Parma Restaurants

For a number of years this place had been a favourite for those who wanted a quick bite, especially at night, because it used to be one of the few eateries still open after midnight. It gradually changed, turning into a proper restaurant, and when the owner (still the same) hired a very good chef the Tramezzo grew to the status of a Michelin-starred establishment. Now it offers a choice of fish-based dishes, as well as meat-based ones (they are listed separately on the menu) and has a very rich choice of wines.
For the fans of raw fish and seafood, there is always a good choice that varies from day to day. There are also unusual but delicious combinations like, for instance, scallops and truffle.
Service is not too formal, but there is a great attention to details in the table setting and in the presentation of dishes.
If you go there you may be tempted to steal the battery-operated pepper-grinder, please don't.

Favorite Dish: Favourite starter: pagello (a fish) on a salad of fresh spinach with a passion-fruit dressing.

This restaurant has been famous in Parma since 1946. In the most recent years its style and reputation were revamped when a younger member of the dynasty became chef. Since then the cuisine has become more sophisticated and experimental. Apparently the change has been appreciated by restaurant critics, so now Parizzi has gained its own place in the Michelin guide as well as in the best Italian guides.
The restaurant is inside an old building, but the furniture and decoration are modern, in line with the stylish presentation of the dishes. The wine list is very rich and interesting.
The servings are not very big, but this means that at the end of the meal one may still have appetite enough for one of the delicious desserts.
I wrote this review for the first time several years ago, but I have dined at Parizzi several times (the last one in July 2011) and I confirm that it is always up to its reputation.

Favorite Dish: Menus change according to seasons (fresh ingredients are a must for certain dishes) and with the new creations by the chef. I will mention just one of my favourite desserts: the most delicious Tortino al Cioccolato, a soft chocolate cake with a filling of hot chocolate and grappa, counterbalanced by some citrus sorbet served by the side.

It is a place where I like to take my guests to make them try our local food, and I have never been disappointed. Besides excellent food you will find here an extensive wine list. By the way, if you have a budget and want to stick with it you should pay attention especially to the prices of wines, because some of them are really steep.
The atmosphere is not too formal, more in the style of a family restaurant.

Favorite Dish: The "Savarin di riso" is a delicious risotto wrapped in ham. As a main course I would recommend the roasted duck with roasted potatoes.
In addition to the dishes on the menu there are always some suggestions from the chef, normally excellent suggestions.

Run by women from generations, this traditional trattoria is an astonishing jump into the past for the exceptional quality of the ingredients and their preparation. In the hearth of "Culatello-shire" (Culatello is a sort of Parma Ham, but from the best part of the pork's leg and must be aged more), between the provinces of Parma and Cremona and just aside the Po River, this trattoria will impress you although you are rather used to good traditional Italian cuisine. The ambience is simple but accurate (we sit in a nice outdoor dehors), full of nice pictures of one of the two owners (Miriam and Laura, mother and daughter), a collection of grappa, two ancient mechanical slicers. You cannot miss a visit to the cellar, so many culatello and salami hanging over!!!!

Favorite Dish: Starters: all sliced things are amazing, you can miss culatello but also spalla cotta is great
First courses: tagliatelle al culatello and tortelli di zucca were delicious
Second courses: Mariola with zabaione (sorry it's impossibile to translate) were a surprise together with Trippa
Desserts: I had a fantastic peach-tart but everything looked special

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This restaurant is not in Parma, but in Torrechiara, in the province of Parma, south of the city.

We took lunch here after touring the fabulous castle up on the hill. This mulino (mill) is the most logical place to eat after touring the castle. You can spend the morning at the castle and have lunch here, as we did.

The food was simple but very good. Dining al fresco was a delight.

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This restaurant is not in Parma, but in Tabiano in the province of Parma, south of the city in the hills. It is about a 20-30 minute drive from Parma. If you are in the Parma region I recommend highly seeking out this top-notch eatery.

We spent two weeks in Emilia-Romagna and Le Marche. The meal I had here was the best!

The atmosphere was wonderful; with breathtaking views and a charming outdoor setting this restaurant was ideal. We got personal attention from the owner/chef, Oscar. He was a very personable man with great English skills; he had been a chef at the Hilton Hotel in New York City for 12 years. The operation here is a family affair: Oscar’s wife is a waitress and his son is preparing the meals.

The food was outstanding, as was the wine.

Favorite Dish: The panna cotta dessert was heavenly!

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Antica Cereria Ristorante and Museo Casa Natale Arturo Toscanini are neighbors on the same street. The location is outside the main historic center, on the opposite side of the River Po. It is really easy to reach though and deserves your time and effort.

Tom swooned over his little herb purses (see photos #1 & #3) swimming in butter, followed by ham (see photo #5).

The dining rooms quickly filled with entire families out for their mid-day meal. Several generations of one family were seated at tables throughout the restaurant.

The food was excellent; the service was professional; the atmosphere was lively and entertaining.

After a morning of gawking at art and walking through the hot, sunny streets, we were ready for a splendid lunch accompanied by lashings of crisp white wine. We happened to be buying little gifts at the Parma violet shop on via della Reppublica, so we asked the proprietor to make a recommendation for us. Unhesitatingly, she pointed us to the Trattoria Santa Chiara, giving directions in Italian but claiming that it was "to miss, impossible." Not for us! Luckily, everyone else we asked in taking our roundabout route also knew of it and seemed to approve the choice, which was fully vindicated once we arrived and were taken in hand by the manager, who basically suggested the entire meal.

I started with the Parmesan flan with very old balsamic vinegar -- a blend of taste and texture which was unusual and delightful. Then we tried two typical Parma dishes: anolini, tiny, bell-shaped pasta stuff with meat in a tomato sauce, and spinach-and-ricotta ravioli. Homemade ice cream with fresh berries completed our meal.

(Not to spoil the review, but I gave the toilet facilities four stars!)