OSTERIA BOTTEGA: TRADITIONAL EMILIAN CUISINE IN BOLOGNA WITH A FOCUS ON ITS INGREDIENTS
The Cost -$39
The Atmosphere – Osteria Bottega is located on a side street in Bologna, one of the most popular foodie destinations in Italy. The restaurant opened in 2005 and it isn’t easy to describe the style of the décor, but you leave understanding that it clearly isn’t supposed to be the focus of your dining experience. The restaurant has both indoor and outdoor seating, and it gets quite busy so make sure you go at an off-peak time or expect a wait.
Bologna, the capital of the Emilia-Romagna region in Northern Italy, is a city filled with greatness. From the food to the history to the incredible porticoes which earned a UNESCO World Heritage Site designation in 2021, the city is a beautiful and fun place to visit. On my trip to Bologna, I had lunch at Osteria Bottega to try a restaurant that focuses on and celebrates traditional Emilian cuisine.
The Order – Culatello di Razza “Maiale Pesante Padano” individual portion and Lasagne Verde.
The Fantastic – I wanted to make sure to try one of Osteria Bottega’s famous hams to start the meal and since I knew I was only going to have one opportunity to do so on my trip, I just selected the most expensive one, Culatello di Razza “Maiale Pesante Padano,” and asked for a portion for an individual person. The culatello, which can only be called culatello if it is ham that comes from a specific muscle of a pig’s haunch only when that pig is born and raised in the Parma region of Italy, came from a Heavy Padano Pig, was aged for 36 months and was absolutely delicious. It was also impressive because it was not dry at all and it is not easy to age meat for that long without it drying out. The culatello was served with some nice, aged cheese and fresh pear slices. It was a wonderful way to start the meal and provided insight into just how much the restaurant focuses on its ingredient sourcing.
The Great – It is not as easy as you might think to find lasagna on the menu at a restaurant in Bologna and that is because locals consider the dish one that is to be made and eaten at home. So when I saw that I was going to be able to order the Lasagna Verde, a traditional lasagna from Osteria Bottega, I was thrilled. Made with spinach pasta, the lasagna had a good amount of meat inside; it was rich with flavor and crispy in some parts of the outer portion of the square piece. At 18 Euros, the lasagna was far from cheap, but I’m glad I got my lasagna Bolognese in Bologna.
The Verdict – I understand why Osteria Bottega is so popular among locals. Though it is expensive and doesn’t offer the most amazing setting for a meal, the restaurant’s focus on the quality of its ingredients and on preserving and showcasing Emilian cuisine provides incalculable value that certainly exceeds the final price of the meal. Osteria Bottega should definitely be on your list of restaurants to visit in Bologna and trying one of the hams should be the top priority.