It was an amazing meal from a visual and sensory perspective. Each dish is a painting that is served 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. read more

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Wow, wow, wow! Had the most amazing dining experience at O.F to celebrate my 10 year anniversary with 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! read more

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Impeccable service, a true masterclass in hospitality. At Osteria Francescana, the staff are more than servers; they are artisans of timing and grace. Every movement felt intentional, from the pacing of the dishes to the quiet choreography of their walks, making the whole evening feel like a show The menu itself was a journey, equal parts theater and storytelling. It opened with Pane e Acqua and playful creations like Brodo in bloom and La cipolla sogna di diventare caviale ("the onion dreams of becoming caviar"), each dish carrying wit and imagination alongside flavor. Even something as humble as Pizza fritta felt elevated into art. As the courses unfolded, there was a sense of traveling through landscapes and traditions. Nella foresta ("in the forest") evoked earthiness, while Mare Nostrum was a love letter to the sea. The pasta course, La Genovese, came with its own story about roots and reinvention, reminding me that here, food is always about more than taste; it is about memory, place, and identity. The highlight for me was the Jazz Duck: improvvisazione sull'anatra. The name says it all: spontaneous, surprising, and deeply satisfying. The duck itself was perfect, and the reduction was divine. I savored every bite. From there, playfulness returned with Fast Bees, Slow Honey, and Sotto il sole siciliano, a bright tribute to Sicily's warmth. Desserts continued the narrative arc with Gelati and a whimsical Surprise, Surprise!! that left us ending on a note of joy and delight. Altogether, this was more than a meal. It was an edible storybook, built on sustainability, locally sourced ingredients, and masterful technique. I finally understand what a three-star Green Michelin experience truly means. read more

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I've held off on writing this review because of how disappointed I was, but the time has come. Having dined at a few Michelin-starred restaurants, this experience was one I had been anticipating for a long time. Massimo's restaurant was high on our list, and we made our reservations six months in advance. Traveling from Arizona to Italy involved multiple flights, trains, and renting a local Airbnb in Modena just to facilitate this visit. While the actual cost of the meal was significant, it paled in comparison to the overall expense of making this journey. Unfortunately, the flavors simply did not live up to my expectations. Am I glad I made the trip? Absolutely--100 percent. Would I do it again? Definitely not. To be fair, I do not enjoy seafood, and while I was kindly offered replacements for the seafood dishes I struggled to palate, I wanted to experience the original tasting menu as intended. If I could change one thing, I would have opted for non-seafood alternatives. The service was excellent, though not exceptional, and the highlight of the evening was meeting Massimo himself. It was wonderful to see how humbly he greets his guests, takes photos, and takes the time to chat with those who travel to visit his restaurant. The restaurant itself is beautiful--a small, intimate space tucked away in the charming streets of Modena. The level of detail and dedication that goes into everything is truly impressive. Sadly, I just didn't enjoy many of the flavors, perhaps because my palate isn't refined enough to fully appreciate the tasting menu. That said, my partner ordered the Bolognese, and it was magnificent. Though it wasn't intended as a main course, the portion was light yet satisfying, and I would highly recommend that anyone dining here try it, even alongside the tasting menu. At the end of our meal, we were given a complimentary magazine and a bottle of Modena's famous balsamic vinegar--a thoughtful and generous gesture. While I respect the artistry and passion behind the experience, and I'm grateful for the journey, it simply wasn't for me. read more

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As a passionate food lover who loves to cook all the time following culinary legends like Ferran Adrià and Massimo Bottura was a no brainer. Their creative mind is more than just art and science. The opportunity to eat at El Bulli can never be met, as it closed in 2012, but Massimo's Francescana was one I had to get in. My heart was set on Modena, even more than Rome, Venice, or Florence, because food moves me in ways that words often fail to capture. Eating at Osteria Francescana was me going on a pilgrimage. The anticipation of tasting the "Five Ages of Parmigiano Reggiano" and "Tagliatelle al Ragù" had been a constant source of excitement and inspiration for me. Walking into Osteria Francescana for lunch, I felt a wave of overwhelming emotions. I kept telling myself not to overhype it in my mind, to manage my expectations, but deep down, I knew this was a moment I had romanticized for years. As I sat down and the first course arrived, my heart raced with anticipation. The "Five Ages of Parmigiano Reggiano" was placed before me, and as I took the first spoonful, my eyes moistened. The complexity and depth of flavors were beyond anything I had imagined. It was a symphony of textures and tastes, each age of Parmigiano Reggiano telling its own story. I was overwhelmed, not just by the dish itself, but by the realization that I was living my dream. Next came the "Tagliatelle al Ragù." Its simplicity was deceptive; the dish was light yet incredibly rich in flavor. The delicate balance of the ragù with the perfectly cooked tagliatelle was a testament to Massimo Bottura's genius. It was a dish that spoke of tradition and innovation in equal measure. The "Eggplant del San Domenico" was another revelation. An eggplant steak with onion powder replicating a steak, it was a homage to the San Domenican style. As a steak lover, I was astonished by how this vegetarian dish captured the essence of a steak. It was a bold and brilliant creation that left a lasting impression. I am not someone who easily becomes emotional, yet here I was, surprised by the depth of my feelings. I had been romanticizing about all things Massimo and Osteria Francescana for years, fearing that the reality might fall short of my expectations. However, the experience surpassed even my wildest dreams. It felt as though I had under-romanticized and under-hyped it, as it still blew my mind. Food not only creates memories and brings people together, but it also changes lives. This meal at Osteria Francescana was one of those memories that will shape my life's journey. It was a reminder of why I fell in love with cooking and the power of food to evoke emotions, tell stories, and connect us all. This experience was more than just a meal; it was a dream come true, a moment that will forever be etched in my heart. read more

