"Wow!" All I can say is, "Wow!!" (Or in Yelp terminology, "Woohoo! As good as it gets!!" And then…read moresome!!! And if you read all my reviews you'll know I don't say that very often.) My wife and I like to go out for a special dinner on our anniversary. Every now and then we are lucky enough to be in a city with Michelin starred restaurants when our anniversary rolls around in June. (We live in the north woods of Wisconsin, USA, so this doesn't happen every year.) This year we were on holiday in Europe with a stop in Verona so we made a reservation at the Michelin starred "12 Apostoli." Needless to say it was the finest meal of our trip. When I go to a top notch restaurant that offers tasting menus I love to turn everything over to the hands of the chef and whatever they serve, I eat. At 12 Apostoli, one option is called "Giravolte," roughly translated: a spin, a turn, a u-turn, or as we Americans would name it, "Chef's Choice." Or, as they describe it on their web site, Giravolte is "A miscellaneous menu, a collection of tastes, without too much logic. . . a Chef 's playlist that tries to go beyond the classic concept of a tasting menu. The idea is to live the food with freedom, curiosity and self-irony." I don't take many photos or make any notes when dining at the finest of restaurants, but here is some of what I most vividly recall from my meal. . . . . . The cicchetti or, "amuse bouche," was a savory Madeline topped with fine caviar. A luscious way to arouse the taste buds! One of the next courses was simply called, "Zen," a plate of fundamental, lightly pickled (or brined) raw vegetables. They were fresh and flavorful. (By the way, our son who was dining with us is vegan and this course, along with all his dishes, was 100% vegan -- see the end of my review for additional comments about this.) We had two fish courses -- one featuring sturgeon, the next with mackerel in an onion broth. Both dishes were exquisite. The seasoning and sauce perfectly complemented the fish. (When no one was looking I used my finger to wipe up a last of the onion broth from the bowl. Yum!) As the meal progressed the density and complexity of the proteins and flavors of the final courses intensified. One was a rich and unctuous cannoli with marrow, the next featured perfectly braised pork belly and pork loin. A palate cleanser and some sweets completed the meal. I know I've forgotten a few courses in this recap, but believe me, they were all wonderful. The wine paring was among the best I've ever had -- even better than the "three star" restaurant I ate at a few years ago (and generous pours as well!). As mentioned above, the restaurant was able to provide my son with vegan courses that corresponded nicely to the omnivorous courses that my wife and I enjoyed. He reports that it was the most fantastic vegan food he has ever tasted. So be sure to inform the kitchen of your dietary restrictions when you book a table -- they will accommodate you and it will taste wonderful! By the end of our meal, most of the other diners paid their bill and departed. Just us and a couple from South Africa were still lingering over our coffee, when one of the proprieters asked if we would all like to see the wine cellar. Of course we said, "Yes!" Well, it was more than just a look at the "wine cellar." It turns out that 12 Apostoli is built on top of ancient Roman ruins. After viewing the wine cellar and the lower level private dinning room we were escorted down another level to see the foundations of buildings dating back to the time of Julius Caesar and the other emperors we learned about in our world history classes. It was an unbelievable ending to an unforgettable meal at one of the finest restaurants I've ever had the privilege to visit. If you are passing through Verona, book a table at 12 Apostoli -- you'll love it! Linger over your coffee and you too might get to see the "wine cellar!"

More three and half. We were really excited to try, we were…read morea little disappointed. The space is beautiful and very private, lovely date place. We opted for the large tasting menu.. a couple things were really underwhelming. We chose to get wine by glass, 15 euros for a glass from a bottle that costs 18. Awkward moment at the end, waiters left us waiting there for 20 plus minutes, I had to ask for the check. Not worth coming back in my opinion.

Feels like a very old timey traditional Modena restaurant for locals but the staff speaks English…read morewhich was a surprise. The tiny Tortellini in broth was amazing & I haven't had tripe italian style for a long time. Wonderful place.

Enzo was delightful! You'll walk upstairs to get to the dining room - a very homey, calm vibe…read more Nothing crazy & no surprises. Just really good pasta! Service was good.

This gem came recommended by a local we met today. It's upstairs, unassuming and absolutely…read moreamazing! Friendly staff and many options for both carnivores and vegetarians

Homey trattoria for traditional Italian food! It felt like stepping in to someone's home where we…read morewere treated to friendly service and delicious food. The lasagna was completely made from scratch and my boyfriend stated it was the best he's ever had. I ordered the pasta with sausage and wow, what a treat. Prices were affordable and food was serviced quickly. Can't recommend enough!

It was an amazing meal from a visual and sensory perspective. Each dish is a painting that is…read moreserved and evolves on your plate through color and space. The staff nicely explains each dish and the background of its story. You receive a printed card showcasing the story and theme before the meal (in our case misery and nobility), then a copy of the printed menu, and a separate menu with the substitution if you have a dietary restriction. I didn't know they had an extensive kitchen and staff of 65 that works on the preparations and execution behind the scenes. It was definitely the most expensive fine dining experience in Europe, possibly the most expensive restaurant in Italy. But it was worth trying it. Very different from the Paul Bocuse experience, and different from Japanese fine dining too.

