Why aren't you eating here? Ambience: Quiet - way too quiet…read moreas I was the only one for some reason. It's a nicely appointed restaurant a little off the beaten path but only a block from the Duomo. Service: Terrific. Okay, so I did have the server to myself, but she was really pleasant and the chef even came out for a chat. They seem like genuinely friendly folks. Food: Amazing. I ordered the duck then had a sudden panic: "Why, oh why did I fall for duck in a honey sauce? It's going to be sickly sweet, or the chef will overcook the duck. Either way you're going to regret this". Oh my god was I wrong. Instead what I got was a lovely roast (perfect medium rare) with a delicate honey-scented gravy and superb roast vegetables. This is seriously good cooking. I also had the snails as an appetizer and they were just right - and not overdone with the garlic as you often get. As a bonus the house wines are excellent and can't be beat for 3-4 euro a glass. Price: On the high side for Padova but a bargain for anyone who lives in the US or Aus. I don't give 5 stars very often but this place is worth every one. My only complaint is that I found out about this gem so late in my stay.

I went to Padua this past September (2012) and eating at La Finestra was one of the highlights of…read morethe trip. If you go to Padua you should definitely come here. The menu consists of traditional Italian dishes with a modern twist. We ordered more than we could eat, so that we could try as much as possible, and every dish we had was great. Highlights included: Slow-cooked pork belly with cabbage salad: This is one of those dishes that stops you in mid-conversation as you take your first bite and realize how good it is. It looks fairly unassuming. But the pork belly is cooked perfectly, and the dressing is out of this world. I can't remember another time I got so excited about dressing. I asked the hostess / owner what was in it and she said that it's a secret family recipe and that the dish is one of their favorites. Black Beans Soup with Ginger, Prawns, and Sour Cream: I love soup, especially after a long day of walking. The combination of black beans, ginger, and prawns is an unexpected combination of flavors that makes every mouthful one to linger over. DIY Tiramisu: This comes as three separate items, a pot of mascarpone, ladyfingers, and a glass of liqueur. Each is really well done, and it's great to be able to mix and match in your preferred proportions, as well as really fun to do. Entrees were also great, though I am writing this review a few months late and unfortunately can't remember exactly what we had. :( The restaurant is small enough to be intimate, but the tables are well-spaced and comfortable. And the two owners are really nice and friendly. Once we told the hostess that we were from the States, and enjoyed the food so much, she went back to the kitchen to get her husband, who serves as the chef. We spoke to them for a while. They lived in San Francisco before moving back to Padua, hence the mix of modern and Italian cuisines. It's the sort of place you really want to support, and is one of the reasons I decided to finally write a yelp review!

The food and atmosphere here (we ate outside) are excellent. The service is mixed…read more So, three of us came and wanted three different dishes -- two pasta dishes and one pizza. We also ordered an artichoke appetizer that was pretty damn good, But the server... "You can order pizza or pasta, but not both." I asked why, and his response was that they come out at different times. Really? So I asked which one took longer, and he said it was the pasta. My next question: "I don't care if mine comes out before or after theirs, but could y'all just put mine in the oven about 10 minutes before the pasta is ready to be served?" His response: "That's impossible." Though I was frustrated, I left it alone. I figured it was a cultural thing. Cone to find out, it was a La Lanterna thing. Perhaps our server didn't like Americans? Perhaps he wasn't the sharpest knife in the drawer? Or maybe he was just lazy. Shame on him. The pasta dishes were really good, as was the artichoke appetizer. I'll never know about the pizza.

So good! Fresh ingredients. Great service! Air conditioning. Fabulous pizza oven. Bravo and…read moreGratzie from USA!!

this was a nice easy early dinner. the food was tasty and the service was perfect. we sat and…read moreenjoyed our dinner for about 2 hours without being pushed away.

Great place in the very heart of Padua. The pizza was extremely good - with smoked mozzarella and…read moreprosciutto. The crust was excellent, chewy and crispy. Perfect! The Bigoli with duck ragù was great too but a little greasy. Service was quick and friendly. Perhaps a little touristy. But the pizza... So good!

5 stars for the location and service alone. Sat outside overlooking a beautiful square that the…read moreRomans built dating back BC. Food was amazing, I couldn't read the menu or understand a thing, but mine was phenomenal - mini meatballs and some sort of local pasta that looked like little thumb sized saucers. My Co-worker's carbonara was unbelievably flavorful. He couldn't finish it, so I crushed it and would get it if I ever return. And the calzones are as big as your head!!!

Love ,Love this place. Great food and service in a beautiful setting. I love the all their food.read more

I heard from a local that this place had good pizza, so that's what I went for. Very nice ambiance…read moreand there is indoor and outdoor seating in a garden setting. The pizza was very good, the best I've had in Padua. However, not the best that I've had anywhere (sorry, I always compare pizza with Cloverleaf in Detroit) so therefore the 4 star rating. Also they had 3 beers on tap, including a red beer which was very good. I would definitely go back and try some of the other food here as the menu looked good and the staff was pleasant.

Tucked into a small walkway and then expands into a very nice establishment…read more Food was good. Rating would have been higher if I didn't have to remind them to bring me my wine

One of the best restaurants on our first tour of Italy…read more We ad a variety of dishes, including grandma's meatballs, an assortment of appetizers, and a Neapolitan pizza. It was all divine. The service and atmosphere here are top notch.

Warm, friendly local establishment with excellent food and service. Nothing fancy, casual and great…read morefor families.

My husband and I came here for lunch back in October. The setting and the ambiance of this…read morerestaurant were both outstanding. The dining room is light and bright with an absolutely incredible view and some vaguely Alice in wonderland vibes. For food we opted to do the à la carte option as I preferred to do the vegetarian items (though I'm not a vegetarian) and you had to do the same tasting menu across the entire table. Truthfully, I found my dishes to be too rich and just ok while my husband's courses were pretty wonderful. The coffee pici pasta and wild boar tortelli were specific stand outs. Wonderful experience in an idyllic location but would go with the non vegetarian options if we were to go back.

Simply put: Falcionere is why one travels abroad. The chef/owner took my order (actually, he…read moreordered for me), cooked my meal at my table, and shared some of his invented recipes with me after my meal. I had blueberry tortellini, unlike anything I had ever had. Delicate, but not too rich or sweet--perfectly complimented by a bottle of local Friuli. Then his piece de resistance. A mixed grill of different local beefs cooked rare on a hot plate at the table. Lightly garnished, but maximally stunning. World class meal, top notch service and peaceful atmosphere. This is why we save vacation days and frequent flier miles. Enjoy!