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Absolutely incredible. Went on may 28th. My first Michelin star place I've eaten at but I've worked fine dining a long time. Service was wild. Don't know who coordinates the flow of service but it was absolutely amazing, The meal though. Did the tasting menu along with the drink pairing. The most interesting and mind blowing part was each dish felt like it was meant to make the next one better. And the next one was better because what the last one was preparing my pallet for it. Every single drink pairing as well elevated the flavors. Thank you so much. Absolute art in the flow of flavors. read more

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I was a bit disappointed by my experience here. I had been looking forward to this for so long after reading about it and also watching several shows on Chef Bottura. The dining room is beautiful and the service impeccable. However, the food, which was supposed to go with a theme of sustainability, just didn't quite work. The dishes were not particularly tasty and I honestly didn't get how they were supposed to relate to the theme of the dinner. read more

It was a dream come true to visit Osteria Francescana after seeing it and Massimo Bottura highlighted in many food programs over the years. We scored a reservation the minute they opened up (and glad we did as a few minutes later, all of the reservations for this month were gone...and this was about 6 months in advance.) With such a sought after place, make sure you put a lot of advanced thought into coming here or you just won't get in. Honestly it was the Five Ages of Parmesan Cheese dish that brought us here. We added that to the tasting menu (after mortgaging our house to be able to afford this meal) and it was for sure the highlight of our tasting experience. We enjoyed many other things, especially the incredible amount of artistry that went into each dish and its presentation. We especially remember the beet dish. We're vegetarians so got a vegetarian version of the tasting menu and they did, we think, a pretty good job of matching up flavor profiles with the meat versions of the dishes they came with. We also thought the Eggplant all San Domenico was one of the best presentations, taste and texture of eggplant we've ever had. The atmosphere was a little bit of a bummer...it was INCREDIBLY FORMAL AND SERIOUS to be in there. The staff in particular, I don't think ever smiled, and the overall ambiance was kind of heavy. I guess this makes sense for one of the most famous fine-dining restaurants in the world, but it didn't quite match the playfulness of Botturo's on-screen personality, or the same playfulness that went into the naming of the dishes. And although we enjoyed everything, even a few weeks later with pictures of everything, it's hard to pull out highlights...maybe because the meal had so many courses...just thinking about it, it kind of all ran together...whereas at many other restaurants we dined at throughout Italy on this vacation, we can call out specific tastes flavors and joy at being in the places. If we were to do it again we would just order a-la carte. The 5 Ages of Parmesan dish that brought us in wasn't included in the tasting menu and we would have been VERY happy with it and a couple other items and the food, likely would have been more memorable and we would have saved hundreds of dollars. Massimo...you're a super-fun guy. Let that reflect in the experience one has in your most famous restaurant. read more

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What more can I say... one of the best culinary experiences of my life. 3-4 hours of pure enjoyment, with a journey in contemporary Italian cuisine. The menu was well-designed with interesting contaminations from French and Japanese cuisine. The wine pairing was good, but I don't think it was exceptional - the Barbera, for instance, was underwhelming. Nonetheless I had one of the best pairing ever when the "chicken, chicken where are you?" was paired with a Sauternes; otherworldly to say the least. We also got the great chance to meet Massimo Bottura. What an honor! He's really charismatic and charming. Service has been mostly attentive for 95% of our meal. I didn't appreciate one of the servers pushing us to leave by reminding twice that our cabs arrived. We had this meal at Maria Luigia, as this was during lockdown. I wish I could experience one day the ambiance at the Via Stella restaurant. read more

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We made a reservation in error and it was a month earlier than we meant to visit. Their policy was to charge 250 euros per person for not being able to make it. We made an honest mistake and also tried to shift the reservation to a month later and were flatly denied. Yes, they had a right to implement a policy, but it was very bad business. Instead of gaining a loyal customer for life, and one that would have given much more to their business, they chose to be inflexible. This is a fatal mistake for a business and tells you how they operate. It is an arrogant position to take and I never recommend patronising establishments with this kind of attitude. I will make it my "occupation" to ensure all aware of the behaviour. It is a missed opportunity. read more

Osteria Francescana - A business has choices. - Italian Near Me - Modena, Missouri

A refreshing break to my somber days, to find Chef Bottura of Osteria Francescana and his family on Instagram's Kitchen Quarantine live everyday at 8:30PM CET, 11:30AM PST, 2:30PM EST, is a respite for the soul. For here, I get to experience the exuberance of the Italian spirit, an Italian family sharing their love for life and their friends, even though blocks away, people are suffering and dying from this virus. If you admire Massimo Bottura's cooking, you get to experience his endearing sense of humor also with his loving family: his wife Lara and his children Alexa and Charlie. Chef Bottura's cooking daily on Instagram gives me a well deserved break; so well deserved I am blocking my 11am-noon hour LOL It's more than cooking; it's about the humanity that lives in all of us; we are one big family. For however long it lasts, Kitchen Quarantine, brightens my day, everyday. Enjoy y'all. Instagram link: https://www.instagram.com/massimobottura/ read more

Osteria Francescana - Kitchen Quarantine on IG, daily at 8PM CET, 11am PST. Massimo is funny cool 3.30.20 - Italian Near Me - Modena, Missouri

