L’Antica Locanda in Noci. After looking at the map, it’s not really backtracking, just taking a little different route. It sounds marvelous and would never have found it on our own. Thank you for your help! The forum never lets you down!

Looks like SP113 is not only the slightly faster route from Noci to Monopoli, but the easier and more scenic one. I "drove" both routes on Google street view, just for fun.

I hope that you will come back and let us know about your lunch!!

Will do! Thank you!