Our 1st meal in Bologna set a high bar! The restaurant was easy to find. It has 2 floors of seating. The vibe was comfortable trattoria. The waitstaff were knowledgeable about the food and wine. The wines are all from the owner's brother vineyard. We had the red and the Prosecco. The red was full bodied. The Prosecco was not too sweet Both were very good! The food was delicious! I didn't know what to expect with the artichoke flan. It was an amazing artichoke and cheese concoction with a shredded artichoke salad on the side. The pastas were all very good. The bolognese had tender meat with a tasty sauce. The tortellini in beef broth is also a local winter dish. The tortellini were filled with a nice mixture of beef and cheese with a full bodied beef broth. A simple but delicious dish! I'm usually not a truffle fan but the spaghetti with black truffles had a good balance of truffle flavor without being overpowering. The scalloping with cheese and Parma ham was tasty. The meat was tender, the cheese side decadent and the ham added a bit of salty flavor. We were too full for dessert! read more

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The best meal we had in Bologna. For your classic Italian meal, this place is a must. You will need a reservation, as we did on a Tuesday night at 8:00. You need to call to confirm, but it was very easy. The man who answered did not speak English, but thankfully I was prepared to ask in Italian if he did, and he was able to get another staffmember who took care of us. The pasta is terrific, and the portions/prices are perfect. The classic Bolognese dish, the ragu tagliatelle, was very good, but the standout was the black truffle tortelloni. The sauces was so buttery and rich, it was incredible. If I lived close by, I would be here at least once a week just for that dish. read more

Reservations are recommended, or if you come a few minutes before they open, you might be lucky enough to get a table. We thought the pasta dishes were decent, but nothing special. The truffle tasted light. We did enjoy the pork cheek though. The atmosphere and service were great. They have an Italian and English menu. The bathroom is behind the mirror in the back. I would rate it a 3.5/5, rounding up to a 4/5. read more

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3rd time eating here and it's a must when we visit Bologna! Every dish is excellent! The pastas were both amazing! We hadn't ever had rabbit and it was quite tasty! The vegetable dish is nothing less than a perfect meal! So much flavor! The pork cheek was tender and delicious! This time we tried the aubergine rolls and they were a big hit at our table! And to end with their ice cream and balsamic was a perfect end to a great meal. Make reservations ahead! It's perfect for lunch or dinner and absolutely delicious! read more

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Had a great time trying a variety of the menu. The best was the sausage ragu and the guinea fowl was also pretty good. Wasn't as much of a fan of the tortellini. The ice cream with balsamic was perfect to cap off the dinner. read more

Da Cesari - Italian Near Me - Bologna, BO

Met up with our son and daughter in-law in Bologna. We picked this place without any reservation. We are the lucky one as the group behind us was turned down. Do make a reservation if you plan to come here. The food, simply excellent. Wine selection is also great. We had a wonderful dinner experience. read more

VERY tasty food. Believe it or not, the pigeon was EXCEPTIONAL! Seasoned well and very tender. It was for sure the star of the show behind the tasty bolognese. The entire staff was incredibly friendly and provided great service. The vibe was very cool too. I give this place 5 stars across the board. read more

Da Cesari - Italian Near Me - Bologna, BO

Most famous foods in Bologna include meaty pasta dishes,so we decided to check out Bolognese-style pasta dishes at the highly recommended by locals, family owned spot We ordered the Tagliatelle with classic Bolognese sauce - which was cooked perfectly with a true meaty but not overbearing flavor , Tortellini in beef broth - which was not at all salty and still so flavorful, and Ricotta cheese tortelloni with Truffle - which was incredibly cheesy and Delicious. To top it all off, the vibe of this place is a 1930s rustic restaurant so you truly felt that you were immersing yourself in true authentic experience and we loved every minute of it. read more

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If you're in Bologna do yourself a favor and make a reservation at #ristorantedecesari just plain amazing #italian cooking. The #mortadella was almost melt in your mouth delicious. Followed by and asparagus flan starter that was so good. Then did a pomodoro pasta and a fresh asparagus pasta these were both amazing. Past cooked absolutely perfectly. The Sparta's so tender and tasty it melted in your mouth. Great atmosphere. The father and son run it like a top and they are "molto simpatico" . Just a great spot and the reason so many want to visit Italy and enjoy the cities, the people and the food. And don't miss the hidden window on the way there! read more