One of the world's best restaurants so we had to try it and it was amazing!!! We wanted to experience a bit of everything so opted for the prix fixe. So many flavor combinations and unexpected twists (i.e. Florentine steak and the porchetta). Dessert tomato? Yes please!!! Such a surprise to finish our meal. Highly recommend!!! read more

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This establishment likely has the most respected reputation for any restaurant in Italy. It's for good reason. They have won best restaurant in the world twice and continue to push gastronomic boundaries. The team has created a new menu for 2023 celebrating classic dishes of the Osteria but presenting them in a new way. Once you arrive at your seat you'll be offered to order the tasting menu or ordering a la carte. With prior notification you can even order a vegetarian version of the tasting menu which is its own unique experience. There's no bad option. The regular tasting menu is a beautiful experience starting of seafood and briney, moving into savory, and ending sweet over around a dozen tasting courses. Chef Massimo even visits with guests if he's working the kitchen. I won't spoil anything more other than the price as of September 2023. Expect to pay €325 for a tasting menu (same for vegetarians), €210 for a wine pairing, and €30 for a champagne appertif. Reservations of months in advance and you MUST book them the moment they become available. It's worth the effort because I was served the best meal I've ever had. read more

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Amazing across the board !! Great experience ! The best part is that you can choose between the tasting menu or a la carte !! Super good either or read more

Probably one of the worst meals I've ever had. I was so looking forward to eating here and planned a whole trip around the reservation. I was extremely disappointed in the tasting menu. If you like really fishy fish, then you might like this, but judging by the plates returning to the kitchen, I wasn't alone in my dislike. It was not with the money or time to visit. If you do make the trip, the ambiance and service is top notch, but stick to the classics on the a la carte menu... read more

12 course meal for 250 euro. Wine pairing is an additional 170 euro. I chose to get a white wine and a glass of yuzu sake for my desserts. They do provide free ciabatta bread with olive oil and grissini (which they remove before dessert is served). Grissini did taste like fried wonton skins. I kinda wished they had a bottle of the Modena's famous balsamic vinegar to eat with the bread. From the 12 dishes, I loved the seafood salad which came with butter lettuce, octopus, four different chips (seaweed, squid ink and red and white chips) with spearmint leaves. I also loved the oops I dropped the lemon tart. It was accurately plated and even the plate looked like it was broken. Loved the lemon cookie and flavoring of the zabalone. It was amazing to see the artistry that went into each dish! However, tastewise, none of them were mindblowing. It was worth going once, but not worth doing it again especially at such a steep price. read more

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I'm so confused. My world feels rocked. If this restaurant is the best in the world, then I don't know if it is a world that I want to live in. We decided to go with the tasting menu and wine paring. I don't like eel so I asked if there was a substitute for the eel dish on the tasting menu. Instead of offering a different dish, they suggested just removing the eel. At a 3 Michelin star restaurant that also offers a la carte options, I would have hoped that they could provide a more customized option. The meal started off a little shakey- several of the staff provided absolutely no explanation of the dishes, and spoke far too fast for anyone to understand. It was disappointing considering how hard this reservation was to get, and how expensive it was! The staff also laughed to each other throughout the service and squealed in a corner like school kids at recess. I'm used to staff socializing but at the number one restaurant in the world I would expect a higher standard, especially because the dining space is so small, and the meal is not cheap. The service was below average, with exception to the wonderful woman who kept refilling our breadsticks. In addition, Massimo came out and talked to each table - he was so nice and it was awesome to get to talk to him. Overall, the dishes were innovative but the technique did not always translate to flavor. Sure, I think it is incredibly interesting to have pork that resembles waygu steak, but the taste was just not there. The dishes were structured to progress really well, but individually I did not find each dish that indulgent and tasty. I felt like I was in a movie that was ironically making fun of tasting menus. Except for the fact that I paid $500. The desert was a scoop of lemon icecream - it was uninspired and such a bad note to to end the meal on. Imagine lemon icecream from a gelatoria with a few crispy things and that was it. Sure, it was good, but it wasn't worth the amount that we paid. The restaurant did provide 2 different types of bread and breadsticks throughout the meal so thankfully we left feeling full. I woke up at 4:00am to make this reservation and then paid upwards of $500- I didn't think the flavor was worth it. I totally appreciate the experimentation and modernist approach, but not for the price tag. read more

