Taverna Lazaro

Had a lovely lunch there with my family. Although we were a bit sceptical about the place as it was in a very touristic spot, the owner was very welcoming. Had 2 different types of homemade raki, picked vegetables and some marmelade on the house. Expected to to be overcharged. We were not! Had an amazing time there.

One of the best locations! Excellent food, a very friendly service, nice environment and very clean! I am looking forward to visiting this place every time I have the chance to visit Berat! The owner takes the time for a little chat with the guests, very obliging!

*Disappointing Experience Due to Unexpected Charges* I visited Taverna Lazaro with my group, hoping for a pleasant dining experience near the beautiful Berat Castle. Initially, the service was good, and the staff’s behavior was nice, which set a positive tone for our meal. The food, while decent, was a bit oily for my taste, but it was still acceptable overall. However, our experience took a disappointing turn when we received the bill. We had ordered two of the same dish, “Qofte,” as shown on the receipt (line 4 and line 9). The first portion was priced at 200 lek, which was fine, but the second portion of the same dish was charged at 250 lek—an extra 50 lek for no clear reason. When we asked about the discrepancy, the staff explained that the additional charge was due to “garnishing.” This explanation felt strange and unreasonable, as there was no noticeable difference between the two dishes, and such a practice wasn’t mentioned anywhere on the menu. I’ve attached the receipt as proof, where you can see the two “Qofte” entries with different prices (200 lek and 250 lek). The total came to 3,500 lek, but this unexpected charge left a sour taste. It’s not about the money—50 lek is a small amount—but the principle behind it. Adding an extra fee for something as trivial as garnishing, without transparency, felt dishonest and spoiled what could have been a nice dining experience. Overall, while the service and atmosphere were initially pleasant, this incident with the bill overshadowed everything else. I hope the management reconsiders such practices to ensure future customers don’t feel misled. Unfortunately, I left feeling disappointed and hesitant to return.