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The one table i booked during my trip to bologna and absolutely 100% worth it. Make sure to reserve esp if going for dinner !! The pumpkin tortelloni is actually life changing, i may deign to say the best pasta ive had in my life - definitely the best stuffed one at the very least. I retroactively ordered an artichoke flan which was great altho idk why i didnt just order it from the start lol its a bit heavy but very nice w a red wine. I wish i had a bigger stomach so i cld have tried the pumpkin sorbet w balsamic too but ill b back. Idk HOW they made the pumpkin just taste so... pumpkin... but like buttery and sweet and DEEP in the tortelloni. Run!!!!! read more

Da Cesari - Artichoke flan - Italian Near Me - Bologna, BO

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It's small, it's warm, it's welcoming - it's everything Bologna... There's a bajillion places like this scattered through Bologna (and Italy, for that matter) - small friendly restaurants, with impeccable food. You're liable to walk past this one (it's tucked away on a busy street), but that would be a mistake, you'd be missing out. This is one of those places where the staff is happy to spend as much (or little!) time with you as you want, discussing the food, the weather, life, whatever, and if you make it back there, they'll remember you. Mind you, not to forget about the food - it is *exceptionally* good (then again, that's Bologna for you). The pasta is just the right consistency, the flavors come through with just the right attitude, oh, I wish I were back there right now Anyhow, if you're in the 'hood - go! read more

Da Cesari - Italian Near Me - Bologna, BO

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Wonderful food and experience! Best food during our two week trip to Italy! A great family owned place. read more

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Everything here was spectacular. The old world decor, the amazing service, and of course the food. Our entire party of 6(including 2 small children) completed clean plate club.The Ragu(bolognese, but don't call it that unless you like uncomfortable situations) was transcendent. Redefining what you think this dish could be with a richness and layering of flavors that I've never experienced. The kids buttered pasta with ham was simplistic in theory but very flavorful. The green ravioli stuffed with rabbit and smoked ricotta was sublime. The green pasta with sausage sauce was the weak dish of the meal and it was still better than 95% of pasta I've had in my life. The roast beef with mushrooms was cooked to perfection, sliced thin, and assembled almost like a carpaccio. read more

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Best food in Bologna. Lovely family hosts that are cheerful and informative. I had the vegetarian plate that was an artists palate and so delicious. My friend had stuffed pasta. Great bread and wines by the glass read more

We finally made it back to Bologna after about three and a half years, and needed to come back here after our outstanding lunch way back when. Once again, we absolutely loved everything we got. We had eaten a huge lunch and were barely hungry, but still managed to house three pastas: tortellini in brodo, tagliatelle with bolognese, and gramignone with sausage ragu, all of which were amazing. Highly recommend this place. read more

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My favorite in Bologna! The Foie Gras is outstanding! The Scallopini Veal is really good! Will come again and again!

If you don't do anything else, please do make reservations for Da Cesari. This was our favorite restaurant in Bologna and we would have gone back a second time if there were reservations available for the rest of our trip. We visited at lunch on a Sunday and they were turning away customers without reservations. Despite being very busy, we were also impressed with the service-- these were some of the best waiters in Bologna. Our server had great recommendations for wine that paired with the food we ordered. We tried the tortellini with truffles, pumpkin ravioli, and tortellini en brodo. These were the same dishes we ordered around Bologna and they were the best here! Even the homemade bread was delightful. All around fantastic meal and experience. We look forward to visiting for dinner the next time we are in town. (Again, reservations are highly encouraged as whole families would come in and there are definitely regulars that go here.) read more

Same great 5 stars and the pics to prove it!! Dang, wish I could go weekly! SOOOO good! The artichoke soufflé appetizer was some of the best food I had that week! Everything was amazing, the tortellini, the truffles on everything! Just go! read more

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Probably our favorite place in Bologna. The food was great (pretty much all the food in Bologna was great) but this place had wonderful service, super nice server (one of the Cesari clan, son of mama in the kitchen), and it just felt comfortable. Can't really go wrong on the menu, the usual suspects well-executed. Highly recommend. read more