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Made a trip to Italy to eat dinner here in September 2021, but the food was obscenely flavorless, absurdly ridiculous, and nearly made me run to the toilet to vomit. The chef needs a heaping barge of help for his "With a Little Help from My Friends" menu. Throughout the dinner, the servers kept referencing people or things (hard to understand them oftentimes) related to each dish, but we had no idea who/what/why they were important. It's like we were supposed to read his diary/books/life story or do research the night before to study for this awful meal. First, the dining facility (because that's exactly what it seemed to be) is cold and sterile, worse than a lawyer office or doctor exam room. Small room with gray walls, spotlights shining directly overhead, no kind of dining atmosphere whatsoever to enjoy the experience. The service was adequate for us, except one of the servers basically told a diner at the next table "too bad, that's Italian food" when she couldn't eat one of the dishes. The amuse bouche with raw shrimp and white fish were decent. Round croissant thingy made with prosciutto fat wasn't any better than a good buttery French croissant. Then came a salad made of thinly sliced lettuce over some cuttlefish with caviar that they recommended to mix up yourself before eating. The whole thing tasted like nothing, and even worse all it did was get stuck between the teeth. Next came ravioli made with mortadella and scallops, which tasted good, but honestly I've had the same exact flavors from a basic shumai at any decent dim sum restaurant. This was followed by a small slice of eggplant which tasted exactly like an eggplant. Sigh.... Then came the only dish I truly enjoyed. Egg/Parmesan custard with tongue, morels, peas, zucchini in a mushroom broth. I wished every other dish tasted this rich and wonderful. I would have rather paid $100 for a big bowl of it over ramen or Vietnamese bun noodles and skipped out. Unfortunately dinner took a deep dive after. The next dish was guinea fowl breast and liver; the breast was similar to chicken but much tastier, however the liver was disgusting, something similar to wet chalk or wood filler. Finally came the last savory dish: eel topped with crispy duck skin, on top of cherries and spinach. It sucked so bad, the eel was the size of fingernail, the duck skin was crunchy but pointless, and worst of all was the sour- and tartness of the cherries which overpowered everything. Dessert started with a creme caramel made with foie gras and topped with meringue, which was excellent. Then came the vomit worthy dish that exemplified the whole meal. Upside down cone made from banana, on top of milk cream, warm cheese gelato, guanciale, and caviar hidden inside the cone. We were told to break the cone before eating, which we did and caviar came out of the cone. The overall dish though was a disgusting mix of incoherent ingredients tossed together, which created neither great food nor a pretty looking dish. As I ate it, the grossness of guanciale mixed with milk cream and caviar and banana and cheese reminded me of what it was like to be sick as a kid and vomit, in which everything that comes up tastes like a mix of everything I was just served and expected to eat and enjoy. In fact, the whole meal was just plain boring, sloppy, stupid, and/or random ingredients thrown together and, for the most part, lacked anything worthy of a single Michelin star or renowned reputation. We slogged through the next gross dry rawish pasta stuffed with vanilla/lemon-flavored super sweet potato and comically sprayed with a mist of "coffee perfume" from a plastic spray bottle, followed by average petite fours so we could get the bill and do the walk of shame exit feeling disappointed and ripped off. In summary, Osteria Francescana is nothing at all like what we saw on Netflix or 60 Minutes. Perhaps the restaurant and chef are so famous that things have changed and gotten distracted, or maybe we were supposed to do extensive research and due diligence before entering the door. The tasting menu was in reality a horrible experimental series of grab bag scraps that didn't even look pretty and should have never made it out of the kitchen. Unfortunately we did not opt for the a la carte menu and won't ever return to try it. read more

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This review is actually for the Osteria Francescana tasting menu experience at Casa Maria Luigia, which is a beautiful bed and breakfast inn located in the heart of the Modenese Emilia-Romagna country side--an absolutely beautiful and stunning environment. Chef Massimo Bottura and his wife Lara Gilmore have created the most amazing, spectacular (there are not enough superlatives I can use!) experience for diners who want the signature dishes of Bottura's famed Osteria Francescana restaurant, which is located in the city center of Modena. I was absolutely blown away by the tasting menu (which came with a dedicated wine pairing) and loved how Lara walked through the history/context of each dish and wine choice. The service was spectacular, and I very much appreciated how you sit at these small communal tables with other fellow diners, which created a very comfortable and friendly atmosphere (something that is often missed at many fine dining establishments). Each dish was perfect, and I loved being able to walk up to the kitchen and get a birds-eye view of the plating and preparation process, particularly for my favorite dish (the 5 Ages of Parmigiano Reggiano) and the fun spin-painted veal (like a Jackson Pollock painting!). I do wish Chef Bottura also could have been there the night I was there, as I would have absolutely loved to hear his commentary and see him in action in the kitchen, but the whole experience was still great regardless! I am definitely going to plan for another visit one day...grazie mille a tutti a Casa Maria Luigia!! read more

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Perhaps being named the best restaurant in the world earlier this summer, my expectations were heightened. Two of us came here for the tasting menu when it opened precisely at 12:30 and spent the next couple of hours enjoying the different plates offered by Chef Bottura. The menu is a series of cute/clever names for dishes hinting at what they are. Examples: Autumn in New York was a dish with seasonal fruits and vegeatbles that then had a broth poured into the dish. There was an apple like stem at the top visible before the broth was poured. Another example--lentils are better than caviar--a caviar like tin filled with black lentils. Caesar salad in bloom--a salad whose parts are wonderfully arranged to look like a bouquet of flowers. The two standout dishes for me were the eel swimming up the Po River, a thin slice of eel and the tortellini in capon broth. What a rich soup! Desserts were good including the Oops! I dropped the Lemon Tart. A tart that has been broken on the plate to match the cute/clever name. The best dessert was the croccantino of foie gras in the shape of a popsicle with nuts on the outside. Service was excellent. The experience was one of very quiet reserve. There was conversation but with only three tables in the room where we were seated, it was awfully quiet. A server walked you to the restroom lest you not know where the automatic door is. I guess Osteria Francescana fell somewhat a victim to expectations but there were other meals we had on this trip that surpassed this even though the flavors were very good. read more

