The eastern bourgeois quarter beyond Porta San Vitale, with residential trattorias, Forno Brisa's first shop and the new-wave bakery-and-cafe scene of Via Mazzini.
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.
Signature: Tasting menu, Risotto with raw seafood, Sea-bass with Lambrusco reduction
Order: The seasonal tasting carte, the carbonara di mare, the slow-cooked guancia.
Tip: Book a fortnight ahead online; the tasting carte is the value option at 75 euros and the wine pairings are a strength.
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.