Vicolo Colombina in Bologna's Quadrilatero is the small-room trattoria one alley off Via Drapperie, with the Bolognese pasta canon and a strong local cellar.
Signature dishes: Tagliatelle al ragu, Tortellini in brodo, Tartare of beef
Must order: Tagliatelle al ragu, tortellini in brodo, the carpaccio of Chianina.
Tip: Book three days ahead online; the dining room is intimate and the Quadrilatero passeggiata is loud after 19:30.
Address: Vicolo Colombina 5, 40125 Bologna BO
Osteria Bartolini on Piazza Malpighi in Bologna is the Romagna group's seafood branch with a courtyard garden, daily fritto and a Romagnola seafood carte.
Signature: Fritto misto, Crudo of Adriatic seafood, Spaghetti alle vongole
Order: Fritto misto, the Adriatic crudo plate, the spaghetti alle vongole.
Tip: Book three days ahead online; the garden seating is the spot to ask for in summer and the Friday-night carte is busiest.
Trattoria da Me in Bologna's San Felice is the Elisa Rusconi family room running the Bolognese pasta canon on a 35-seat porticoed dining hall, with Sunday bollito.
Signature: Tagliatelle al ragu, Tortellini in brodo, Bollito misto
Order: Tagliatelle al ragu, tortellini in brodo, the Sunday bollito misto.
Tip: Book a week ahead by phone; the lunch service is the easier seating and the Sunday bollito sells out by 13:00.
Trattoria Anna Maria in Bologna near Via Zamboni is the city's most-photographed sfoglia trattoria, run by Anna Maria Monari since 1985 with hand-rolled tortellini.
Signature: Tagliatelle al ragu, Tortellini in brodo, Lasagne verdi
Order: Tagliatelle al ragu, tortellini in brodo, lasagne verdi, gnocco fritto.
Tip: Book a week ahead for dinner. Lunch is calmer and the sfogline still hand-roll pasta in the window between services.
All'Osteria Bottega in Bologna's Saragozza is the Daniele Minarelli and Valeria Tonelli room, a tiny dining hall running the canonical Emilian carte with precision.
Signature: Tortellini in brodo, Tagliatelle al ragu, Cotechino with mostarda
Order: Tortellini in brodo, tagliatelle al ragu, the salumi board of Bonfatti mortadella.
Tip: Book three weeks ahead by phone; the room seats 28 and the lunch service has the easiest tables.
Trattoria di Via Serra in Bologna's Bolognina is the Flavio Fabbri and Tommaso Trifoni room, a 28-seat osteria with the city's most-cited tagliatelle al ragu.
Signature: Tagliatelle al ragu, Tortelloni di ricotta, Cotoletta alla bolognese
Order: Tagliatelle al ragu, tortelloni burro e salvia, friggione.
Tip: Book three weeks ahead online; the lunch service is the easier seating and the kitchen runs the same carte at both meals.
Ristorante Diana on Via dell'Indipendenza in Bologna is the 1909-founded room running the canonical Bolognese carte and the famous Sunday carrello dei bolliti.
Signature: Tortellini in brodo, Lasagne verdi, Carrello dei bolliti
Order: Tortellini in brodo, lasagne verdi, the carrello dei bolliti on Sunday lunch.
Tip: Book a fortnight ahead for Sunday lunch; the carrello dei bolliti runs only on Sunday and Wednesday lunches.
