Here are my best 3 fish restaurants in Bologna.
It’s the newest of the list and already a reference. The renovated Dondini Ghiselli palace hosts more than 200 people and in spring you can eat in a wonderful terrace on the shadow of a old plane tree. The owner, Andrea Bartolini, already has a Michelin star fish restaurant in Cesenatico (La Buca) but here the concept is slightly different. Simple dishes of maritime tradition with daily fresh fish only of Adriatico sea. Their fried fish, absolutely with no lemon!, is a must-try but if you prefer pasta, spaghetti alla chitarra with clams will do for you. Grilled sardines or shrimps always in the menu or daily dishes like rumble fish or sole, according to fishermen’s catches. Wines list is not wide, most of the selection comes from Emilia Romagna, like pignoletto or albana, but you can find a few Franciacorta brut or rosè. Reservation is not allowed but the place is huge so I’m sure you can find a table.
www.osteriabartolinibologna.com
Piazza Malpighi, 16, 40123 Bologna
051 262192
Price: 35€
Open Tuesday – Saturday 7:30pm – 10:30pm. Closed on Sunday, Monday
Inside Mercato delle Erbe stands this small bistrot that reminds me the mood some stalls of Barcelona’s Boqueria market. The few tables are just in front of the market’s fish stall where the french chef chooses everyday the best fish to cook. Menu changes everyday and has a short and selected list of fish dishes which usually includes salads, like octopus with potatoes and olives, a few pasta like scialatielli with palamita, confit tomatoes or fish lasagna and some secondi like rolled swordfish with aubergine. The cuisine has different influences, from France to Sicily, and the using of spices and herbs is perfectly balanced. British chef Rick Stein, quite an expert on fish, followed my suggestions and fell deeply in love with this place and their filled squid with spinach and capers. Arrive there early otherwise you have to queue, especially on weekends.
www.banco32.it
Via S. Gervasio, 3/A, 40121 Bologna
051 269522
Price: 30€
Open Tuesday – Saturday 12:30pm – 2:45pm and 6:30pm – 11pm. Closed on Sunday, Monday
Salvo has owned “Il Cantuccio” for 25 years. The style is kind of retrò, imagine to enter one of the classic fish restaurant on the beach in the south of Italy with boats on the walls, except that you’re just 2 minutes from Via Indipendenza. No menu, you will be in Salvo’s hands that, according to season and daily market, will bring you lots of antipasti like seared tuna with pistachios, fried cod, shrimps with beetroot cream and so on. If you’ll still have some space you can go on with primi or risotti or grilled shripms to end.
Via Volturno, 4, 40121 Bologna
051 233424
Price: 40€
Open Tuesday – Sunday 8pm – 2am. Closed on Monday.