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Perfecto!!! Don't miss this place if in Bologna. Da Cesari is a trattoria family owned for 75yrs. The son Riccardo is one of the most enjoyable people I've ever had the pleasure to meet in my travels. He made it a point to make the most memorable dining experience my family could have possibly had when even though the restaurant was completely full of local patrons. After reviewing the menu l closed it and told Riccardo to just start bringing different dishes till we tap out. Starting with antipasti's to the three different home-made pastas, to the entrées, scaloppina, veal cheeks it was absolutely delicious! One of my most memorable restaurant's in Italy. Don't miss this one!!! read more

Fantastic food and service. Definitely would come back! I recommend the tagliatelle alla bolognese, tortellini with truffle, and the Gramignone verde al ragù di salsiccia (typical green pasta with sausage sauce). The pasta for all 3 were exquisite. Better than I've ever had! Cooked perfectly al dente. Fresh, happy noodles, given the attention they deserved when made. Bologna is known for their homemade egg noodle pastas. And you better believe it! The wine was tasty. Our waiter - he was basically fathered into the business. His grandfather's recipe, the third one I mentioned above, has been on the menu since the dawn of his time. Our waiter was cheerful, friendly, helpful, and modest, he spoke English very well. I was a bit disappointed that they didn't have tiramisu. Granted it wasn't on their menu but when we asked they said they would check and came up empty. So we had the dessert tasting: panna cotta, which was more like a flan, a slice of chocolate cake, which was more like a brownie, and semifredo which was yummy but I wouldn't order it again. I would pass on the dessert if I came here again. Unless they had tiramisu. One con - we didn't care for the complimentary bread. It was dry and hard. Borderline stale. With no accompaniment of olive oil or balsamic vinegar, it sort of sat there all lovely like. No need though, you can get your carb fill with all the yummy pasta. So pass on the bread! If you are in Bologna, try this place! read more

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Wonderful little restaurant with great service. Had the rabbit ravioli , ravioli pumpkin, and green pasta with sausage sauce. The first two were amazing. Then had the veal scallopini and meatball stuffed tortellini. Again, excellent. Next was the panna Cotte. The wine was great and affordable. Went on a Tuesday at 7:30, filled up,quickly. Service a little slow as it got busy. read more

Very rarely do you find people as passionate about the food and your dining experience as you do here. We felt welcomed into the warmth of their home. How often can you say that when dining out? The food was also wonderful. I would definitely recommend the green pasta with sausage, it was surprisingly quite similar to a bolognese in flavor. I usually focus on the food in my reviews but I simply could not get over how refreshing it was to find people who seemed to love what they do and wanted to share that passion with their customers. We will definitely be back on our next trip! read more

One of the best restaurants I have eaten during my trip in Italy. Everything at this restaurant was so delicious that we went there twice during our short stay in Bologna. - Bufala alla Caprese - Buffalo mozzarella, tomatoes and basil in balsamic and olive oil - Gramignone verde al ragù di salsiccia - Green lasagna with sausage ragu. - Soup - beans, barley and porcini. I can't recall the Italian name but it was rich, aromatic and delicious. - Guancia di vitello brasata al vino bianco - Veal cheek and vegetable flan - Involtini di melanzane con pomodoro piccante- Eggplant with spicy tomatoes - Ravioli di zucca al burro fuso e parmigiano - Pumpkin ravioli with butter and parmesan cheese - Scaloppa di vitello alla "Petroniana" con patate al forno - Goose with spiced apples and potatoes - Tenerina al cioccolato fondente - chocolate cake with pine nuts Aside from all of the amazing dishes, I have to say something about the caprese salad. Unlike any caprese I have eaten elsewhere, I simply couldn't get enough of theirs. The ingredients were so fresh, the cheery tomatoes were sweet and seasoned beautifully, the buffalo mozzarella was wonderfully fresh, moist and so delightful. Imagine starting with something so amazing, one can only hope to be blown away by the rest of the meal. All of the dishes we had ordered at Da Cesari were spectacular. It was Italian cooking at its finest and the thought of the food still makes my mouth water. read more

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Family owned Italian restaurant with so much history and good food. You MUST order their mortadella plate.... It's divine! We were there during mushroom season and ordered their mushroom tagliatelle along with a plate of their famous ragu tagliatelle...It was so good. Don't forget a nice cold glass of Lambrusco read more

