And the best restaurant in Modena is

​Then were the rumors I heard from different people, one of which is Massimo Bottura.
He said that “after service ends at Osteria Francescana around midnight, we all go there together and he [Gianluca, one of the owners] usually wants us to taste something, so we let him surprise us”.

​But if Osteria Francescana is that bottle of Bordeaux, stored for years in the cellar, that when you finally open it, it has to be great; then Ristretto is the flask you always put on the table and that you fill with the red wine bought from a local farmer, too good to be true.
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Usually big expectations bring big disappointments. That’s not the case.

- lunch. For a seasonal daily menu with classics like passatelli, garganelli, or pastrami burger. You won’t spend more than 16€ with a glass of wine and coffee.

- aperitivo. You can get just a cocktail, or beg Marcello to prepare an insanely good tagliere with cured meat from Antica Ardenga (second only to the one prepared by Rita at our new Parma food tour), cheese and gnocco fritto.

- dinner. The prices rise a bit, like the fantasy of the chef. It won’t be easy to choose between ravioli with goat cheese, artichokes and rosemary or potato gnocchi with kale. Low lights, relaxed atmosphere, great food.

I can say for the kindness of Marcello and Emanuele, but you can’t hear their big laugh from your headphones.

​​I can say because of the perfect quality/price ratio, but you can’t imagine how great Ristretto is until you’re there.

Thinking of that, they opened Cucina di Quartiere, a bigger restaurant just outside the city centre focused on regional food.
​Of course I’ve tried it, of course it has to be on your list.