Bolognese osteria€€mazzini
Osteria Broccaindosso in Bologna's Mazzini is the long-running neighbourhood osteria with a fixed-price set carte and pasta still hand-rolled daily on site.
Signature: Tortellini in brodo, Tagliatelle al ragu, Gnocco fritto
Order: The fixed-price set carte at 25 euros, tortellini in brodo, the salumi board.
Tip: Book by phone two days ahead; the 25-euro set carte runs at lunch only and is the value play.
Modern Italian, fine bistro€€€centro-storico
Marco Fadiga Bistrot in Bologna's Centro Storico is the chef Marco Fadiga's fine-bistro, a 28-seat room with a daily-changing Emilian and Adriatic carte.
Signature: Tasting menu, Risotto with rabbit, Seafood tortelli
Order: The seasonal tasting carte, the rabbit-and-saffron risotto, the salted anchovy tortelli.
Tip: Book a fortnight ahead online; the tasting carte is 85 euros and the wine pairings are the strength of the room.
Bolognese fine bistro€€€centro-storico
Ristorante Franco Rossi in Bologna's Centro Storico is the family fine-bistro running the Bolognese banking-class carte with a celebrated Sunday carrello dei bolliti.
Signature: Tortellini in brodo, Tagliatelle al ragu, Carrello dei bolliti
Order: Tortellini in brodo, the cotoletta alla bolognese, the Sunday carrello dei bolliti.
Tip: Book a week ahead; the Sunday carrello dei bolliti runs only at lunch and is the order to make.
Bolognese, Adriatic seafood€€€centro-storico
Ristorante Da Vito in Bologna's San Donato is the family room blending the Bolognese pasta tradition with Adriatic-fish service, on a 40-seat dining room.
Signature: Tortelli with truffle, Sea bass in salt crust, Fritto misto
Order: The truffle tortelli in season, the fritto misto, the sea bass in salt crust.
Tip: Book a fortnight ahead; the Friday-night seafood carte is the most-booked seating and the cellar is heavy on Trebbiano di Romagna.
Bolognese, fine bistro€€€santo-stefano
Drogheria della Rosa in Bologna's Santo Stefano is the Emanuele Addone fine-bistro built into a 19th-century apothecary, running the modern Bolognese carte.
Signature: Tagliatelle al ragu, Lasagne verdi, Stinco di maiale
Order: Tagliatelle al ragu, lasagne verdi, the stinco di maiale on Sunday.
Tip: Book a fortnight ahead online; the ground-floor room with the apothecary cabinets is the seating to request.
Modern Italian, natural wine€€€santo-stefano
Oltre in Bologna's Santo Stefano is the Lorenzo Costa modern-Italian room with a 28-seat hall and a tasting carte rooted in Emilian produce and natural wines.
Signature: Tortelloni with butter, Ravioli di parmigiano, Tasting menu
Order: The seasonal tasting carte, the ravioli di parmigiano, the daily fish service.
Tip: Book three weeks ahead online; the tasting carte runs 78 euros and the wine pairings are 45 euros more.