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After it taking a year to secure the coveted reservations to dine at this restaurant and then having to cancel those reservations due to Covid and having to postpone it by another 2 years I finally got the opportunity to check it off the list. Ever since seeing the chefs table episode I knew I had to go. Not sure if it was the hype built up over years of waiting or a combination of the actual menu but we were a little let down. Don't get me wrong the majority of the tasting menu was incredible flavors but it was 80% vegetarian. If it was the menu from years prior I would probably have said something different. At least I ordered the five ages of Parmaggiano Reggiano and that was a knockout. Absolutely delicious. That was the only thing from the original signatures that we got. One item that one of us were to thrilled about was the seafood soup. If you live the flavors of the ocean and really strong fishy game flavor then you would love it but in the U.S. we represent fishy ocean flavor with not being very good. It could just be a culture difference also. Overall we were very impressed and it was quite the experience, I would go again if I get the opportunity because I would love to try a new tasting menu when I go back or just order the signature tasting if they offer it. read more

I feel blessed to say I've dined here.. ever since they won best restaurant in the world the first time in 2016, I was obsessed. Then they won #1 again in 2018?!! I just had to check it out and my first ever Europe trip was inspired by getting to this restaurant! Definitely a 3 Michelin star experience, from walking in, to check in, to food story telling, the food visually and experiencing foods you know but in a new light, and service of course! I think living up to being #1 in the world comes with immense pressure but Chef Massimo came out and greeted each table and he has an such great energy you can't help but love his vision of food. You can order a la carte or from 2 tasting menus, the classic or the Everything menu. We opted for the everything menu for €250! My favorites from the night were definitely the classic 5 ages of parmigiana reggiano and the iconic oops I dropped the lemon tart. Really great experience. Happy we made it there! read more

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My fiancé and I were lucky enough to get reservations for Osteria Francescana just 3 weeks before our trip. We used the Amex Platinum Global Dining Concierge to book it. We did a day trip to Modena from Florence and it was a short train ride (about 2.5 hours). Francescana was a 20 minute walk from the train station. We arrived at about 12:10 for the 12:30 reservation and everyone waited until 12:30 to enter the restaurant. Upon entering we have our name that the reservation was under and they immediately seated us. We opted for the tasting menu on its own with a bottle of wine. We did pay 90 euro for the bottle of wine (which later we saw was a 20-30 euro bottle.) The service was impeccable. The food was always served/cleared by two waiters. The waiter always gave a detailed description about the food and the story behind it. The food was delicious and innovative. Massimo came and spoke with each table and was really nice. Overall it was a wonderful experience and a special way to celebrate our engagement (we got engaged the day before). read more

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Overwhelmingly disappointing. We spent half of our mortgage payment, traveled across the world, and waited months to have a smug waiter and only 1 bite of our entire meal make our tastebuds "dance" as I like to say. What was supposed to be the highlight meal of our honeymoon turned out to be the biggest thing we regret: buying into the hype. read more

What I remember from Osteria Francescana last night: There were maybe 20 people outside when I arrived at 7:55, all couples, mostly middle aged, in varying formalities of attire, from the clean sneakers technocrat look to ornamental jewelery and suit jackets. I wore the black shirt that Martina made for me, and felt well fit to the occasion. Staff wore black formal attire, as well as a professional body language where their every movement was intentional. There was some art on the walls but nothing too striking, and the restaurant was divided into several rooms with high ceilings, plain color walls (ours was charcoal grey) and a floral pattern carpet that while colorful, I did not even notice until halfway through the meal. A light was 10' above each table, but instead of coming down from the ceiling, they curved up from the floor on tall slender stalks. The atmosphere was inviting, equally at home for a formal mood as a joyous one. We were seated and given menus, which revealed 12 courses with 9 alcohol pairings to come. Course names ranged from simple "Pasta, Butter and Marmelade" to descriptive "Textures of the North Adriatic Sea" to fanciful "journey to a beautiful countryside: ravioli are a container of ideas" and "think green is a state of mind" - however even the simply named dishes were not what they seemed, and it was impossible to predict what each would be from the name. For example, "Grilled Venison and sides" was in fact a radicchio filled with cream over which a venison sauce was poured. Drinks preceded each dish by a few minutes, and if finished early were refilled. Each dish arrived with a few sentences introduction by the waitstaff, who worked as a team at each table rather than dividing up the tables between them. For example, "Textures of the North Adriatic Sea" was introduced with a square of yellow translucent plastic covering the dish, and the waiter noted that we must remove plastic from the oceans so that we can enjoy them, before picking up the plastic and letting the smells out. Many dishes included a finishing sauce or broth that was poured at the table. All were unique and unexpected in flavor, of which most were delicious - I particularly enjoyed a fish beignet and a white chocolate pear in a shallow pool of cheese that, when cracked open, was filled with cream and diced stewed pear chunks. The menu's most delicious dishes were frontloaded, while the drinks became more and more satisfying over the course of the meal, and I found myself pleasantly drunk by the end. Midway through Chef Massimo came out, hair free and wearing white, and spent a minute or two connecting with each table's guests - at our table he told us about a project in New York opening in a few months that would be a very special soup kitchen through his organization Food for the Soul. When I asked for a photo, he drew my companion close with genuinely warm body language and smile. Later in the meal, when I did not finish one of the dishes, a waiter asked me with concern if I had not liked it - I demurred, and I feared as he left that my unfinished dish might be cause for some serious thought behind the scenes. The food itself I'm still struggling to describe in my head - the flavors and textures are memorable, and unique in their combination. I have slept since the meal but i still do not have the words to describe them. I can only say that I am eating the simplest food now, so as not to dilute their memory, as I continue to process them in my head. I do not think that eating the same tasting menu again would be a waste, in fact if offered a new one or the same again, I would be tempted to follow this particular journey another time and go deeper. The dishes do not rely on the surprise at all, many of the tastes felt like waking up and recalling memories from a dream. The whole atmosphere helped the meal to feel like a dream in another time and place, that I hope I can one day drift back to. read more

