I walked by this place this place and noticed it was where Dev first met Mario in season 2 of…read moreMaster of None. It's a tiny pasta shop that opens early in the morning and is run by a super nice guy named Luca. I was surprised there weren't more reviews of this place. We were taking pictures of the sign outside (like obnoxious American tourists), and he invited us to go inside to try his tortellini (wonderful beef and parmigiano filling). We noticed a small table inside, and it turns out you can do a private degustation for €25 per person - we were able to get a reservation for the following day for lunch (Saturday in November). I'm glad Netflix brought well deserved attention to Luca's shop!

Our friends had originally stumbled upon Boutique del Tortellino at closing time. Luca, the chef…read moreand owner, offered them a few tortellini and said they could try back tomorrow. They invited us to join the next day and wow are we eternally grateful. Stepping in to Boutique del Tortellino is like stepping into the apartment of an old friend and sitting down at their kitchen table for an incomparable meal and experience. We have had a few excellent meals while traveling through Italy including Osteria Francescana and, without taking anything away from any other restaurant, I can say that this was far and away the best. When we left we weren't even a block away before three out of the four of us were crying happy tears. We talked for over an hour about our experience before even getting to the topic of the food. But then there's the food, of course. We were served the best bowl of pasta I've ever had in my entire life. Every dish and bottle of wine was full of flavor, passion and a big burst of humanity at its finest. If you have the opportunity to stop by for lunch or dinner I can't recommend enough. We'll be fondly reminiscing about this meal for decades to come.

This is a cheese and balsamic store along the smaller streets downtown. I was amazed how the taste…read moreand consistency of cheese changes over the months. The balsamic vinegar is also aged for years, similar to wine. The difference in taste is remarkable, and the differences in cost is measureable.

Food was amazing but it was a bit warm in the building and be prepared to wait in line.read more

Amazing experience. Customer service was great. We had many questions that led to a great…read moreconversation, felt very personal and natural. Food was absolutely amazing. I will be returning here everything I am in Bologna. Food can be taken to go or eaten in the street. Lovely ambiance with a bar across the street, can get a drink with your meal.

Recommended by Yelp, Google, the air bnb host and now me!…read more This was easily my favorite food destination in all of Bologna. It was also my favorite interaction in Italy! The owner had the sweetest smile, was warm and friendly, and even remembered my name from day 1 (yes, I went multiple days!). In all honesty I don't care much for lasagna in the states. However, the green lasagna was the highlight, and paired with the tortellini en brodo...Aaahh! I'm missing it so much right now! It'll forever be a stop I have to make when I'm Bologna, and I hope to see the owner each and every time. Also note that the address on Yelp isn't exact but close enough-don't give up, it's there!

I was a bit hesitant seeing the line, but it was fast moving and worth it…read more It's a fairly small restaurant, with half the seating around one giant table. It's not a place you'll linger over a leisurely meal. But the food is terrific. The menu is split between classics and creative takes, it was great to share and sample from several. There are certainly more "authentic" places you could go (even though this one has been around for decades); a dinner place in Italy whose kitchen closes at 8 raises an eyebrow. But it's a great experience as a visitor and inviting.

They really have a system down! You can order to go if the line feels too long for you but I say…read moreworth the wait and it moves fast. Excellent pasta, and extremely affordable. I ordered the lasagna and it was fantastic! Piping hot and ready to be devoured. You can also order pasta to go (uncooked for your own dinner table). They have a beautiful counter with their pasta selection and I am sad I don't get a picture because it is a site to be seen. So if you are in the area. Wait in line and enjoy the vibe! The staff were extremely friendly.

Intro: After exploring Bologna to the fullest, we made our way to Osteria Broccaindosso for dinner…read more Located outside of the heart of Bologna, despite being away from the center of the action, the restaurant was almost full. They didn't have any tables outside so we were seated inside. Service (3.5/5): No WiFi unfortunately which isn't great for an international traveler like me. Standard European service. Not terribly friendly and not terribly efficient but I would say they were a bit more attentive than the norm. They did hook us up with some complimentary limoncello shots which was a really nice touch. Ambiance (3.5/5): A little quieter since it's off the beaten path which I like. A pleasant, homey restaurant. Drinks (4.5/5): We shared a bottle of wine. And the aforementioned limoncello shots. Food (4/5): We went with their pasta for two deal where each person gets three different types of pasta that you choose from six or so options. I love getting a variety of dishes so this was a nice way to do it. Not huge portions given the price but still delicious. The dishes were served to us quickly and we got to try some pastas we had never heard of. Overall: When in Bologna, Osteria Broccaindosso makes for a fine choice. It's a 15-minute walk or so from the center of town.

The food was the best we've had in the 4 days we've been in Italy. Some of us ordered the 3 pasta…read moresampler; some ordered the 2 pasta sampler, and we didn't regret it! All of the pasta choices were super tasty and very much enjoyed dinner. We tried 3 different wines and they were all also very good. Our main courses ended with tiramisu and apple cakes, which were also delicious. The staff was friendly and spoke enough English to communicate with us. Food came out hot and fast and we very much enjoyed every bit. This restaurant is highly by a group of foodies from Seattle!

