Trattoria Fantoni — Restaurant in Bologna

Want an authentic Bolognese eating experience right down to the questionable cleanliness during a pandemic with a sprinkle of apathy from the service staff? Well you found it. That’s right, although there were a few points on the hygiene & hospitality meter they could improve (OK, more than a few), we did feel the food & service had a relaxed, homey feel. We stumbled upon this restaurant after walking around the neighborhood looking for a place to lunch; most places were closed due to Covid, August holiday, or afternoon siesta. We’re happy we found. We were able to try Bologna’s signature tagliatelle al ragu made with homemade pasta which was amazing. We also ordered the 🐴 tartare which is prepared table-side with a plethora of condiments & other ingredients. The outside seating was especially nice with a view of the church & local passersby.

Overall, they’re VERY lucky their food & location are sooo good to make up for the mediocre service, otherwise 3 stars would have...

We came here full of expectations, having previously read that we could find here the best tagliatelle al ragù in Bologna. Oh boy, was I dissapointed. Firstly, the service was awful, meaning cold and disrespectful. I speak Italian, so I always try to order in Italian and try to respect the culture and place we find ourselves at. The waitor/owner wasn't satisfied with the quantity ordered, making a comment like " You are ordering only the salad?!!". Then he commented on the hat I'd put on the table. The salad was uncommentable and tagliatelle were somewhat tasty. All in all, not worthy of visiting. But again, I never leave comments, and I am doing this because we left the place feeling like somebody...

A fantastic example of a ‘less is more’ experience! The staff were friendly and attentive. It was a relaxed atmosphere. We arrived on opening as recommended and within the hour it was packed. I got the linguine which had the most tasty tomatoes and my partner had the rigatoni which was hearty and satisfying. The desserts was equally as good. The tiramisu was not too sweet and had sprinkled chocolate within it which was a nice touch to adding texture to the dessert. The panna cotta was creamy and melted in the mouth. Both were excellent. Overall, an excellent relaxed meal that we would look forward to...