Padova Restaurants

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Very cosy restaurant, built inside a old farm, the dining area is split in two different floors plus a small side room for more intimacy, there is also a outdoor garden used during summer.
The menu change according with the seasons and consist in a wide selection of local and international food. They have meat and fish dishes on the menu, sometimes they have more, let the waiter explain you all about them, usually they are SPECIAL.
Wine list is good too, the average price for a nice bottle of wine is 15 euros, house wine is good too.
Closed on Monday, during week end it can be quite busy so it would be better to make a reservation.

It is our "celebration" restaurant, we usually go on birthdays, anniversary etc, a special treat.

Favorite Dish: Zucchini flower stuffed with caprino (soft goat cheese)
tuna fish tartare
Branzino with crunch potatoes
Grilled bufalo steak!!!! if you found this eat it! you will be not disappointed!
We recently tried their mixed grilled fish plate and it was a huge portion and all delicious!

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This is the first restaurant we visited upon arriving in Italy. It has become a staple to us, so much so that I forgot to include it in my Travel Pages. Merely an oversight, believe me.

Lunch is a flat 10 Euro, including salads, pasta, and secondo, whether it be grilled steak, grilled pork chops, boiled meats, ham hock, roasted chicken 1/2's, and so on. The secondo is always served with polanta, but not the roasted 'slab' that I prefer. The meal comes complete with Vino, always more than Ma Kettle and I can manage. Bottled water is also included in this price.

Today, they had Easter bread, oranges, and apples for dessert. Coffee is included.

Nowhere have I found such good food, in such plentiful servings, at such a low price. They cater to the working class, but that's not to say that tables of 'suits' are not in abundance.

You have to walk past the 'bar' area just off the front sidewalk/parking lot to access the restaurant itself. You'll know you're in the right spot if the waitresses are calling back and forth to one another, and scurrying from table to table. They don't stand on pretense here, and that's a good thing.

Favorite Dish: I can't describe my favourite meal, because all except one has been excellent. The boiled meats are not my favourite. Not to say that it has not been well prepared, because judging from the tables around me, it is one of the most favoured meals offered. Neither Maria or I enjoy the boiled sausage, and that's all there is to it. Unfortunately, they often offer it on Saturdays, and that is the day we like to go out for lunch.

The atmosphere is what I imagined lunch time in Italy to be like, noisy, busy, and huge platters of food. The waitresses travel a mile a minute, but getting attention is easy, because they are so attentive.

They do tend to become a bit short with me now though, I guess after two years the staff expect I should be fluent in Italien. I understand however that their having to talk very slow' to this stupid Canadian does throw them off their pace.

The salad bar is huge, containing traditional Italian fare. Great variety.

The pasta is always so flavourful, three varieties are offered, as are three secondos. Your choice.

The supper 'fixed price' meal we have never had, and I can't say if the price is the same or not (believe it to be 20 Euro). I do know a menu is available, and grilled meats appear to be a specialty.

UPDATE...We have now enjoyed dinner here, to celebrate the visit of Vter's Bernishand and RexVaughn and respective spouses to Padova. Dinner was a huge salad bar, pasta as a primo (3 choices), two huge platters, one heaped high with grilled ribs, sausages, pork steak, bacon, and the second one filled with wonderfully tender, cut with a fork steak. Bottomless carafes of wine, topped off with two bottles of liquor left on the table with the coffee. On Wednesdays, they offer live entertainment, which is a real hoot. No more said...Total price per person this night 22 euro

Well worth the effort to visit, lots of parking, and you'll experience the true Italian meal, with no Hollywood backdrop. Just be aware, English is not spoken here, and tourists are a rare oddity.

This is a tiny pasticceria we found accidently while wandering the streets of Padova. It is located Via Buonarroti, 88 - 35134 Padova.

The lady behind the counter is your typical stereotype Italian lady, short, a 'little' round, with a huge, warm smile. She immediately made Ma Kettle and I feel comfortable.

The inside is nothing special, three small tables, and standing room only at the short counter area. What makes it special, is the well stocked selection of sweets contained behind the glass case, the number of 'frosted' cakes for sale, and the different types of Sicilian sandwiches and 'rice/ragu balls' (terrible description, but are wonderful). Many unusual dessert items on display, and very reasonably priced.

Favorite Dish: We had a number of different types of goodies, and I remember no names of any of them. I had a large ball consisting of rice, meat, sauce, and cheese, done in the oven, and served hot...great, and a sandwich of Chick Pea, in a omelet like mixture, served hot within a fantastic lightly toasted sicilian bun.

*** I have been informed by fellow VTer Maurizioago, since I initially wrote this tip, that the rice ball is called Arancini...thanks.

I have not done justice to the foods available here. Please, don't take my word for it, go yourself, and give them a try.

Our last visit was Dec 04/04.

This restaurant has been opened by a Mexican family now living in Padova. They are making great efforts to make sure the food represent mexican cooking. They brought original decorations and tried to create the typical atmosphere of Mexico.
The menu has a good selection of food, some spicy and some less. They will be glad to assist you to make a good decision if you are afraid to get a dish that is too spicy. You must ask for a glass of their very special house margaritas which is typical of Mexico. If the food is too hot you can always take a glass of milk.

