Best tagliatelle al ragú in Bologna

[Betteredge]

Hello, I'm going to Bologna for two days and after years hooked to the "spaguethi bolognesa" I wanna taste the real thing: "Tagliatelle al ragú". Would someone living in this town, Bologna, help me to find the best places to eat that dish?

A million thanks in advance for anybody helping.

[iL Divo]

as far as remembering specific names, I can't remember.
all I do remember is having bolognesa in Bologna and thinking it just doesn't get better than this. every bite of food we consumed there was magic.

[carmelita]

If you visit Bologna again, let me know, we'll go eat together! : ))

[carmelita]

My fave Tagliatelle al Ragù places not mentioned so far:

Trattoria Tony, via Augusto Righi

Da Nello, via Montegrappa

Trattoria Meloncello, via Saragozza

Teresina, via Oberdan

Biagi all Grada, via della Grada

I do not rate AnnaMaria and Trattoria del Rosso and I also avoid Diana and Tamburini, both now a pale shadow of what they once were.

For the record I have lived in Bologna since 1996 and run cooking classes here.

-----
Meloncello
Via Saragozza, 240, Bologna, Emilia-Romagna , IT

Trattoria del Rosso
Via Righi 30, Bologna, Emilia-Romagna 40126, IT

Teresina
Via Guglielmo Oberdan, 4, Bologna, Emilia-Romagna 40126, IT

[barberinibee]

I didn't eat tagliatelle al ragu at Trattoria Tony, but I hated everything I did eat there, and didn't like what I saw going to other tables.

[carmelita]

Too bad, it's a much loved favourite with Bolognese, for the traditional pastas like Tagliatelle and Tortellini in Brodo, the roast meats, and great salumi.

[barberinibee]

I think a good part of the belovedness for Tony's is the very low price. The owner is also charming. My passatelli in brodo was unpleasant and stodgy, not light and fresh, the secondi of meats were cheap cuts and tough. I only saw and smelled the bollitti headed to other tables, but it was unappetizing.

By the way, I agree with you about Trattoria Anna Maria and Tamburini. I have not had the ragu at Teresina, but have enjoyed every single thing I've eaten there, and have dined there several times. I had an excellent -- really perfect -- passatelli in brodo at Diana, but don't recommend the restaurant to others as a general rule, and agree that the glory days have faded.

I've not tried your other recs.

[carmelita]

Well we agree on many things, good, but let's just agree to disagree regarding Trattoria Tony - where my several meals over the years have always been spot on for classic home-style Bolognese dishes, and leaving price matters out of the picture.

Trattoria del Rosso on the other hand uses inferior products and that is somewhere I ate once and once only; there, to me, it is definitely the low price that is the attraction. I'd rather have Teresina's one course lunch and a glass of wine for the same price than the 3 courses at Trattoria del Rosso personally.

-----
Teresina
Via Guglielmo Oberdan, 4, Bologna, Emilia-Romagna 40126, IT

[PigsOnTour]

Thanks for your thoughts on Trattoria del Rosso - very interesting! We had read pretty good reviews and had planned to have one 'budget' lunch there on our trip to Bologna but think we will now skip it in favour of Teresina. (We also plan to visit Da Cesari, Da Gianni, Trattoria Trebbi and Al Sangiovese - are these all ok in your opinion? Or should we consider somewhere else?)

-----
Trattoria del Rosso
Via Righi 30, Bologna, Emilia-Romagna 40126, IT

Teresina
Via Guglielmo Oberdan, 4, Bologna, Emilia-Romagna 40126, IT

[barberinibee]

Personally I like Serghei for the kind of experience I was unable to get at Tony's. (I've never eaten at Trattoria del Rosso).

-----
Trattoria del Rosso
Via Righi 30, Bologna, Emilia-Romagna 40126, IT

Serghei
Via Piella, 12, Bologna, Emilia-Romagna 40126, IT

[carmelita]

It's a good list though I am not wild about Da Cesari where I have not eaten in many years. I used to think of it as OK but not remarkable.