Wow, wow, wow! Had the most amazing dining experience at O.F to celebrate my 10 year anniversary…read morewith my husband. Service was top notch, the food was perfectly presented and everything we were served was divine. I am still dreaming about this meal and also meeting Chef Massimo and his lovely wife Lara. Hoping to return for another special occasion one day soon. Molto bene!

One of the rare times where expectations were high, but not met. I had been crushed when the place…read morewas closed my first visit to Modena in 2015. Determined, I returned to the city in 2017, and HG was my first call (in fact, I confirmed they were opened before booking the hotel). I love all the intrigue in entering through a secret door from inside a high-end meet and cheese shop. There are just 4 tables, so it's very intimate too. The menu is concise, and offered in English. But the food didn't "wow" me. The "dried cod cream with toast" appetizer was like hot fish dip. It was, I can't believe I'm saying this, a little gross. And it was 18€! My table of 4 was playing "hot potato" with it. The 12€ fried dumplings with cold cuts was one of the better items. Both pastas (macaroni with duck and linguini with pork cheek sauce) were enjoyed by all, but at 18€ each, were also a little shocking. The 26€ main courses were mostly fine, but again, way too expensive and too small. Nothing even worth describing in my usual exhaustive detail. Oh wait: the "fried cotechino with zabiglione sauce" was also gross. So another big strike out in the secondi to go with the hot cod dip. For a place with such a fanatical foodie following (FFF), I would have much preferred the weekday lunch at Strada Facendo (a multi course lunch for the price of a single dish here).

After watching the second season of Master Of None, I was bound to make reservations at Hosteria…read moreGiusti. In the show, he meets a girl at the salumeria and they hit it off. I was now a single girl ready to mingle, in hopes of living the life the way Aziz Ansari did in the show. Hosteria Giusti happens to be Mario Batali's favorite restaurant. It also happens to only be open for lunch and caters to the lucky diners who manage to snag one of the four tables available. Yes, you read it right; there are only a total of four tables! I booked months in advance for this lunch and couldn't wait to try it. The restaurant itself was situated below my AirBnB (if you need recommendations, just ask me!) and luckily, I didn't have to dine alone. Upon arrival, you walk into the salumeria and check in with the staff to let them know you have a lunch reservation. The place itself is magnificent, with cured meats hanging from the ceiling and condiments after condiments all situated throughout the 4oo year old store. The hostess takes you through the store to the back, walking you through the kitchen until you reach your destination. The tables are rustic and you feel you're sitting in the dining room of a cute little European cottage. You're offered water and a wine list and the menu. Then the food comes.... MY FAVORITE DISH. FRIED DUMPLING WITH COLD CUTS (€12.00). Can I just tell you how freakin amazing this dish is? The bread aka the fried dumpling was light and airy and wasn't greasy for being fried. It was easy to eat and the cold cuts were delicious! It wasn't heavy and can be shared amongst your other party. I have yet to find something similar to this dish in LA. MACARONI WITH "ZAMPONE" SAUCE AND POTATO MUSH (€18.00). I never had pasta that is paired with potato. The zampone sauce usually consists of shoulder and thigh meat as well as the pork cheek and skin. It is common and Modena and I can see why! It is delicious and flavorful. The whole pasta was cooked al dente (now I really know what al dente means). The flavor was delicious, light, and slightly rich without being overpowering. I actually enjoyed the potato at the bottom of the dish. It absorbed the sauce. I liked this dish a lot. Get it cause I have yet to find a dish similar to this in the States. PUMPKIN RAVIOLI (€18.00). I mean, how can you go wrong with ravioli? It was light and the filling was smooth. It wasn't too sweet which can often happen with pumpkin. It was filling and yet, you find yourself wanting more. This dish was a good dish and fresh for the season. SUCKLING PIG IN ROOM TEMPERATURE WITH ONION SAUCE AND AGED BALSAMIC VINEGAR (€18.00-HALF PORTION). This was my least favorite dish. I felt the suckling pig was a bit too dry for my liking. I didn't love the onion sauce. It was a tad bit overwhelming in terms of acidity. Together, the onion sauce and the suckling pig were well-balanced but it still fell short of moistness and texture. FRIED "COTECHINO" WITH ZABAGLIONE AND LAMBRUSCO (€18.00-HALF PORTION). This was my favorite main amongst the two. It wasn't what I expected. It was basically a deliciously, ground up, moist sausage that was fried and topped with a well-balanced sauce. It was crisp and the perfect size being the half portion. It wasn't overly heavy, so I appreciated that. COOKED PEARS WITH MOSCATO ZABAIONE AND TOASTED ALMONDS (€18.00). I picked this dish cause I thought it was something different. The pears were delicious and not too sweet. The portion size was a good size to be shared. I just felt that the dish wasn't amazing. It wasn't what I expected. It was a little sour and I just was hoping for something more. Overall, I can see why Hosteria Giusti is Mario Batali's favorite restaurant. It is unique and pays homage to authentic food of Modena. This was the first time I tasted what true "al dente" pasta meant. It was definitely something to get used to, but I now much prefer this mode of cooking pasta. I thought all the flavors were quite prominent at this restaurant and I loved the fact that it was intimate. They cater to you as though you're one of the family. Although I didn't love every dish at this restaurant, I thought it was a unique experience and I wouldn't mind eating at this place again. For more pics, check out thefoodseeker dot com

