051 Osteria Zerocinquantello — Restaurant in Bologna

Manager unfit to be in hospitality industry, stay clear!

Had the most unpleasant experience in any restaurant that I can think of. Went in there for lunch with an elderly lady in July 2024. We were sat in a table inside, but hot air was blowing under our table from the kitchen. We moved to another table under a fan, which is a table for 4 made of 2 small tables. We were told that we are not allowed to sit there and asked us to move. Having sat there, we ordered food and a prosecco and a wine. The prosecco was flat, when we mentioned that he said but you ordered wine. He bought a replacement, it was flat, and tasted like wine. When I mentioned it looks the same, he said he has changed it once and wont do again. He also proceeded to say you can pay for your food and have it take away. The problem was beyond what he was saying, but he was sniggering and threatening the whole time he spoke. He said he is the manager, so there was no one else to talk to. It is clear that this restaurant does not welcome foreign tourist or probably anyone. He should not be running a restaurant at all. The food was mediocre at best. Tortellini Ragu a local speciality tasted somewhat lousy and like...

One star is too generous.

I don’t usually write reviews, but this culinary disaster demanded it. Osteria Zerocinquantello 051 is what happens when mediocrity puts on an apron and tries to pass for “authentic Italian.” Spoiler: it fails. Miserably.

We sat down full of hope. The place looks decent — which is exactly where the deception begins. I asked, very politely, for some sauce. You know, like a civilized human being would expect in a place that claims to serve pasta. Their response? “We don’t have sauce.” Excuse me? You’re an Italian restaurant and you don’t have sauce? What next — a pizzeria with no dough? A wine bar out of wine?

Either the chef forgot what country he’s in, or they’ve reinvented the concept of dry food as a performance art. I’d have had more flavor licking a brick wall in Bologna’s back alleys.

Service? Cold. Like their food. Ambience? Only if you enjoy sitting in a room filled with shattered dreams and undercooked ideas.

In summary: If you enjoy overpriced plates of disappointment, topped with a generous drizzle of arrogance and a side of “we’re out of sauce,” by all means — dine here. If not, walk briskly in the opposite direction and...

I visited this restaurant a few days ago. Although the food was excellent and the staff was friendly, I have to complain about the bread they served us: poor quality, hard as if stale although I am sure it was fresh, and water. You can only get small plastic bottles of water firstly due to the locale's "space contraints" to keep large glass bottles instead, and secondly beacuse "clients wish to be able to take their water with them after they leave." Seriously? Do they want to take their left-over wine or beer with them, too? I am sorry but plastic is simply unacceptable nowadays. Being eco-friendly helps the planet and might at the same time attract...