Padova Restaurants

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Caffe Pedrocchi is one of the 'must sees' of Padova. Its upstairs rooms are a museum, whilst downstairs is an elegant place to enjoy a coffee or a cold drink and a snack.

I had intended to visit this coffee house on my second day in Padova, but as I was getting my bearings on my first day I stopped for a drink at a smart looking place not realising until I'd placed my order that I was in the legendary Caffe Pedrocchi. From photos that I'd seen and descriptions, I was expecting a large 'hall' with dark wood walls, blue paint and Egyptian iconography.

I was sat at a round marble table on a small terrace looking onto the street and a large building with plaques and engravings. There were lots of lively students around this area.

I ordered a freshly squeezed orange juice, which was delicious.

The next day, I returned and sat on a different terrace. I ordered one of the cafes specialities - a coffee served with mint - unusual, but quite pleasant

To be continued......

I was brought here by a local a few years back and make it a point to visit every time. I am told they have good sandwiches and have tried a few other things and liked them, but the star of the restaurant, for a chocolate fan, is the Sette Veli.

Favorite Dish: The Sette Veli, which is composed of 7 kinds of chocolate, loosely can be fit into the chocolate mousse category. Light enough to not be too overwhelming, though I admit my chocolate threshold is probably higher than most. The best dessert I've ever had!

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Nothing special, small - about 10 tables or so-, but the food is excelent. I specially recommend to ask for the "leftovers" :) which are actually not leftovers, but more like a spanish-style tapeo: a bit of whatever they have in the kitchen, served in small dishes. Delicious!!

I have never been so disgusted with restaurant food. This rates as Number One on the sickening scale.

This is a takeout Chinese place, located in an old established neighbourhood in Padova. How it has managed to keep a customer base for over three years says nothing about the taste of its clientel. Could this have been a fluke?

We placed our order, and moments later, the clerk comes out of the kitchen, goes to the freezer in the customer area, and removes two tin foil pouches. I noticed this, but stupidly paid little attention. It is my impression that our meal was the microwaved contents of these tin foil pouches.

Upon return home, we open our containers and could not distinguish our Chicken, Shrimp and Mushroom dish from our Almond Chicken, either by appearance or flavour. We found numerous items which we pushed and prodded, attempting to identify the ingredient, but couldn't. Worse, our Sweet and Sour Shrimp was encased in a soggy, slimy uncooked mass of dough, still with shell. Horrible, horrible, horrible.

We tossed the works. My stomach was doing flip flops for hours.

Favorite Dish: None, absolutely none.

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Whenever in Padova, my tour of the city starts and ends in Pratto della Valle. There, around the Piazza, you'll find a number of restaurants offering "cheap" touristy menus, but I suggest you to avoid them because the food is not good.

Favorite Dish: Fortunatelly, there are good restaurants too around the piazza and, as far as I am concerned, Trattoria al Prato is the best one. In Italy, trattoria means, in a first place, a traditional restaurant which offers local dishes. I prefer trattorias and osterias rather than restaurants.
I had well prepared roastbeaf with moushrooms and potatoes (a kind of medallions), which was delicious. As for the price, along with red wine and coffee, I paid it something more than 20 Euros.

I tried this restaurant following the tip on this site. Well, I cannot say it was marvellous, however I ate well. I had a pizza, cooked on the wood-oven and it was fine, but I ate better ones in my life. Prices aren?t so cheap, probably because I went during Christmas holidays.

Family run restaurant, with two nice halls. You can taste typical food from Padova and Veneto region. I tried the polenta with soppressa (a local salami) and it was very good. Meat is good too and... leave a place in your stomach for the dessert that is superb. I had a perfect cr?me brul?e and my husband a soft chocolate cake. Staff is very friendly, prices are in the average.

Favorite Dish: Toast, a very unpretentious meal, often over looked in Italian bars by tourists. Toast as a North American knows it, is simply a piece of white bread, thrown in a toaster until toasted a lovely golden brown, then butter is applied, with perhaps jam or peanut butter.

In Italy, toast takes the form of a grilled ham and mozza cheese sandwich, toasted in a panini grill. All the local bars offer their rendition of toast, some more substantial than others. Sometimes it is a tad dry, other times full of wonderful thin slices of ham and stringy cheese. Be aware that butter is not applied to the outside surface such as it is to a grilled cheese, since butter is often used only as an ingredient to baking or cooking. Never used on sandwiches.

Cheap, filling, but not as quick as other sandwiches from the barman. Expect to wait five to eight minutes. Price varies, but generally about 2.50 euro.