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Bolognese TrattoriaCentro Storico
Da Cesari in Bologna's Centro Storico is the four-generation Carati family trattoria, operating since 1955, a steady room for the canonical Bolognese carte.
OrderTagliatelle al ragu, cotoletta alla bolognese, friggione on the side.
TipBook a fortnight ahead by phone; the family carte does not change and the wine cellar is run by Massimiliano Carati personally.
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Modern Italian, Natural WineSanto Stefano
Ahime in Bologna near Via San Vitale is the Lorenzo Vecchia and Filippo Pennestri room, a 30-seat natural-wine bistro rooted in fermentation and Emilian.
OrderThe tortelli di erbette, the fermentation tasting plate, the trippa with parmesan crust.
TipBook three weeks ahead online; the natural-wine cellar is the city's most-cited and the carte rewrites weekly.
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ItalianSaragozza
Trattoria Meloncello in Bologna sits at the foot of the 666-arch portico up to San Luca, a family room running the classic Bolognese Sunday-lunch carte.
OrderTortelloni di zucca, tagliatelle al ragu, the Sunday-only bollito misto.
TipBook a week ahead for Sunday lunch; the portico walk from Porta Saragozza takes 25 minutes and is the traditional pre-lunch passeggiata.
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ItalianCentro Storico
Ristorante Donatello in Bologna from 1903 is the Fanciullacci-family Bolognese institution one street off Via Indipendenza, with the Liberty-style dining.
OrderTortellini, tagliatelle al ragu, lasagne al forno, the mortadella plate.
TipBook a week ahead by phone +39 051 235438; the kitchen runs lunch 12:00-14:30 and dinner 19:00-22:00, closed Tuesday.
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ItalianMazzini
Scaccomatto in Bologna's Mazzini is the Mario Ferrara fine-bistro running a sea-and-land carte that crosses Adriatic seafood with the Emilian land tradition.
OrderThe seasonal tasting carte, the carbonara di mare, the slow-cooked guancia.
TipBook a fortnight ahead online; the tasting carte is the value option at 75 euros and the wine pairings are a strength.
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ItalianCentro Storico
Sfoglia Rina in Bologna's Centro Storico is the 1963-founded sfoglina counter run by the Faccioli family, with hand-rolled pasta sold by weight.
OrderTagliatelle al ragu, tortelloni burro e salvia, the Wednesday-only lasagne verdi.
TipThe dine-in room takes walk-ins until 14:00; for take-away pasta, the queue thins after 11:30.