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Me and my roommate got off the waitlist to come here on our last night of study abroad and I think it was just meant to be. This was the most amazing experience from start to finish and is something I will take with me (and humble brag about) for many years to come. We were the youngest people in there by probably 20 years (we both love food a lot) but it didn't feel pretentious at all. The waiters were the perfect mix of personable and professional and they were so knowledgeable about the food they were serving. We did the 10 course tasting menu and everything was awesome. The highlights for me were: eel swimming up the po river and suckling pig (they change what's on the tasting menu often though). The highlight was most likely when massimo bottura came out to speak to everyone and he made a point to go to each individual table and joke around with people and also with the waiters. It gave the impression that they all were passionate about their jobs and believed in truly good food and good dining. While the food is superb this is a place where you also pay for the experience and amazing service - both of which I believe to be worth the hefty price tag! read more

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When I was able to get a reservation for Osteria Francescana for our 20th wedding anniversary celebration... I honestly felt like we won the lottery! Which, I'm sure all foodies would agree... we did! But, to celebrate at a restaurant with 2 kids that have nut allergies, it is always a challenge. So, I wasn't sure what to expect at Osteria Francescana. I had notified them earlier of the nut allergies & that I am a vegetarian. So, based on their e-mailed reply, I felt confident in their abilities to provide safe food for the kids & interesting vegetarian food for me. They were helpful & cautious & had many questions about what would be safe for the kids & free of any tree nut cross-contact issues with any of the ingredients. They were able to confidently provide many options for the kids & even allowed them to eat the amuse bouche, grissini, dessert, chocolate, & several of the additional offerings during the 3 1/2 hour experience. Our son had watched Netflix's Chef's Table & was so excited when he found out that he would get to try the five ages of Parmigiano Reggiano and the famed "Oops... I dropped the lemon tart." He still talks about the dessert & how it is the best dessert he has ever had. The selection of vegetarian options in the A La Carte menu is very limited. But, they were able to surprise me with a vegetarian version of the camouflage risotto and an outstandingly delicious green ravioli dish with truffles. This was a chance in a lifetime to eat at the restaurant of a chef that is so creative & world-renowned. But, most importantly, a chef that has a big heart and gives back to his community & the world. We only wish that we had the opportunity to meet Massimo Bottura. But, there is always next time....!! Grazie mille Osteria Francescana! Ci vedremo la prossima volta! read more

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8 months after dining here and I'm still thinking about the experience and writing an update. Maybe it was worth the money after all. Was just watching the final episodes of the latest season of Top Chef where they held the final rounds in Emilia-Romagna and it just took me back. God what a wonderful experience the whole trip was. Watching the show and thinking about the contestants, the guest chefs, the judges and all the wonderfully historic places and things being highlighted in the show made me realize this stupid American with a Pizza Hut palette is unqualified to give any restaurant of this caliber anything less than 4 stars. I still stand by pretty much everything I said in my original review, but I can't try and take anything away from what Chef Massimo has done for Modenese food and the world. He's certainly done more for the world than my shitty reviews have! I would definitely return to this beautiful part of the world someday and definitely try to dine at OF again. Next time though I would just leave my "budget" at home and order however much fucking champagne and water I want. Allora! read more

Let me first start saying that I am nobody, not either a food critic or a chef, sono un ragazzo nato e cresciuto in Veneto e che vivo a Miami da 15 per lavoro. I came to Massimo restaurant right before Netflix hit. A totally different place and experience. Took me 3 years to bring my parents to the restaurant to celebrate their 40th anniversary and let me tell you what a disappointment I walked my self in too. Very Disappointment and kindly frustrated for what we experience, in a place like this I don't expect, I require the best of everything, that's why we have place like this and that's why we go. First in line to walk in the door at 12:30 and the smell of humidity (wet carpet right of the bet) made my parents saying 2023 and they use carpet? What a shame. Sit down and no welcoming drinks, a place where you pay 325 euro for the experience doesn't bring a welcome drinks to guest is seriously a joke My family didn't want to have the full menu and they pretty much force the whole table to chose between tasting menu or a la carte to avoid delays or issues when the place are coming out. With all the respect I have for the food, the art and experience but is not my problem. I am here to pay for what ever is available is your job to figure it out how to serve 2 tasting menu and 2 a la carte dish. Hate at Duomo and enoteca pinchiorri this year and I didn't have any issue in ordering different menus for the table. Spent 1650 euro in wine, 2015 and 2018 sassicaia 1 ripasso e 2 primitivo, I had to call the waitres 3 times to fill my father glass of wine, no attention to detail from the staff. Staff is young and I love the fact is using the new generations but train them well before throw them in to the ring. The room is dark and depressing, crazy woman painting are in the wall without sense Food was good but not stellar, at least not now. Half of the real menu is gone and is new creations with hints of Modena. I didn't came to eat mini carbonara I came to eat what Massimo used to serve. After paying the bill and bought 4 bottle of balsamic v. To take home, my dad kindly ask one of the staff if a grappa or an after drinks was offered saying in veneto dialect My son just spent 3500 euro for food and wine can we get a grappa for free smiling? The staff looked at both of us and said, sorry we don't know and walked away. Go to villa crispi, il duomo oppure enoteca pinchiorri if you are truly want a 3 star Michelin experience, here not sure what you can get. read more

