Arnaldo - Clinica Gastronomica In Rubiera

The traditional cuisine was delicious, with a special mention for the tagliatelle with ham ragù, a delicacy.

From the moment you step into Clinica Gastronomica Arnaldo you realize this isn’t any regular restaurant, it’s a totally atypical experience, even for a Michelin-starred place. Housed in a centuries-old palazzo, the interior feels like being invited into someone’s old-fashioned family home: vintage furniture, warm lighting, and a sense of history all around.  The food service itself is part of the charm: dishes arrive on large trolleys, from antipasti to homemade pasta and hearty roast or boiled meats, just like at grandma’s place, but elevated.  For me, it triggered childhood memories and gave a sense of warmth and comfort that’s rare in fine dining. The flavors were no less impressive: rich homemade pasta, slow-cooked meats, thoughtful sauces and mostarda, all full-bodied and satisfying. The roast meats with mostarda, in particular - are absolutely worth trying. It’s honest, soulful cooking that doesn’t try to be flashy, but leaves a strong impression. What struck me most is how Arnaldo stays true to tradition. Founded in 1936, it has retained a star from the Michelin Guide since 1959, making it the longest-held starred restaurant in Italy.  The continuity and dedication to classic Emilian cuisine make you feel part of something timeless. In short, if you expect small portions on artistic plates, think again. At Arnaldo you get a unique blend of nostalgia, hearty home-style food and genuine hospitality, a Michelin-starred restaurant that feels less like a pompous luxury destination and more like a nostalgic family feast. Highly recommended if you want taste, tradition, and soul in every bite.

Clinica Gastronomica Arnaldo, despite its evocative name, offers an experience that straddles both fine dining and Emilian tradition. The setting is undoubtedly its strong point: the restaurant is extremely well-maintained, elegant, and refined, with an atmosphere that promises a superior dining experience. We opted for the Lìna tasting menu for lunch, expecting an innovative experience. However, despite the impeccable presentation and use of quality ingredients, the dishes remained very faithful to traditional Emilian cuisine. While the dishes were delicious, the overall impression was that of having dined in an excellent traditional restaurant, but without the element of surprise or boldness one would expect from such a sophisticated venue. The wait staff was highly professional, attentive, and discreet, contributing to the impeccable service. It's a recommended destination for those seeking elegance and classic Emilian flavors, but less so for those seeking a contemporary take on local cuisine.

Excellent dinner with clients. Impeccable service. The boiled meats and cappelletti from Reggio Emilia deserve special mention.

Excellent cuisine, an absolutely top-notch staff, genuine and sincere kindness, we are rooting for it to return to a 🌟 Star

We traveled from Bologna with 18 of us. The occasion was a company dinner to best reward our colleagues with responsibilities. The venue is very beautiful, with a traditional/rustic style, yet elegantly and tastefully designed. The dining room staff is young, but kind and enthusiastic. Special mention goes to the sommelier, a young man with great passion, expertise, and enthusiasm. The trolley attendants are very courteous, eager to accommodate our various requests, and professional. The owners are kind, but rather aloof and not exactly welcoming. Let's just say we're at the bare minimum. The food. Appetizers: I had the Erbazzone (excellent, even though it was cold, when we were told it was hot). I also had the mushrooms, which were good, even though they were ordinary mushrooms, with celery and parmesan. My colleagues were given a slice of prosciutto, mortadella, carpaccio, and a basket of mushrooms and mayonnaise. From what I gathered, the carpaccio was excellent, the rest unremarkable. First Courses Trix of tortelli, tagliatelle, and their morel soup. Excellent overall, special mention for the tagliatelle. Second Courses Roast and boiled meat trolley. I only ordered the roasts. The dish was rather disappointing, nothing special, and even colder than lukewarm. No particular praise for the boiled meats. Beans with pork rind, baked potatoes (excellent), and mashed potatoes were the side dishes. Desserts A spectacular trolley from which I ordered zuppa inglese (normal) and sambuca parfait (excellent). Coffee and after-dinner drinks. Spent about €110 per person with a magnum of Franciacorta and four Pinot Noir Riserva. The atmosphere and welcome seemed more focused on professionalism (which wasn't really that professional) to the detriment of warmth and genuine customer service. They never asked if anyone would like more, they just served it and rushed off with the cart. No one ever asked, "Do you need anything?" We were served a sandwich at the beginning of the meal, and no one came forward to check if more bread was needed (in fact, I discovered that several of my colleagues asked for it, but it was never brought). In short, a series of small incidents that are out of place with the restaurant's reputation and market positioning. Leaving people with a 50-gram sandwich for about three and a half hours is actually no small incident. The food is also at the bare minimum, if not slightly below, given the premises. In short, the price-quality ratio is questionable, and given the experience we had, the revocation of the Michelin star is not surprising. With these levels of service, hospitality, and food, it's hard to understand how it even had one. I believe that in the Modena, Reggio Emilia, and Bologna areas, there are many other establishments that can guarantee better experiences at significantly lower prices. After all, in Emilia you don't have to go far to find good pasta, potatoes, roasts, and boiled meats. At the beginning of lunch, I was convinced I'd return with the family. Now, looking back, I don't think I'll return.

A lovely place with a slightly retro feel, excellent traditional Emilian cuisine, an extensive wine list, good service, and decent bathrooms. Recommended, worth the trip.

We went for lunch last Friday, meeting at 1:00 PM. We left at 4:00 PM. For the "Arnaldo" tasting menu, I don't know if that's normal timing... The appetizers were nothing special. The spugnolata didn't excite us, perhaps because it arrived at 2:30 PM, and it was barely warm, just like the cappelletti. The boiled meat trolley was excellent, the roast, but the pork loin in Barolo was also not warm. The dessert trolley was exceptional. I had to ask for the famous chimney sweep, and besides, they didn't even bring us coffee, which was already paid for as per the menu. At 4:00 PM, we got up, paid, and left. Will we go back? Maybe, but only for the boiled meat and the dessert trolley, which are top-notch. Hoping to get through it in 2 hours at most.

I'm Tuscan and I came to Arnaldo's because of the great publicity they gave the restaurant. The atmosphere is traditional and a bit out of the center, but it's still excellent. The food is so good it's even better. I still dream about their tagliatelle al ragout a year later, not to mention the carpaccio... it melts in your mouth!!! Excellent service and impeccable presentation. In my opinion, they deserve every star. Traditional Emilian cuisine.

A remarkable culinary experience. Excellent traditional Emilian dishes, served by courteous and competent staff. The boiled meat trolley was top notch. An experience worth repeating. The only downside (hence the star reduction): the potatoes, which (surprisingly, I'd say, given the quality of the other dishes) were of the lowest, most appalling quality. It's a shame, but I suppose it could have been an isolated incident, and I'd be happy to change my mind in the future.