Da Cesari was only a two minute walk from the apartment my wife and i rented. Believe me, we would have walked two miles for this restaurant, it was that good. I ordered the caprese salad. It looked so good, I jumped right on in and forgot to take a picture of it. When I finally realized, there was only three tomatoes left. For dinner I had the pasta bolognese. It was by far one of the best pasta dishes I've ever had. The bolognese was amazing and the pasta was cooked perfectly. read more

Da Cesari - Italian Near Me - Bologna, BO

After walking the streets of Bologna and looking at all the spectacular churches we stared the hunt for lunch. This place is hidden under some greenery off the main touristy are between some shops. The doors can be a little tricky. For lunch time this place was very busy but we managed to get a table. The decor is simply and very inviting. They have a great selection of wine to pick from. The local meat plate is a must! The steak with the balsamic vinegar was just wow! I could cut it with a butter knife, it was a perfect medium rare. On top of it all we have a great server! Amazing lunch! read more

Da Cesari - Italian Near Me - Bologna, BO

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Cesari has nothing to do with Ceasar, there's no trace of Roman cuisine in this quintessential Emilian restaurant. You can find all the traditional dishes of the region, without being the bit touristy. But since we were indeed tourists, we tried the classics: tagliatelle alla Bolognese (fettuccine with ragù sauce) and Gramignone verde al ragù di salsiccia (green fresh pasta with sausage ragù), the latter being a welcome new in my top ten of fresh pasta. Both delicious, but I've never even seen a "gramignone" in a menu before, in spite of the fact that the lady who took our order swore it's a traditional dish. I'll take her word for it, and possibly an encore if I'm ever around. The mortadella for starter is almost impossible to pass, especially when coupled with the complimentary focaccia in the bread basket. Five stars to the "Sformato di carciofi", an artichoke flan enriched with a sauce of Parmigiano. If you don't scoop out the leftover sauce with the bread you're missing out. I think the pictures speak more than any review, the cheese platter itself was a thing of beauty, with Parmigiano, the king of cheese in the middle. And when you're not busy commenting how good everything is, you can enjoy the beautiful decor, with an impressive display of wine bottles. In essence, great experience, speedy and careful service, no hassle paying with an Amex. The price is about right, not too expensive but definitely testimony of the great care in the selection of the ingredients and the making of each dish. read more

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Excellent food and service! The Tagliatelle is amazing and made in house, and one of the best dishes I've ever had. The service as well is extraordinarily good. They make sure you are very well feed and have great recommendations. It's very known as one of the best places in Bologna so arrive before the crowd or make reservations otherwise you may not get in. read more

We had an excellent lunch at Da Cesari in February. They were kind enough to let us have a table when we had made dinner reservations we could no longer keep. My husband loved his tagliatelle with Bolognese, and I couldn't stop eating the bread that had prosciutto in it. They kept refilling the basket - what could I do? I had a plate of tender meatballs and peas in a luscious tomato sauce. We look forward to a return visit on our next trip to Italy. read more

For the special dinner in Bologna I was choosing a restaurant very carefully. Something very traditional with local food, family owned. Got exactly what I wanted and if you ever in Bologna, this is the one to go to. Four dishes with truffles to choose from, foie-gras with zucchini jam(didn't dry that one), truffle ravioli. All I needed was there. Starter was porcini flan with fried chanterelle mushrooms. read more

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I couldn't leave Bologna without having lasagna, so after seeing Da Cesari on Tripadvisor we went to find it and look at the menu. We went at lunch time so it was basically empty. We were greeted warmly and seated promptly. After seeing the menu I knew I wanted the Lasagna Bolognese and my husband ordered the Pasta with sausage sauce. This seriously was the best lasagna I have ever had and I've had lots. Pasta was fresh and tender, the Bolognese was tangy and meaty and the béchamel sauce was the perfect amount and oh so creamy. Separately they were delicious, but put them together and this was an amazing dish. I may never forget that lasagna. The pasta with sausage sauce was very good, but after tasting the lasagna, it could hardly compare. When we walked in we had noticed the cake table and they looked good and homemade, so we had to try. We opted for the apple torte with crème anglaise and it was excellent. What a fantastic lunch!. read more