I haven't anticipated a meal this much in quite a long time, maybe since Eleven Madison Park a few years ago. After watching Chef's Table and Master of None, I knew more that I had to try and come on my trip to Bologna. This was definitely the hardest reservation I've had to get - mostly because you have to plan a trip around it, and you can only make a reservation 3 calendar months in advance (Aug 1, 9am local for a November reservation). And on that day, there were technical issues where the slots weren't opening up, and at 3am ET, I was insanely tired. I decided to refresh one more time, which was maybe 30-40 min later, and it opened up so that's how I snagged a reservation for 1 of the 12 tables that day. The space is pristine, and it really feels like you're eating in an art gallery. The service was top-notch. While we were deliberating, we decided to start with the house champagne, which was insanely good and everything I want in a champagne - ice cold, dry, good depth. As you can imagine, the wine menu is more like a novel. I tend to get overwhelmed with too many options so I just deferred to the sommelier, who gave great recommendations. We decided to do the €250 Tutto (Everything) 12-Course tasting menu. My favorites were the Angel Hair with Crustacean, Five Ages of Parmigiano Reggiano, Rice: Green Over Brown Over Black, Foie Gras Popsicle, and the Lemon Tart. I don't want to go into heavy detail but I just felt like the overall balance of most dishes was heavily shifted towards technique over flavor. This was a tough review. Because I wanted to love it, I wanted this to blow my mind so I could continue to say wonderful things and tell my friends and family about it. But the truth is, my friend and I have had better meals. As much as I enjoy new flavor combinations or techniques, at the end of the day, I just want delicious, memorable food. And as I left, I didn't find myself lingering on anything and more looking forward to what my next meal would be. read more

Best 1000 € (for 2 persons) ever spent. Ultimate experience - gastronomic rockstar! read more

Massimo Bottura has lost his way. He has abandoned his restaurant. This was the worst fine dining experience we have ever had. The ambiance is dark and depressing with multiple colors and images of crazy women on the walls, no printed wine list; no printed ala carte menu, spot lights directed at tables that cannot be dimmed; music in the background turned so low you cannot hear it; a young inexperienced wait staff; Massimo not on-site or anywhere to be seen. Food average but not good. The only part of the evening that was enjoyable was the 2015 bottle of Masetto we shared. It was a miserable experience. It is also extremely expensive with many guests spending their hard earned savings for an experience not worth having. NOT recommended. This experience has destroyed our confidence in the Michilen Inspectors. Massimo deserves to have his three Michilen stars removed. He does not deserve one star, let alone three. read more

A once in a lifetime experience. My father and I were fortunate enough to visit Francescana and we both agreed that it was the best culinary experience of our lives. The restaurant was simple yet beautiful with three small dining rooms (that I saw) with about 6-8 people in each. The staff were incredibly welcoming, warm, and knowledgeable. As each dish was brought out they would take the time to explain all the ingredients and thought process behind the creation. The food was perfect. We opted for the Tutto (everything) menu but requested no foie gras (really not a fan). As a result, three dishes were substituted, each of which came from the other, smaller menu. The highlights for me: Five Stages of Parmesan - the perfect tasting cheese with 5 unique textures. Really remarkable experience. Mediterranean Sole - the fish was so tasty and the salt/water paper that accompanied it was unique and gave an added boost to the flavor. Autumn in New York - so many flavors blended together -- so amazing Oops! I dropped the lemon tart - I'm not a huge lemon dessert fan but this was other worldly. Easily the most unique and best tasting dessert I've had. I genuinely believe this restaurant is as good as it gets and is worth every penny. Anyone that has the opportunity to visit should! read more

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I usually don't write reviews but I was rather shocked how bad this place was. Living in NYC, I have been able to try multiple michelen rated places and this was easily the worst. Chef massimo is obviously a genius but his current menu focuses on stories and technicalities rather than flavor. Nothing was memorable. Highlight was the breadsticks. read more

I've saved Osteria Francescana for my 600th review to put an emphasis on how amazing an experience it was! You need to make the journey to Modena to eat here, if you haven't already. Accolades: -World's Best Restaurant (#1 spot) - 2016 -World's Best Restaurant (#1 spot) - 2018 -3 Michelin star rating -Featured in Netflix Chef's Table Season 1, Episode 1 -Featured in Netflix Master of None, Season 2, Episode 2 Massimo Bottura has really revolutionized Italian Cuisine. I'm a little embarrassed to say that I have eaten here twice in my life. First time was good, but 2nd time BETTER. There was something elevated about the 2nd time....the food had more Japanese influences, which the staff mentioned was due to the chef who is from Japan. My favorite dish was the pasta, "Spaghettini from the gulf of Naples to Hokkaido" which was spaghetti with Uni sauce....so amazing and creative. I also loved the "pizza" dish, which had breadcrumb crackers for the crust, a risotto for the cheese, and tomato sauce underneath as the surprise. It looked like a pizza, and also did taste like a pizza, but instead of an actual pizza, he recreated the flavors in different ways....he reinvented the pizza. The menu is a poem format. It actually looked the same as last time (same poem), but the interpretation was completely different (except for his classic 5 ages of Parmigiano Reggiano). For instance, this time Autumn in New York was a completely different dish altogether. Another highlight of this meal was not knowing whether or not Massimo would be present or not. We asked the staff during our meal, and they said it was not sure if he'd stop by the restaurant that evening. BUT by the later half of our meal, THERE HE WAS!!!!! It was amazing talking to him. He really is energetic, charismatic, and just so enthusiastic about his customers and his food. He is an artistic genius, but is also so poetic about the food and experience. He isn't just a chef that makes the food, but rather, thinks about the experience. My fiance and I asked him what his last great meal was. I was anticipating an answer about some Michelin restaurant in another country, but NO. It was when he was with his family in France, and they had prepared a special meal for him to celebrate Massimo. He said it was not about the dishes that were particularly spectacular, but rather the ingredients, and the people, emotions, and experience altogether that made the meal so great. Wow. A little over my head after having champagne and 2 bottles of wine. He truly is an artist! It's definitely worth a trip to come here. I have pleasant memories here, and you will too! read more