One of the rare times where expectations were high, but not met. I had been crushed when the place…read morewas closed my first visit to Modena in 2015. Determined, I returned to the city in 2017, and HG was my first call (in fact, I confirmed they were opened before booking the hotel). I love all the intrigue in entering through a secret door from inside a high-end meet and cheese shop. There are just 4 tables, so it's very intimate too. The menu is concise, and offered in English. But the food didn't "wow" me. The "dried cod cream with toast" appetizer was like hot fish dip. It was, I can't believe I'm saying this, a little gross. And it was 18€! My table of 4 was playing "hot potato" with it. The 12€ fried dumplings with cold cuts was one of the better items. Both pastas (macaroni with duck and linguini with pork cheek sauce) were enjoyed by all, but at 18€ each, were also a little shocking. The 26€ main courses were mostly fine, but again, way too expensive and too small. Nothing even worth describing in my usual exhaustive detail. Oh wait: the "fried cotechino with zabiglione sauce" was also gross. So another big strike out in the secondi to go with the hot cod dip. For a place with such a fanatical foodie following (FFF), I would have much preferred the weekday lunch at Strada Facendo (a multi course lunch for the price of a single dish here).

After watching the second season of Master Of None, I was bound to make reservations at Hosteria…read moreGiusti. In the show, he meets a girl at the salumeria and they hit it off. I was now a single girl ready to mingle, in hopes of living the life the way Aziz Ansari did in the show. Hosteria Giusti happens to be Mario Batali's favorite restaurant. It also happens to only be open for lunch and caters to the lucky diners who manage to snag one of the four tables available. Yes, you read it right; there are only a total of four tables! I booked months in advance for this lunch and couldn't wait to try it. The restaurant itself was situated below my AirBnB (if you need recommendations, just ask me!) and luckily, I didn't have to dine alone. Upon arrival, you walk into the salumeria and check in with the staff to let them know you have a lunch reservation. The place itself is magnificent, with cured meats hanging from the ceiling and condiments after condiments all situated throughout the 4oo year old store. The hostess takes you through the store to the back, walking you through the kitchen until you reach your destination. The tables are rustic and you feel you're sitting in the dining room of a cute little European cottage. You're offered water and a wine list and the menu. Then the food comes.... MY FAVORITE DISH. FRIED DUMPLING WITH COLD CUTS (€12.00). Can I just tell you how freakin amazing this dish is? The bread aka the fried dumpling was light and airy and wasn't greasy for being fried. It was easy to eat and the cold cuts were delicious! It wasn't heavy and can be shared amongst your other party. I have yet to find something similar to this dish in LA. MACARONI WITH "ZAMPONE" SAUCE AND POTATO MUSH (€18.00). I never had pasta that is paired with potato. The zampone sauce usually consists of shoulder and thigh meat as well as the pork cheek and skin. It is common and Modena and I can see why! It is delicious and flavorful. The whole pasta was cooked al dente (now I really know what al dente means). The flavor was delicious, light, and slightly rich without being overpowering. I actually enjoyed the potato at the bottom of the dish. It absorbed the sauce. I liked this dish a lot. Get it cause I have yet to find a dish similar to this in the States. PUMPKIN RAVIOLI (€18.00). I mean, how can you go wrong with ravioli? It was light and the filling was smooth. It wasn't too sweet which can often happen with pumpkin. It was filling and yet, you find yourself wanting more. This dish was a good dish and fresh for the season. SUCKLING PIG IN ROOM TEMPERATURE WITH ONION SAUCE AND AGED BALSAMIC VINEGAR (€18.00-HALF PORTION). This was my least favorite dish. I felt the suckling pig was a bit too dry for my liking. I didn't love the onion sauce. It was a tad bit overwhelming in terms of acidity. Together, the onion sauce and the suckling pig were well-balanced but it still fell short of moistness and texture. FRIED "COTECHINO" WITH ZABAGLIONE AND LAMBRUSCO (€18.00-HALF PORTION). This was my favorite main amongst the two. It wasn't what I expected. It was basically a deliciously, ground up, moist sausage that was fried and topped with a well-balanced sauce. It was crisp and the perfect size being the half portion. It wasn't overly heavy, so I appreciated that. COOKED PEARS WITH MOSCATO ZABAIONE AND TOASTED ALMONDS (€18.00). I picked this dish cause I thought it was something different. The pears were delicious and not too sweet. The portion size was a good size to be shared. I just felt that the dish wasn't amazing. It wasn't what I expected. It was a little sour and I just was hoping for something more. Overall, I can see why Hosteria Giusti is Mario Batali's favorite restaurant. It is unique and pays homage to authentic food of Modena. This was the first time I tasted what true "al dente" pasta meant. It was definitely something to get used to, but I now much prefer this mode of cooking pasta. I thought all the flavors were quite prominent at this restaurant and I loved the fact that it was intimate. They cater to you as though you're one of the family. Although I didn't love every dish at this restaurant, I thought it was a unique experience and I wouldn't mind eating at this place again. For more pics, check out thefoodseeker dot com

