Trattoria di Via Serra - Bologna (Italy)
When planning my trip to Bologna, I was determined to find my way into @trattoriadiviaserra. But this is no easy task: the restaurant does not take online reservations and staff is usually too busy to answer the phone. Locals can drop by to make a reservation in person, but that becomes tricker for someone living on the other side of the Atlantic.
I tried calling for several days but after realizing that this would not get the job done, it was time for plan B. So I arranged for someone from my hotel to go there and make the reservation for me, only to be frustrated again since the restaurant did not take reservations from third parties.
So my only shot was to stop by in person and try my luck. I knew that upon arriving in Bologna, I would only have one day to make it work. So the plan was to go there at lunchtime and hope that they would have a table available for dinner. Odds were not exactly in my favor.
That’s when my girlfriend came up with an idea. We wrote a small paragraph in Italian explaining how much it meant to me to have a meal there, which I practiced for many times until the pronunciation was at least understandable. Upon arriving at the restaurant, I read my piece of paper in front of the host, karatê-kid style, and to our surprise the host smiled and was able to accommodate us for dinner service.
The dining room was small and intimate. The food was simple, rustic and very flavorful, consisting of Bolognese classics and a few dishes with a more modern twist.
All dishes were flawless, including the green fettuccine with ragu, another pasta with a variety of mushrooms on top and the caramelized figs with squacquerone cheese for starters. But the best bite of the night was probably a rabbit and sausage porchetta roll, which was roasted in the oven and served with potatoes. For dessert, their berry sorbet and the chocolate cake were the perfect ending to a meal that I will never forget.
In addition to great food, this is a place where you feel love on every corner and as soon as you step inside, you can understand their booking system.
(Versão em Português nos comentários)
