Ravenna Restaurants

As a devotee of good pizza (see my review of New Haven's finest), I found plenty to like in Italy. Thie versions prepared at Il Brigantino were excellent representatives of the species. I wasn't overwhelmed by the ambience but I wasn't really there for fine dining.

We did not have an auspicious entry to Ravenna. We struggled to find our hotel, and then to find the parking garage, so it was close to two o'clock before we were finally ready to settle down for lunch. We stumbled into a likely-looking trattoria around the corner from our garage. Our waiter practically slung the menus at us, and didn't make it easy for us to communicate. But he did eventually figure out that we wanted to have fried zucchini blossoms (not on the menu) and cappeletti -- which was sublime. With a carafe of the local white wine, we were replenished and ready for adventure, which took the form of S. Apolinare in Classe, about which I write elsewhere.

Later, as we trolled the guides for dining suggestions, we discovered that La Gardela was a Frommer's favorite. We actually tried to go to another restaurant, featured in TripAdvisor, but it was closed for vacation; so, despite our surly waiter, we went back to La Gardela for dinner. It was another rich meal and left me thinking that I could only take all those delicious calories once per day.

Open Friday through Wednesday, 12:00-4:30 and 7:00-10:00.

Favorite Dish: The cappeletti was so good that it almost made me weep.

I must have spent one moment too long admiring a mosaic at San Vitale for when I arrived here for my late lunch the kitchen had just closed. My disappointment is still with me because I have heard great things about this restaurant (as an aside, I had already had a piadina at noon that day). La Locanda del Melarancio is located in a historic 16th century building right in the heart of Ravenna. Although I haven't sampled its cuisine I wanted to include a tip here to remind myself to try it if I ever returned to Ravenna. Please do try this restaurant if you are planning on visiting Ravenna and let me know if it is worth the wait.

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Housed in a beautiful 15th century palazzo, Ca' de Vèn is one of the prime locales for sampling specialities and wine from the Romagna region. It functions both as an enoteca and a full restaurant in multiple rooms with red brick walls and vaulted ceilings with stunning frescoes. Stop by for a full lunch or dinner, or a quick piadina and a glass of wine. Ca' de Vèn is located near Piazza del Popolo in the heart of historic Ravenna. I had a quick delicious piadina at Ca'de Vèn when I was in Ravenna in April 2010 around noon. It was meant as a quick snack to keep me going before a bigger late lunch!

A small cafe with room for ~30 inside and maybe ~15 outside on the patio.

The food is wonderful. Small portions, but amazing flavors and combinations. They have everything from local pastas, meats, soups, seafood, veggies, and of course wine.

Favorite Dish: I found myself going for the fish fillets more often than not.

The local cuisine is famous for its rich variety of carefully prepared typical products. Delicious homemade pasta for example. Tagliatelle and lasagna with the classic meat sauce; the exquisitely refined cappelletti with cheese filling, cooked in capon broth. Also, since they are so close to the sea, watch out for seafood and/or calamari tagliatelle... oh, my gawd, is it good!

This is the only coffee shop inside La Rocca park, besides coffee you can get also other drinks like soda or beer as well as chips and sandwiches.
What I like is having the park right there.

Favorite Dish: I loved the coffee express.

There are several stalls in the city where you can find this delicious typical sort of "tortilla". They are made out of wheat and....lard. You can have them in different ways, with sausage, herbs, etc.

*Pic taken from the internet*

Favorite Dish: I like them plain or with herbs.