Ranked by TableJourney editorial score.
Gnocco fritto is Modena's puffed fried dough, made with flour, lard and sparkling water, cut into diamonds and eaten hot with prosciutto, salame, mortadella and soft cheese.
Gnocco fritto belongs to the Po plain of Modena and Reggio Emilia, where it is listed as a traditional regional product; Bologna calls the same thing crescentina, Parma torta fritta. The Modenese recipe uses 00 flour, lard, sparkling water and salt with no yeast: the dough is kneaded again every 20 to 30 minutes so it traps air and swells when fried. Some sources read the lard as a sign of a Lombard origin.
5 editor picks for Gnocco fritto in Modena, ranked by editorial score. All Modena signature dishes · Gnocco fritto across every city.
Also in: Bologna.
Il Fantino in Modena keeps a retro dining room on Via Donzi, serving hand rolled gnocco fritto and tortelloni with butter and sage most nights.
OrderThe gnocco fritto with cured meats and the tortelloni with butter and sage.
TipClosed Mondays; the wine list leans almost entirely on Lambrusco di Sorbara as the house pour.
Da Enzo in Modena's centro storico is a warm family trattoria near the Synagogue, serving gnocco fritto, tigelle and Emilian classics nightly.
OrderThe gnocco fritto with cured meats and the zampone with mashed potato.
TipSaturday dinner runs until midnight, later than the rest of the week; the kitchen closes on Mondays.
Antica Trattoria Cervetta has cooked Modenese classics on pedestrian Via Cervetta in Modena, an Accademia della Cucina choice closed on Thursdays.
OrderThe house Cervetta cutlet and coppa di testa with fried gnocco.
TipThe Cervetta cutlet and the house cake give the kitchen its name, order at least one.
La Chersenta brings Pavullo style crescentina to Modena's Via Albinelli, a casual counter for gnocco fritto beside the Albinelli covered market.
OrderThe crescentina with lardo, rosemary and grated Parmigiano.
TipClosed Sundays; the larger tigella grande is a house specialty worth trying.
Dispensa Emilia serves casual tigelle and gnocco fritto on Modena's Via Emilia Est, a chain outpost offering combinations of five different fillings.
OrderA combination of five tigelle fillings, the house signature order.
TipOutdoor seating suits families; open every day with no midweek closing.
Gnocco fritto makes more sense with someone from Modena explaining it. These are the classes and tours we have checked, with booking links.
9 hours
See how local Parmigiano Reggiano, balsamic, and wine are produced on this guided tour with hotel transfer from Bologna or Modena. Visit the Ferrari Museum and have lu...
8h 30m
Dive into production of Parmigiano Reggiano, learn about Lambrusco wine, explore Ferrari Museum, visit a vinegar factory, and have lunch at a Modena farmhouse on a day...
7 - 9.5 hours
Experience a day trip with transfer to witness the production of Parmigiano cheese, explore the Ferrari and Lamborghini Museum, visit a vinegar factory, and a delightf...