You don't get much more classic lunch break than Vecchia Malga, one of many choices in the alleyway…read morestreet off of Bologna's main square, Piazza Maggiore. There are plates of thinly sliced meats with cheeses everywhere so it's hard to choose where to go, especially if you're a couple of vegetarians like us. We made a good choice here, ordering a cheese board for one and a mixed salad. The cheese board was so plentiful that we had to re-confirm that this was just a serving for one. It was. Really generous with 6 different local cheeses of various tastes and firmness, surrounding a cup of honey which sealed the deal for us. We loved this cheese board and left referring back to it as we had cheese in other places on our trip. The salad (I mean you have to occasionally eat vegetables...even in Italy) was basic, just arugula and tomatoes, but was super-fresh. Also they brought the region's famous bread in a paper bag. Well, I don't know if "famous" is the right word, but this is the only place in the world we'd experienced the bread brought in paper bags, so sign me up for its autograph. This was a great choice for a cheese plate among the many options on this street and in the area. The cheese board especially was our favorite cheese in the whole country.

Such an amazing experience for a couple of first time visitors to Italy. We enjoyed a sample board…read moreof meats and cheese, and while I thought the concept of lard as a condiment was strange, holy cow was that tasty! And I don't know why something as simple as tortellini in broth is so tasty, but it is the ultimate comfort food! The atmosphere was incredibly cozy on the cold and damp day we visited,. Our waiter took excellent care of us, and we enjoyed watching the butchers at work assisting customers. Tucked up in the loft with a glass of wine, and later a coffee, was a perfect afternoon!

Say Cheese with a big smile as you taste and love this amazing, freshly prepared beautiful…read moreFormaggio served with even more love and kindness in Modena. So you find yourself 253 miles north of Rome and you just enjoyed the Modena Olive oil factory tour and shopping spree. It gets better! The Ferrari Museum is the next stop but you are famished. Perfecto! I absolutely and wholeheartedly recommend this fantastic amazing, beautiful tour of this cheese factory and the store that comes with these generous samplings, ( more like a all you can eat and then some cheese fest), the wine pairings w huge pours and the very big gift bags all for just the equivalent of $69 US. The factory is immaculate, just huge and very well organized. The tour in English is about an hour long and covers the lovely 1000 plus year history, the science behind the production( as viewed through the big microscopes), the patience of the process and the magnificent end result - 150,000 eighty eight pound individually annually produced packages of the one of the most fresh and delicious cheeses .... Ever! The Parmigiano Reggiano. There are five regions that produce this; we got to enjoy 20% of that. Definitely will be back to enjoy the individual taste in each one. I just love that for all of us eggplant parm and chicken parm lovers and fans back in NY and all over the US, this is a fantastic opportunity to see, taste and experience the source and the real deal!

This is exactly what I was hoping for when I booked a cheese tour in Modena. Getting to learn the…read moreprocess and then see it happening and then being able to taste some before we left. Well worth the money. Highly recommend it.

This Eataly in Bologna is different from most other locations in that it's half bookstore, half…read moreeverything else you'd expect from an Eataly (cafe, bar, grocery store). Located in a three-story building a stone's throw east from the main Piazza Maggiore and directly across the alley from Mercato di Mezzo (a separate moderate sized food hall), the Eataly retail space is spread over all 3 floors, with groceries mainly located on the 2nd story. The ground/1st floor is mostly books and a casual bar/cafe, where they serve simple pastries and coffee/tea in the morning and apertivo options (meaning light bites and classic cocktails) in the early evening. Upstairs on the second floor (1st floor for Europeans ;), there is a selection of olive oils, vinegars, condiments, dry goods, snacks, candies, wines and liquors, and gifting items. A smaller selection of grocery items than other Eataly locations and no fresh produce. There is a wine bar/beer garden area upstairs as well though it didn't seem to be in use during the couple times I dropped by in early April, however the still carried quite a broad wine selection considering the space. I dropped by one late afternoon and tried the fried polenta and an aperol spritz. The food was kinda unimpressive, the fried polenta felt a bit thick and heavy, the drink was ok. It took a while to wait for the food though the drink was ready fairly quickly. Overall a convenient location to pick up a food/cook book in Italian or other souvenirs.

Eataly was located next door to our hotel in Bologna, Italy. We stopped by for a quick bite and…read moresome caffeine. The restaurant is a cute deli style that also serves wine and beer. We ordered mortadella panninis and cappuccinos. Both were good. The sandwich was simple, but filling. The cappuccinos were good. It's a nice place to take a break from walking and relax a bit. But if you're looking for a delicious authentic Italian meal, keep looking. This is more like a fancier subway sandwich shop.