Osteria Cucina Estense — Restaurant in Modena

One of the best meals (and days) I've had in Italy, thanks to Osteria Cucina Estense and its warm-hearted owner, Fabio. Brand new restaurant honoring Modenese classics with exceptional menu, wine, hospitality, ingredients, and more. Snag a seat before this place becomes famous!

Started off with a complimentary plate of fine, small-batch salami from a local producer (where each bite is distinct yet melts-in-the-mouth). The Tortellini in Brodo broth was exceptionally flavorful (and paired well with Lambrusco), something every restaurant claims to do but only a few succeed at. Osteria Estense's passion for this local dish is evident and pays off. The Coniglio (rabbit) in white wine sauce was hands-down the meatiest, juiciest, and best-prepared rabbit I've ever had (and I've ordered many in the last month). For dessert, I went with Zuppa Inglese ("nothing about it is English", laughs Fabio) and Mascarpone con Tenerina. The quality cream in both desserts is very high, bringing a wonderful meal to a bittersweet close.

Fabio's passion for food/beverage, Modena, and life is contagious. He generously offered us many samples of fantastic local wine and dishes from his menu, which is why I can also emphatically recommend the seasonal special: gnocchi with coniglio (my favorite bite of gnocchi to date). If I were in Modena for a week, I'd eat here at least once every day. Don't walk to Osteria Cucina...

Osteria Cucina Estense is everything you're hoping for topped by excellent & attentive service. Our server was incredibly helpful, describing options at length and listing his favorites. He clarified and confirmed in multiple ways one expensive meal choice that he (rightfully) suspected had been misunderstood. When all was done, he left us with plenty of time and space to eat in peace. All in all, the words to properly recommend this hole-in-the-wall restaurant escape me. All i can say is that...

Really really delicious food. The flan di verdure was fantastic. The owner/proprietor was extremely welcoming and so friendly. All of the dishes were great and portion sizes perfect. Definitely try the dessert as well. When I use Google reviews to search for restaurants, I always sort by lowest scores first, and picked this because it only had 5 star ratings, which is rare. Well, I can easily say the five star rating is well deserved. Highly...