The southwest quarter under the 666-arch portico walking up to the Madonna di San Luca, with neighbourhood osterias and the Trattoria di Via Serra at its foot.
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 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.
Signature: Tagliatelle al ragu, Cotoletta alla bolognese, Tortelloni di zucca
Order: Tortelloni di zucca, tagliatelle al ragu, the Sunday-only bollito misto.
Tip: Book a week ahead for Sunday lunch; the portico walk from Porta Saragozza takes 25 minutes and is the traditional pre-lunch passeggiata.
Trattoria Bertozzi in Bologna's Saragozza is the neighbourhood family trattoria on Via Andrea Costa running the canonical Bolognese carte for the weekday-lunch trade.
Signature: Tagliatelle al ragu, Petroniana cotoletta, Tortelloni
Order: Tagliatelle al ragu, the petroniana cotoletta, the tortelloni di ricotta with sage butter.
Tip: Book by phone two days ahead; the dining room has 40 seats and the kitchen runs the same carte at lunch and dinner.
Trattoria Belfiore in Bologna's Saragozza is the neighbourhood family room running the canonical Bolognese carte with a strong Sunday carrello dei bolliti and weekday lunch tradition.
Signature: Tagliatelle al ragu, Tortelloni, Bollito misto
Order: Tagliatelle al ragu, tortelloni burro e salvia, the Sunday carrello dei bolliti.
Tip: Book a week ahead by phone; the Sunday bollito carrello runs only at lunch and Sunday dinner closes.
Trattoria da Pietro in Bologna's Centro Storico is the long-running family room near Via Indipendenza, running the canonical Bolognese carte and a small daily-changing seasonal sheet.
Signature: Tagliatelle al ragu, Cotoletta alla bolognese, Tortelloni
Order: Tagliatelle al ragu, the cotoletta alla bolognese, the seasonal carte.
Tip: Book a fortnight ahead by phone; the dining room is intimate and the chef speaks fluent English for the international crowd.