I like Da Nello, via Montegrappa a lot, as do my Italian friends from outside Bologna. Pastas are excllent except for the Toretellini in Brodo, which have too much Parmigiano-Reggiano in the filling for my liking.

I used to like Sergehi until one evening when, in an unseemly and irritiating rush to get two seatings in during a big trade show, the waiter spilt red wine all over my pale cream linen jacket.

But round the corner from Sergehei I like the little, simple and unpretentious Mariposa in via Bertierea and very close by in via Piella there is Dal Biassanot : you could wak between the three (barely a minute apart) and go with your instinct in making your choice!

[PigsOnTour]

Thanks so much for your thoughts. Da Nello was on our shortlist but I had read mixed things - will definitely reconsider now. Mariposa is on our radar too so we'll definitely walk by and have a look as you suggest. Your insider knowledge is much appreciated - will let you know how we get on!

[barberinibee]

I very much liked the charming Mariposa, which encourages its patrons to draw on the paper tablecloths, but hesitate to recommend it because one of my dishes, an otherwise lovely plate of meatballs, I suspected had been microwaved (one side of the dish piping hot, the other side stone cold). The tortelloni in sage in butter was pretty much perfect, however, and I would return for just that. I didn't eat tagliatelle al ragu there, but it looked wonderful. A chicken secondo is to be avoided!

I didn't see anyone get wine spilled at them at Serghei the night I was there, and I was comfortably seated in the full restaurant, and wasn't rushed. The service was helpful. For me, Serghei is the place to go if you want to eat gramigna alla salsiccia, and it has some of the best secondi I enountered in Bologna. I also enjoyed the cheeky decor and dining with a very broad mix of clientele.

It will be pretty much impossible for you to get any impression of Serghei by just walking by. The restaurant has no windows where you can look in, and the door is so inconspicuous it has a sign on it reassuring you the place is open. And for dinner, you may need to reserve in advance. Be sure to take a peek at the canal while you are on the via Piella.

-----
Serghei
Via Piella, 12, Bologna, Emilia-Romagna 40126, IT

[carmelita]

You can get a good look inside Serghei from the side street where Mariposa is. And my place for Gramigna alla Salsiccia has always been Da Nello.

The night I got the red wine stains they were rushing diners rudely - very un-Bolognese behaviour - as there was a huge trade show on (which means tens of thousands of extra mouths to feed for restauarants) and they were intent on getting a second sitting in that nght. So much so that after we'd been rushed through antipasto and primo, plates whisked away before you'd put your fork down, when the waiter asked us what we wanted next (it is perfectly okay to order just one dish at a time here) one of my guests said .. " A pause!! Or has this become a fast food restauarant?"

So that is the reason none of us there that night eat there any longer, not the quality of the food which was always good, just the behaviour on that occasion.. After all there are so many other options...

-----
Serghei
Via Piella, 12, Bologna, Emilia-Romagna 40126, IT

[jen kalb]

thanks for all the recommendations and commentary!

addiong some links to this thread:

-----
Da Nello Al Montegrappa
Via Monte Grappa,2, Bologna, Emilia-Romagna 40121, IT

Mariposa
Via Bertiera,12, Bologna, Emilia-Romagna 40126, IT

Dal Biassanot
Via Piella,16a, Bologna, Emilia-Romagna 40126, IT

[jen kalb]

adding further links

-----
Da Cesari
Via de' Carbonesi, 8, Bologna, Emilia-Romagna 40123, IT

Trattoria Trebbi
Via Solferino, 40, Bologna, Emilia-Romagna 40124, IT

Al Sangiovese
Via Paglietta,12, Bologna, Emilia-Romagna 40124, IT

[iL Divo]

and Carmelita for the record, I am very envious of you.
your life must be very blessed. adore it there. lucky you....

