Trattoria da Amerigo

Situated in the hills immediately outside Bologna, Amerigo pays tribute to the typical Italian trattoria, taking guests on a nostalgic journey back to a time that will be familiar to all Italians and not just the inhabitants of Emilia. Just a few metres from the main square, the restaurant’s entrance is via its own shop selling wine, sauces and other delicacies. From here, you enter the dining room which leads to two further rooms on the first floor, one of which was home to the first television in the village, now decorated with period ornaments. Alberto Bettini’s menu is typical of Emilia and the Apennines and changes, albeit not radically, with the seasons. Dishes include lasagne with a tomato-free ragù featuring either local truffles or seasonal mushrooms, pumpkin-filled pasta with a superb game ragù and, on the coldest days, tortellini in chicken broth. The restaurant also serves excellent sourdough bread and “tigelle” flatbread, a local speciality served with some dishes, including the Mora Romagnola ham which has been aged for 56 months.