Ferrara Restaurants

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McDonalds is McDonalds. However, expect a pastier burger than you might find in North America. The texture is different here, even with the fresh ground burger you find at the butcher shops(??). Cheddar cheese in Italy is almost non-existant so a funny colour cheese spread is used, ketchup (called Mato Mato, 'ma tomato, get it?) is tangier (not Heinz), and they use a 'LOT' of condiments on their burgers, in fact it is applied in copious amounts to sandwiches in bars everywhere, just as a general rule. The condiment is considered an integral part of food, not used as a flavour additive. Mayo is the favoured condiment, often seen as rosettes on salads.

Italians don't do burgers well. They aren't a part of their culture. Lettuce is often hot from the warmer, so I ask for no sauce, no lettuce, and I always get a freshly made burger.

Ordering is easy, just look at the pictures on the wall, and order by number. If you want the regular sized meal deal, just say 'normale', or 'grande' if you intend to supersize your meal, plus your gut. The clerks hear the same orders over and over, so don't feel intimidated. After all, this is McDonalds, your home away from home.

McD's does not offer an Egg McMuffin. You could ask for toast, which is much like a grilled ham/cheese sandwich, cheap, filling, but often dry and tasteless.

Italian french fries are exceptionally good. Must be the oil...

Coffee is espresso, thimble sized, so don't spill it when laughing as you receive your coffee to go.

Favorite Dish: I don't have a favourite food from McD's. I consider it cheap fuel for my body, nothing more.

HOWEVER, a real bonus...

...Washrooms are free, just ask your server or the security guard for a token. Note the tokens are slotted and must be deposited in the coin box so the slots line up. A buzzer sounds, alerting you, 'and' all the other patrons, that the lock is now disengaged. Washrooms are generally unisex, and floors often sticky. Toilets usually have seats. Check to ensure the roll of paper is not soaked before proceeding. When you are ready to leave, use your elbow to depress buzzer which unlocks washroom door. Ignor the interested looks you get as you exit. Most new European visitors are wondering how you got in there in the first place, since they couldn't get their coin to work. Simply smile, but don't be condecending.

***A free tip to fellow VTer's, ask for tokens separately if you visit with others, and tuck a spare coin away for a future 'unauthorized' visit. Consider it an insurance policy.

If you may survive the trendy environment and remember that your objective is eating good local food... weklll, that's a place where you may find a suitable compromise. The food is all local, with no strange inventions and well prepared, recipes are the traditional ones and well cooked, accompanied by a nivce choice of wines.

Favorite Dish: Brodetto di anguilla. Salama da sugo: the "queen" of Ferrara local recipes. A superb mixture of clever use of local resources and tasty result. The "salama da sugo" is a kind of salami with red wine and spices, that is served ater long boiling that must be made in a smart way in order to prevent damages to the ball of salami. The taste is very strong and it is used with potato mash. An excellent fruit of human brain.

We discovered, by chance, a lovely local spot to eat called Trattoria La Zirudela. It is run by a family, and brothers seem to do the most work. They seat people, take orders, wait on the tables, and serve the drinks.

We were the only tourists in the trattoria.
Allan had Grilled Vegetables, Cappalettito with pumpkin filling (a local pasta), Sausage and Beans, and red wine.

I had Insalata Mista with delicious tomatoes, an assortment of grilled cheeses, bean soup with pasta, and white wine.5s*

Favorite Dish: The best of what we ordered were the excellent grilled to perfection vegetables; Bean Soup with Pasta had excellent texture and flavor; Sausage and Beans was tender and tasty.
Reasonable prices, good service, and delicious food.5s*

Our last night in Ferrara we decided to by-pass dessert where we ate; instead, we went to a brand new restaurant to have dessert.

This restaurant is called "Ristorante Teatro Nuovo" and is located upstairs over some retail stores. When we walked into the place, our mouths were hanging open from the sheer height of the ceilings! Everything was white except for the table clothes and linens.

It is quite elegant, and the architecture is the focus. Everywhere one looks, there are beautiful touches of marble, wooden trim, elaborate design.
We just ordered dessert and expresso. The waitress was not Italian; we think that she was perhaps German. She was quite polite and apologectic because, being brand new, they did not have all the things listed on the dessert menu. We ordered what she suggested and did not really know what to expect.

Mine was a cake of some kind. It was not great....much too dry. Allan had some kind of custard dish. It was fair. The expresso was good.

The service was good, but not great. But one can expect that in a new place. We are glad we went just because of the beauty and architecture.
We think with time, it will improve.

Favorite Dish: We were not too enthusiastic about the desserts that we ordered, but we were quite pleased with the ambience. The service was good.

If you are staying at Hotel "Orologio" it is just outside around the corner. The hotel's staff will give you directions. It is a very good "trattoria" for this area. Nice to have lunch here and enjoy a good meal before leaving the city.

Favorite Dish: Good chef ! Pasta was good and the deserts, too.

Quite place, on the Volano canal, right out of the city centre - 5 minutes from from the Castle.
The place is relaxing, the atmosphere is not formal, nor noisy.

Favorite Dish: We had very a very nice choice of local Ferrara cuisine: worth the visit and the experience. Of course, while in Ferrara one cannot avoid tasting the superb "salama da sugo": salami dressed with red wine and spices. It deserves a very long boling period in gently simmering water, then you will taste its delicious aroma at its full!

This Pizzeria and Restaurant is very nice because of its positions, close to the main square of Ferrara. I didn't eat anything there but I look at the menu and they have local dishes and specials Pizza, so I recommend it.

closed on tuesday

Favorite Dish: chiuso martedì - 0532 200009

I didn't try this restaurant but I looked at the prices and at the ambient. it's very confortable and tipical. Have fun!

Favorite Dish: Closed on Monday. You can also choose to eat there for lunch, it's always open.
Try local dishes.