Osteria dell'Oca — Restaurant in Mantua

A somewhat disappointing meal. Perhaps we came on an off night where the food wasn't up to par given the general reviews. It was a busy night, so we won't be too harsh on the servers and the generally surly staff. The polenta was rather bland (not the rich corn flavor one should expect from the dish). My tortelli in the Mantovan style were the best item, tasty and a hearty dish. The worst, however, was the duck pasta. When I say it was like canned meat over pasta, I'm not exaggerating. The duck was cooked to mush, but the the absolutely shocking part from someone who has worked in restaurants was that multiple very sharp bone shards from the duck were left in the pasta--little daggers ready to cut your mouth. If cooks in many restaurants let this happen, it would be their last day as it shows sloppy attention to the well being of the diner.

The best part of the meal was the homemade nocino mixed with grappa. It was delicious but unfortunately this restaurant left a sour taste...

This is a lovely little restaurant run by a really friendly couple who couldn't have been nicer, despite the language barrier (they don't speak English and we had very limited Italian). Note that despite the positive reviews, this isn' fine dining - it's just a solid local restaurant that does a few things very well. All dishes are reasonably priced and there's a range of typical Mantuan food, including the pasta all'asino (donkey), which I tried. It was rich and delicious and I wouldn't hesitate to order it again. The local beer, which was stronger than I expected was very nice and we finished the meal with a dessert of sbrisolona, the local biscuits, which we dipped in grappa. We were lucky enough to get a table for four just walking in but I'd...

Antica Osteria dell’Oca is a true culinary treasure in the heart of Mantua. Warm, inviting, and rich in local character, this charming osteria offers a perfect blend of tradition and authenticity. The standout dish is undoubtedly the ravioli di zucca—a Mantuan classic done to perfection. The pasta is delicate and fresh, filled with sweet pumpkin and balanced beautifully with amaretti and a hint of mustard essence, then finished with butter and sage. It’s a dish that captures the soul of the region in every bite. The service is friendly and attentive, and the atmosphere feels like dining in a well-loved family home. A must-visit for anyone seeking a genuine taste of Lombardy’s...