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Ragù alla Bolognese is definitely considered one of Italy’s most acclaimed and globally beloved dishes, and this hearty creation originated in Bologna a number of centuries in the past. There’s a superb probability you’ve noticed this beef and tomato-based dish on menus in numerous eating places, however naturally, the perfect Bolognese is in Bologna!

It’s all the time the dish that folks get most enthusiastic about on my Bologna meals excursions, which is especially note-worthy given how celebrated the meals in Bologna is.

If you wish to uncover the eating places serving the perfect Bolognese in Bologna, you’ll discover my prime decisions beneath!

What Makes Genuine Ragù alla Bolognese?

Creating the proper ragù alla Bolognese is a meticulous course of involving premium components and particular cooking methods.

Earlier than I am going any additional, I really feel it’s necessary to say that, opposite to what many people outdoors of Italy grew up believing, Bolognese isn’t served with spaghetti however with tagliatelle. Even when the pasta differs in form, it is going to all the time be an egg-based selection to take in the sauce.

After I started in search of insights into the standard recipe, I discovered that this luxury sauce incorporates extra than simply beef, tomato, and onions. Whereas these components assist to type the bottom of the sauce, high-quality carrots, celery, pancetta, wine, and milk are all key to creating its unmistakable taste. 

For the deepest, most flavorful outcomes, the meat have to be slow-cooked for a number of hours, permitting the meat to turn into wealthy and extra tender.

Finest Eating places for Bolognese in Bologna

Trattoria da Me

Photograph credit score: Trattoria da Me

Trattoria da Me close to Palazzo Pallavicini is a relaxed eatery that’s been round for shut to at least one hundred years. The eating space blends fashionable and conventional decor, and the menu is all about Bolognese flavors. Making a reserving is greatest, as I confronted a brief wait after I arrived after 8:00 pm.

Their tagliatelle al ragù is what each second particular person appeared to be consuming after I was right here, so I adopted go well with. I used to be stunned by the beneficiant portion measurement, but I’d savored each chew of silky pasta and melt-in-your-mouth meat sauce in minutes.

Trattoria da Me – 40122 Bologna – Closed each Monday, open Tuesday to Friday from 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm and from 7:30 pm to 10:00 pm, and each Saturday and Sunday from 12:00 pm to 2:30 pm and from 7:30 pm to 10:00 pm.

Osteria Angolo degli Orefici

Osteria Angolo degli Orefici within the Quadrilatero space is a beautiful spot for an al fresco eating expertise. Regardless of how busy it was at lunchtime, I managed to get a desk underneath one of many canopies in minutes. 

It’s solely been open since 2020, but it has all of the appeal and heat of a decades-old restaurant. The workers was additionally great and really useful I strive the tortellini with ragù and home made cream. I adored the addition of easy, gentle cream, because it softened the daring, zesty flavors of the sauce.

Osteria Angolo degli Orefici – 40125 Bologna – Closed each Monday, open each Tuesday to Sunday from 11:00 am to 1:00 am.

La Taverna Di Roberto

Proper by the Two Towers is La Taverna Di Roberto, a cozy, rustic spot the place I discovered among the greatest Bolognese in Bologna just a few years again. In the event you get right here at lunchtime, you shouldn’t face a lot of a wait to safe a seat.

Their tagliatelle al ragù is amongst their most beloved dishes, and also you’ll shortly see why as quickly as you strive it. The pasta was cooked to perfection, whereas the beefy ragù clung to each strand.

La Taverna Di Roberto – 40125 Bologna – Open each Monday to Saturday from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm and from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm and each Sunday from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm.

Osteria dell’Orsa

Photograph credit score: Osteria dell’Orsa

Osteria dell’Orsa, on the outskirts of the College District, is kind of totally different out of your typical Italian restaurant. It options communal-style seating and distinctive industrial touches that distinction the chunky picket tables.

The menu is ever-changing relying on the season, however their lasagna is considered one of their mainstays. This hearty combine of strong ragù, barely chewy pasta, and indulgent béchamel sauce was each bit as satisfying as I’d hoped it will be.

Osteria dell’Orsa – 40126 Bologna – Open day by day from 12:30 pm to 11:00 pm.

Vicolo Colombina

Photograph credit score: Vicolo Colombina

The oh-so-elegant Vicolo Colombina sits across the nook from Basilica di San Petronio. I’d heard these guys ready among the greatest Bolognese in Bologna, they usually’ve actually earned loads of awards and recognition to snag them such a title, together with a spot on the Michelin information.

It was right here that I attempted lasagna with a chicken ragù for the primary time, and I quickly discovered that I’d been lacking out for fairly a while. Not like conventional ragù, the sauce doesn’t embody tomatoes and as an alternative makes use of rooster inventory. The savory, white wine-infused flavors labored fantastically with the juicy beef and velvety béchamel sauce.

Vicolo Colombina – 40123 Bologna – Open day by day from 12:15 to three:30 pm and from 7:30 pm to 11:30 pm.

Find out how to Spot Genuine Bolognese in Bologna

• Follow eating places that serve ragù with tagliatelle or egg-based pasta.
• Look out for eateries that make the most of slow-cooking methods, which is able to normally end in extra intense meat flavors moderately than tomatoes.
• A lot of the prime eating places for Bolognese will use recent, native components, together with DOP-certified meats, home made pasta, and Parmigiano Reggiano.
• Avoid vacationer traps and go for spots in style with locals.

The place to Purchase the Finest Contemporary Bolognese Sauce and Pasta

• Take a look at native artisan shops and markets promoting home made pasta and Bolognese sauce.
• Delis and butchers are the go-to spots for high quality beef, pancetta, and Parmigiano Reggiano.
• Check out a cooking class whereas in Bologna to be taught from skilled cooks tips on how to put together the components your self.

Remaining Ideas: Why Bologna is the Finest Place for Bolognese Lovers

Bologna is the birthplace of ragù alla Bolognese, and regardless of all of the takes on this genuine Bolognese dish I’ve tried, I’ve but to search out anyplace that compares to the varieties in its homeland. Briefly, town actually is an unmissable vacation spot for Bolognese-loving foodies!

Sources:

Consuming Europe. (n.d.). Bologna meals excursions & experiences. Consuming Europe. Retrieved March 29, 2025, from https://www.eatingeurope.com/bologna/

Consuming Europe. (n.d.). A information to Bologna meals: What to eat in Bologna, Italy. Consuming Europe. Retrieved March 29, 2025, from https://www.eatingeurope.com/weblog/bologna-food/

Trattoria Da Me. (n.d.). Trattoria Da Me – Bologna. Retrieved March 29, 2025, from https://www.trattoriadame.it/en/residence/

Osteria degli Orefici. (n.d.). Osteria degli Orefici – Bologna. Retrieved March 29, 2025, from https://osteriadegliorefici.it/en/home-2/

Tripadvisor. (n.d.). La Taverna di Roberto (Bologna, Italy) – Critiques & rankings. Tripadvisor. Retrieved March 29, 2025, from https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g187801-d2093475-Critiques-La_Taverna_Di_Roberto-Bologna_Province_of_Bologna_Emilia_Romagna.html

Osteria dell’Orsa. (n.d.). Osteria dell’Orsa – Bologna. Retrieved March 29, 2025, from https://www.osteriadellorsa.it/

Vicolo Colombina. (n.d.). Vicolo Colombina – Bologna restaurant. Retrieved March 29, 2025, from https://www.vicolocolombina.it/