Trattoria da Me Bologna Review: Authentic Local Eats

Where to Eat in Bologna

An Authentic Local Gem

Bologna, located in Northern Italy, is often called La Grassa (The Fat One) because it is a true paradise for food lovers.

While you can find incredible food all over Italy, Bologna is widely considered the country's culinary capital. As a couple who literally travels to eat, our expectations were sky-high—and this city did not disappoint.

Dining at Trattoria da Me

Opening Hours

Lunch: 12:30 PM – 2:30 PM

Dinner: 7:30 PM – 10:00 PM

*Closed Mondays

Bologna is incredibly accessible, located just a quick 40-minute train ride from Florence. It makes for an easy and highly recommended day trip or weekend getaway from Florence.

It is a beautiful, vibrant, and incredibly delicious city!

Because we didn't have a reservation, we decided to do an "open run" and lined up right before the restaurant opened.

We arrived even before the doors opened! Since their operating hours are relatively short, timing is everything.

Instead of rushing like we did, we highly recommend booking a table in advance to secure your spot.

>> Book your table on the official Trattoria Da Me website

You can view their full seasonal menu on the reservation site.

We decided to order the most iconic, traditional Bolognese dishes. Our waiter actually praised us for making such classic local choices! Let's take a look at what we ordered.

They started us off with a bread basket and a stainless steel shaker filled to the brim with freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano. This isn't your average powdered cheese—it's the real deal, freshly grated and incredibly fragrant.

Fun fact: Authentic Parmigiano Reggiano comes from the nearby Parma region in Northern Italy. It is absolute perfection.

Next, our wine arrived. We chose Lambrusco, a local specialty.

While high-quality Lambrusco can sometimes be hard to find in standard shops back home, it is everywhere in Bologna.

Lambrusco is a sparkling red wine (referring to both the grape variety and the wine itself) native to the Emilia-Romagna region.

You'll find it in almost every restaurant and supermarket here, making it an absolute must-try when visiting Bologna.

At around ~$22 to $44 (20 to 40 Euros) per bottle, it is incredibly reasonable and pairs beautifully with the rich local food.

It was served in a cooling bag to keep it perfectly chilled. Having a cold, bubbly red wine was such a unique and refreshing experience for us.

Most places offer both dry (secco) and sweet (dolce) options. We always opt for the dry style, which cuts through the richness of the pasta perfectly.

Tortellini in Broth

When you are in Bologna, you absolutely must try Tortellini. This iconic, ring-shaped pasta was born right here in this region.

Tortellini are small, hand-folded pasta parcels, and when you order them "in broth," they come served in a piping hot, incredibly rich capon or chicken broth.

It is pure comfort food. The tortellini are typically stuffed with a flavorful mix of pork loin, prosciutto, and Parmigiano.

Despite its simple, clear appearance, the broth is packed with an unbelievable depth of savory umami flavor. It was absolutely delicious.

Tagliatelle with Ragù

Authentic Tagliatelle al Ragù

This is the real-deal Bolognese. Forget what you know about the jarred pasta sauce back home—authentic ragù is a slow-cooked masterpiece.

In Bologna, it is traditionally served with Tagliatelle, a flat, ribbon-like egg pasta that holds onto the rich sauce perfectly.

The ragù sauce is incredibly meat-heavy, savory, and thick. We topped it with a generous mountain of the freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano we received earlier.

It was absolutely heavenly.

While every family and restaurant in Bologna has its own secret variation of this recipe, Trattoria da Me's version is easily one of the best we've ever tasted.

We fell so deeply in love with this dish that we've been researching traditional Italian recipes to recreate this ragù at home ever since.

Our first meal in Bologna was a massive success. The food was so incredibly satisfying that we seriously contemplated extending our trip to spend a full week just eating our way through the city's trattorias.

We will definitely be coming back to cross more spots off our food list!

Beyond its incredible food scene, the city itself is incredibly charming. Often referred to as La Rossa (The Red One) because of its warm, red-brick architecture, the entire city has a beautiful, historic glow.

Bologna is also world-famous for its historic porticoes (covered walkways). Almost every building in the center features these gorgeous arched corridors, meaning you can walk across the entire city and stay completely dry even on a rainy day. It's incredibly picturesque!

Incredible food, gorgeous weather, and a welcoming local atmosphere. If you are planning a trip to Northern Italy, don't just stick to Florence and Venice—make sure to put Bologna on your itinerary!