June 2010 - Unfortunally this restaurant is not owned by the same people anymore. I havent had the change to try it out after the change. Will report soon about it

Favorite Dish: Tacos el pastor and margaritas

You walk into Postal 2, and you immediately think you're in a honky tonk back in North America. Now, this is not necessarily a bad thing, especially if you've been away from 'home' for a while.

The walls are adorned with pictures of North American Indians, and seating is comprised of heavy wooden benches/tables. The walls are a combination of Italian 'flaking' plaster, and wooden shutters, weathered beams and planks, decorated with horse shoes etc.

Pizzas are served on wooden slabs, and beer is available on 'tap' or bottle.

Ma Kettle had gnocci with marinara sauce, which had a commercial 'taste' to it, but the gnocci was huge, and quite flaverful.

Pa Kettle ordered a 'hamburger', the first in eight months, with fried onions, tomato, cheese, and lettuce. The bun was unusual as it appeared North American, and was 'charred' to offer the rustic look. The burger itself was average size, fresh, and flavourful. The only disappointment was that the onions and tomato were fried together, therefore you were eating 'stewed' tomato. That, coupled with this very hot combo placed on top of lettuce, made for an unpleasant eating experience. I dislike warm lettuce, and especially don't like trying to hold your burger together without the meat shooting out from between twin pieces of bun.

The fries were great. I normally don't care for french fries, but we shared this platter just so we could report back to VT readers. I would return for fries alone. (plus beer)

Favorite Dish: Dessert was unusual. I was ready to order coffee, however the waiter suggested we try the house specialty.

The Italian spoken here is not the usual variety, including the printed menu. (?)
Therefore, we agreed without knowing what we were getting. After all, isn't this what travel is all about? An experience...

Our dessert turned out to be a bowl of gelato, a ball of vanilla with chocolate hidden within. Poured over top of the ice cream, was coffee. Delightful. I got my coffee, and dessert, all consumed using a spoon. Good idea. I have no idea if this is usual elsewhere, or the chefs personal concoction. Give it a try.
The waiter was friendly, pleasant, and helpful. The patrons were subdued, dining area dimly lit (good for just sitting), and 80's era music was playing in the background. We felt quite comfortable and at ease here.

We would return, and I will request my burger come with cold, 'crisp' tomato/lettuce served on the side. The fried onions are a plus.

Ma Kettle and I went back second time, and that evening ordered appetizers, great value, good taste. Ma had a pizza, Tomato/Onion, very tasty, and Pa had a type of Beef stew, typical of the Veneto Region, just OK though,
with grilled polenta, fries (salty), and smoked pork slices, very good. Beer/wine (always good)

We have noticed that the service, while acceptable, is not up to par. There is a feeling of indifference, and a change in this attitude could make the difference between success and failure.

Our most recent visit was April 21/04.

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We walked into Alfio's the first time, and were surprised to see 1950's style booths, small tables for two, and a huge selection of sweets and sandwiches. They also appear to offer a fully stocked bar, and, of course, gelatto. All of the bakery items are made by the very capable hands of Alfio himself, so freshness is automatic.

Extremely pleasant, friendly staff, most courteous and efficient. Alfio, Graziella, and son Lorenzo greet every customer who walks through the door with a very warm and genuine smile.

The interior is bright and spotless, and most importantly to Maria and me, entirely non-smoking. Music is always playing in the background to provide a relaxed atmosphere.

Wonderful place to stop for a quick bite, and free parking is easily accessible in front.

Favorite Dish: Green tea for Ma, Caffe dopio for Pa, and 'anything' from the bakery.

We also suggest you try the Spritz, a before dinner drink, served with bowls of potato chips and corn chips.

We're both partial to the Tuna and Olive sandwiches...always fresh, and we do our best to keep them that way.

Now that the warm weather has arrived, we are able to sit outside at the table and enjoy sun and sand... 'wiches'. Sundays are special, because they offer a wonderful light, cream filled layer cake, but only on Sundays. When it's gone, it's gone.

Just a note, our total bill after sandwiches, drinks and sweets, is never more than 10 euro for two.

We visit at least three times a week...

The location is very nice, close to our hills Colli Euganei. The building is all made by stones and there is a nice garden where you can sit and eat during the summer and feel the breeze coming off the hills.
This is great people food, they cook meat, fish and pizza so everyone can find their favourite dish. I came here very frequently since years and never been disappointed. I had pizza several times, their wood fire grilled meat, their pasta with seafood, their appetizer (the mixed fish appetizer is so big that often i decide I am eating just THAT) and their home made cake (try their tiramisu!!!)
It is quite far from Padova center so make sure you have a good map of the area or use a satellite navigator to get there.

Favorite Dish: Mixed fish appetizer, pizza and home made Tiramisu to die for!!

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Traditionally this was a Pizzeria but now it is also a very good restaurant. Everything here is over the average, pizza, meat and also fish. They also have one of the hugest wine list I have ever seen, a book actually!!!
During the summer you can eat outdoor under a big gazebo right in the Piazza, but even if you will be inside, the ambience is really nice and comfortable, the wall are deccorated with frescos and the weiters are nice and very professional.

Favorite Dish: I have been here many times and really have found everything very good. I had pizza many times and also fish. Fish pasta is served in huge portions so you will not need much more to fill your stomach :-)
Their home made desserts are also excellent.