Da Cesari - Italian Near Me - Bologna, BO

We were recommended to try this place by our host while in Bologna. We made reservations to eat around 730 pm when they opened. We got there and were seated right away. Francesco was our waiter, he was very warm and funny. He had several recommendations which were all were all to do with Truffles since this is Truffle season. There were 2 different entrees with beef, which was what my husband and I got. Both were very good. This was easily the best meal we had in Italy. We would love to go back if we are ever in the area again! read more

I'll be honest with you, I don't remember what I ate here at all. Not because it wasn't good, but because I was having such a wonderful time. I told myself before we left for dinner that I was going to focus on the experience as a whole and not worry about getting the best picture or trying to photographically remember every detail so I could write about it later, so that's what I did. What I do remember is that the interior was quaint and cozy. You could feel it's age, but in a good way. I remember sitting at the table by the front window and watching a group of older locals walk in and greet the owner with hugs and kisses. I remember the feeling that I was actual in a place the locals frequented and loved. I remember the waiter was extremely helpful, and to our delight, spoke English. And although I can't for the life of me remember what I ordered, I do remember it being the best meal I ate in Bologna. So perhaps what made the meal so good the little details around the food. Up to that point, we had plenty of fantastic food all over Italy, but they didn't all come with the whole experience. Maybe that's what makes Da Casari so memorable....the little things. read more

Visiting Bologna, our hotel recommended this long time family restuarant just around the block with reservations. We were very impressed. As we were seated a table was overflowing with boxes of fresh, in season mushrooms! We were thrilled since they happen to be our favorites; porcini chanterelles.. The food was absolutely delicious! The service was very hospitable, like you would hope for from a family restaurant. I referred someone here later, and they couldn't even get in because the place was packed. If you have the opportunity to eat here, it will be memorable. read more

Popped into this restaurant for lunch on a Saturday. There were many tables available upon arrival (approx 1:30pm) but the restaurant was packed by the time we received our first course. The food was wonderful and service was great, especially since there was only one server for the entire restaurant. One thing to note is that while the external door to the road is very visible, it's not clear where to go once you enter the door because you end up in a wooden entrance area with no obvious way as to which way to proceeded. I'm here to tell you to just walk straight away and the wooden panel will open like a door. We split a bottle of Moma (white) and it was good - a popular choice among many tables in the restaurant. I ordered the tortellini soup and my husband ordered the pumpkin-something-or-other pasta dish. Both were good. For my main, I ordered the veal escalope which was covered in a layer of parma ham and then slathered in a cheese sauce. I am a lover of all things cheese and there was simply too much cheese for me to handle and I had to scrape it off. Delicious but I felt as though my booty was growing just looking at the cheese. My husband ordered the meatballs and they were just OK. They were served on with a light red sauce and peas. I'm not a fan of peas and I'd rather have had them drowning in red sauce but overall, they were tasty. read more

First find the place. It is worth the effort. Basically straight down via Independenzia. Past piazza Magiorre. Keep straight till via Farini. Then take a right. It will be on your left side. We had the salami plate to start. The tagliatelle with meat sauce next. Delicious. My son had rabbit ravioli and I had the sea bass. Both were phenomenal. All with prosecco wine. Perfect. Pane cotta to finish. Heavenly. Our bill was 88 euros. Not bad for the Amount and quality. It's a small place so you may need reservations. The service was excellent. I wish i could stay another day to try the other dishes. read more

The reviews that I read were accurate and I'm thankful I didn't miss this gem. From the minute we walked in the door I knew this restaurant would be a perfect choice. The owner's son met us with a genuine appreciation for our visit. It is a must to have a reservation or you will not get in. We saw many people turned away because they did not have a reservation. They were not just filling a table but thinking quality service over quantity. The food is excellent. My husband had the bolognese and the flavor was excellent along with the texture of noodle Al dente. I had the rabbit filled pasta which was light but flavorful. I'd choose the Bolognese without a doubt. The wine delicious and affordable. The eggplant start and mortadella 5 star. Lastly the pans Cotta is a must. It's the original recipe which is over 70 years old. Follow the reviews for this restaurant and you will not be disappointed! read more

Refused service to us, two families with four kids total. There was plenty of space available!

First night eating in Bologna, this restaurant was one of the few 5* rated on Yelp but we were disappointed. The service was good but the food wasn't as good as we had hoped. Good Scallopine and Truffle Spaghetti but the mushroom soufflé was dry and not soufflé-like at all. The pana cotta was good, but we had much better later in our travels. read more