[jen kalb]

adding links to some places that have been mentioned

-----
Trattoria Tony
Via Augusto Righi,1, Bologna, Emilia-Romagna 40126, IT

Biagi alla Grada Bologna
Via della Grada 6, Bologna, Emilia-Romagna 40122, IT

[carmelita]

Thank you so much all fine except the link for Biagi all Grada - the restaurant I mean is in Via della Grada, 6, 40122 Bologna. Sorry I don't know how to add Links!

[jen kalb]

If you click on the link under the map, then click a box that says edit, you can fix the address. Im enjoying the discussion!

[carmelita]

Thanks, done!

[Betteredge]

Thanks a lot everybody. I'll try to visit most of the places suggested and let you know my opinion as soon as I'll be back. That will be on the month of May. Thanks again.

[Longing for Italy]

Hmmmmmmm. Walk the back streets and stop at any local joint and you'll get the "real thing."

As with almost any dish in Italy, there are fierce debates about "best" and/or "most authentic." There isn't a master recipe--just an infinite number of variations. I was in Bologna in 2008--I got totally different advice on where to go (1) from friends in Florence (who couldn't agree), and (2) from sources in Bologna (who couldn't agree either). The good news, it didn't matter. We ate well and enjoyed every bite!

Relax and enjoy.

[ospreycove]

And, ask any son or daughter"where is the best.......... the answer is always "My Mother makes the best...... Even married guys always usually to their Moms!!!!!

[ospreycove]

Noted and usually true but you have to admit that Tamburini is very very unique and Diana is the standard for Bolognese cooking.

[sernoff]

Since I have not yet been to Bologna, some might say that I should keep my mouth shut. But, I note 1) Mario Batali loves Ristorante Diana and Ristorante Al Cambio at the high end and Tamburini at the low end. Fred Plotkin also loves Tamburini, which appears to be a food shop including hot prepared items. 2) Go to your local bookstore and browse Plotkin's Gourmet Guide to Travel In Italy. 3) At saveur.com search for Bologna and you will find a little piece on Trattoria Anna Maria (as well as a classic recipe from the famous (for ragu) Simili sisters). 4) Above all, search for Bologna on this board and see prior postings by locals and travelers with serious taste buds.

-----
Al Cambio
Via Stalingrado, 150, Bologna, Emilia-Romagna 40128, IT

Trattoria Anna Maria
Via delle Belle Arti, 17, Bologna, Emilia-Romagna 40126, IT

[ospreycove]

sernoff, I am with you, Ristorante Diana has been my favorite for over ten years for true bologna dishes, including the iconic tagliatelle Bolognese. No visit for me is complete without a visit to Tamburini, dine in too in this great salumeria, the epitome of gastronomic delights.

betteredge you will like the following links
http://www.ristorantedianabologna.com/index.html
http://www.tamburini.com/

[jen kalb]

It seems like any bolognese restaurant worth its salt will offer tagliatelle al ragu - I am sure there are differences between renditions in different places and who knows which will strike your fancy?. If you have the passion for this dish you should do some experimenting - and tell us which one you think is best

links to some places you might try. Also, once you have an address in Bologna, go to the restaurant page and put your address into the search box. It will give you some nearby options.
Good luck!

-----
Trattoria del Rosso
Via Righi 30, Bologna, Emilia-Romagna 40126, IT

Serghei
Via Piella, 12, Bologna, Emilia-Romagna 40126, IT

Diana
Via dell'Indipendenza, 24, Bologna, Emilia-Romagna 40121, IT

Gianni a la Vecia Bulagna (aka Trattoria da Gianni)
Via Clavature 18, Bologna, Emilia-Romagna 40100, IT

All'Osteria Bottega
Via Santa Caterina, 51, Bologna, Emilia-Romagna , IT

[DavidT]

www.trattoriaboni.it

[Betteredge]

Thanks a lot David. I've looked in the Internet and this place seems to be pretty good.