After watching him on "Chef's Table" and closing following his glowing career path, it was with much anticipation and wonder that we reserved our table at Massimo Bottura's Modena restaurant, Osteria Francescana, months in advance. The four of us could hardly contain our excitement as we ordered the tasting menu (12 dishes), along with the wine paring. I cannot find the words to express the disappointment that we felt as the dishes came out, one by one, each worse than the previous one. Clearly, concept prevailed over flavor with unremarkable ingredients in this menu as the bites were unremarkable emulations of classic Italian fare, meant to evoke the flavors that have endeared many diners to Italy, but always failing to hit the mark. We were never able to take more than one bite of each of the dishes that were brought to us. The wait staff never asked us if anything was wrong, simply clearing the table after enough time had passed to prepare for the next plate. One expects more from a restaurant twice branded "world's best" and especially at that price point. That high-minded concepts should get in the way of flavor and the basic eating experience leaves a lot to be desired from a restaurant of that caliber and with that price tag. read more

Wonderful dining experience at the Osteria Francescana! We were traveling through Italy and I was supposed to make reservation months in advance, which I didn't. Nonetheless, I added myself to the waiting list and we set our GPS to Modena, with a plan to try out Francescetta58. A few hours later I got a call and now we got a lunch offer there! Dining room a bit strange, it's like a void. Void filled with nothing. Which is a definition of a void. Just gray walls, one art piece, and 4 tables. No music also felt like I am in a library or a museum. I understand the reason for it - all your senses should be focused on the meal We met the chef, who made the rounds and said hello to everyone, took a photo with him and were ready to embark on the culinary journey of one of the best restaurants in the world. I am not going to describe each dish, but I was definitely taken on the flavor and texture adventure. Playfully creative in the presentation. Service was not consistent throughout the meal. Each waiter was serving in the manner they felt fit. One guy in particular thought that keeping a distance while whispering and explainning the dish was a good idea, and I had to ask over and over because I couldn't understand what he was saying with the whisper and his accent. Much was missed... Our order was taken the last one in the room, while we were seated the first ones. I was thrown off a bit by the service. read more

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A lovely experience with a mostly cohesive river theme throughout all the dishes. Flavors are bright and/or savory as expected. Rose flavor for la vie en rose for life as an oyster was the only one that stood out as "wrong" - but not so wrong that I didn't eat and enjoy all of it. Shaved truffles on the dishes were likely wasted on me as they felt overpowered by anything they were paired with. The tortellini was surprisingly my favorite - but I'm a sucker for noodles in broth. Every wine we had was lovely and very enjoyable. Not a "typical" taste for any type. $1200 dinner for 2, woo! read more

Furthermore, the guinea fowl tasted like the smoked oscar meyer turkey deli slices that you buy at target. The gyoza tasted like the samples they pass out at costco. So on and so forth. This sounds like a harsh review but its true. This is not an attack on the chef or his people. If this is your first or second trip to italy, and this restaurant isnt your primary end goal, then you have more to look forward to. But for us, weve been to italy 5 times before and have done a lot of the bucket list things. This xmas trip from california was solely for this. We went to two 1 star michelin restaurants in rome during this trip, and both were better than osteria. One was aroma: with a direct view of the colosseum. The direct view in osteria is a white wall, shades closed and art that has nothing to do with anything. Nothing that made me think of modena. The other restaurant was pipero roma which at least was windowed and felt open and had xmas decorrations. I really dont get how this top 50 list is made. Some of the selections make sense. Some of the restaurants/chefs that should be in the top 50 are not. Especially female chefs. Helene darroze, claire smith, crenn. This didnt feel deserving of number 1 at all. I feel like the chef sells himself on tv very well and that helped him a lot. His charity work and all that is saintly and very commendable and god bless him for that. But thats not the issue here. We thought about going to his new hotel on a 2nd trip, but now well skip it. There are a lot of 5 star reviews here and i doubt this will deter any of you because netflix and everything else is very convincing. I hope you like it. Id stay in modena a couple days and try one of the other local restaurants also. Ill bet that youll like that better while spending about 20 percent of the cost. read more

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Not quick to put other reviewers on blast but the to those who left a bad review, you're idiots. We've have fine and elevated dining many times in the past and our visit to Osteria Francescana obliterated all other experiences. Chef Bottura was there to plate and present each individual course. We were treated to all the back stories to each dish as well the intricate process to prep and cook the amazing ingredients. Chef also visited everyone during the dinner and was incredibly welcoming when it came to pics and video. The staff couldn't have been more welcoming and accommodating. I am generally not one for wine and I ended up downing every last paired drop. I can't truly speak to the food because honestly, I can't do it justice. Our expectations were lofty and we didn't come close to imagining what we're would ultimately be devouring. It was a once in a lifetime meal and something we will fondly remember for the rest of our lives. Thank you Chef Bottura and your wonderful staff! It was an honor to be able to experience Osteria Francescana. read more