We only planned our trip to allow a one night stay in Modena, but, after staying here and seeing…read morethe town, we wished we had stayed much longer. The room was large and included a kitchenette. They brought a lovely breakfast tray to our room, but we never figured out how to work the coffee maker. There were two huge windows and the room's temperature was very comfortable. The city itself is lovely and virtually tourist free compared to Rome and Florence. The food is fantastic, and there aren't the typical tourist traps. I'd highly recommend coming, even if you aren't able to get into Osteria Francescana. The only downside was that the staff doesn't speak much English and we didn't speak much Italian. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay.

His is by far our favorite stay in Italy!…read more The apartment is clean, and looked like a museum! Such wonderful furnishing, got everything you need! Local ion is great, in the center of this wonderful city, and close to Osteria Francescana, if that's where you are heading (which we recommend)! Breakfast is served in your room, and it is fresh and tasty, great pastries and savory stuff. This was a highlight for sure! What was not so good, is a minor detail that should be added in the information about the b&b. Check-in time is very strict, since they only have a few rooms they are rarely in the office. Hence, when we arrived at 12 no one was there to open the door, we called them but their English wasn't that good, and our Italian is nonexistent, so we walked around with our luggage in 30 degrees heat. We are used to be able to leave luggage when the room is not ready, but that'd ones not work here. So take the check in time literally and you will be fine! Staff is very helpful, after we tried to reach them, an English speaking person called us and let us in. So it all worked out fine. This would never make me not stay here again, we truly loved it's! But we think people should know this, so it does not happen to any one else.

"Aerodynamics are for people who can't build engines" - Enzo Ferrari…read more Who can argue. The masterpieces found inside his museum in Modena is stunning. There's a video history presentation that plays on loop and to say it is impactful and beautiful is an understatement. For those who don't know, there are two Ferrari museums, One in Modena that focuses on Enzo and the other is in Maranello, Italy, and is the home of the Ferrari factory and the Scuderia Ferrari racing team Both museums deserve a visit but I found Museo Enzo Ferrari to be better. The layout and car choices makes it very user friendly. The other Museum snakes through rooms and can be hard to get up close to some of the Ferraris. As one can see from my pictures, there is a lot of space around each of the Ferraris on display I highly recommend visiting the Enzo Ferrari museum even if you are a casual fan and even more if you are a Ferrari enthusiast

What a beautiful selection of Ferraris we had a wonderful time learning about Enzo and his…read moreautomobile company

An outstanding, informative, and kind balsamic tasting and purchasing experience. We found our…read moreperfect match in one aged in mulberry wood!

We had a lovely balsamic tasting here and learned so much. We also went home with lovely…read moretraditional balsamic of Modena. The hosts were lovely!

This was one of my most memorable part of my Italian trip. You MUST make a trip here to learn about…read morebalsamic vinegar, get complimentary tastings, and buy authentic balsamic vinegar! I ended up buying the twin pack of the balsamic and white vinegar, the 25 year old balsamic vinegar, and a walnut liquor (they happen to have a lot of walnuts and they make it into alcohol. it's very strong). I totally regret not buying the bigger bottle of their condiment balsamic vinegar though. Getting here from the main station via public transportation was quite stressful because I don't speak Italian and couldn't ask for help. BUT the people super helpful and nice. The bus driver actually got out of her bus to point to where I should stand and was extremely helpful. This doesn't happen in Los Angeles! In my experience, the people of Modena were extremely kind and friendly. Before your trip, contact them and book a reservation. The tour is free. How to get there via bus: From the main station, I took Bus 9, transferred at Modena Autostazione and took Bus 2A to San Donnino. You MUST take Bus 2A, not Bus 2 because Bus 2A goes a little further to your final destination. The cost is only €1.50 and you pay ON THE BUS. I thought I had to buy tickets before boarding like in Rome. The bus driver doesn't check to see if you have a ticket but there are officers who get on the bus at random stops to do a check. And I can tell you from experience that one old lady got in soooo much trouble because she didn't tap her card. She must have been a local trying to get a free ride.

Absolutely charming, family-run restaurant serving traditional Bolognese cuisine. Our group loved…read morethis restaurant with its cozy decor and friendly, professional service. Classic dishes of the region are served here and were at the highest level of quality and flavor. One person in our group was celiac and the chef, Tiziana, makes gluten free versions of 90% of the items on her menu. They were better than any gluten free dish we've ever eaten anywhere. Everyone in the party thought they were as good as the traditional version with gluten. Tiziana is obsessed with making gluten free versions of her dishes to the point that she has a boutique mill make her specially formulated gluten free flour. We went for dinner three times and plan to go anytime we visit the Bologna area again. But don't think of this as a gluten free restaurant, it's an excellent restaurant that happens to offer unparalleled gluten free versions of its dishes.