Drogheria della Rosa Bologna
Billy and I wandered past Drogheria della Rosa, tucked away down a back street in central Bologna and thought we’d made a find; surely no other tourists could have found such a charming little restaurant, situated as it is in a colonnaded row of hairdressers and beauty parlours. Well, it seems from a brief google search that it’s firmly on the map and locals and tourists alike are happy to search it out.
We had a great fun when we had Sunday lunch there. The owner, Emanuele Addone, is a larger than life character happy to chat to all his clients. The small dining room also encourages customers to chat to one another (if you speak Italian), which is just the sort of thing my husband likes to do whether he speaks the lingo or not. So I s’pose if you’re a curmudgeonly so and so, or someone who likes temples of gastronomy where everyone whispers in reverential tones – don’t eat here! Leave it for jolly folk who like good food at reasonable prices. 
You’ll be greeted with a complimentary glass of Prosecco and plate of antipasti (mozzarella, prosciutto and salami on the day we went) and asked to choose between five or six dishes for each course. I had excellent ravioli stuffed with potato puree served with a sausage meat ragu, followed by guinea fowl breast roasted with a honey and chilli glaze. Billy had tagliatelle with ragu and fillet steak with balsamic vinegar. We had a bottle of Amarone to go with the meal and Emanuele insisted on giving us a bottle of local Sangiovese to try as we left, and a rose for me (along all the other women who had lunch) which made packing for our flight back to London something of a challenge. The bottle made the journey intact, I’m pleased to report along with the kilo of parmesan and all the other food I couldn’t resist buying. Bologna is not called “La Grassa” – the Fat – for nothing.
