Ristorante Trattoria La Grotta dal 1918 "da Bruna & Figli" In Sasso marconi

Emilia is a land of vitality, hospitality, and good humor, qualities personified in Chef Andrea Funi. Each dish he creates evokes the scents and colors of the hills and woods. The ingredients are meticulously selected to revitalize ancient local recipes and create innovative combinations: crispy zucchini flowers with aromatic herbs and special millet flour pasta are just some of the dishes offered. The chef and his gracious staff are the perfect guides on this journey of delightful flavors. We'll be back!

Spending our final afternoon here, after a week in Tuscany, was a fitting and memorable end to our family trip. Just 20 minutes from Bologna Airport, this unassuming restaurant is perched in the hills and offers a genuine taste of the region. We were warmly welcomed by Andrea, who despite the language barrier, took a sincere interest in our Greek–South African heritage and made us feel instantly at home. The menu reflects a deep connection to the land, featuring locally sourced vegetables, cheeses, herbs, and a distinctive honey made from the surrounding forest’s blossoms and tree sap; dark, slightly bitter, and full of character. Rather than upselling expensive wine pairings with our food, Andrea poured his own house white — understated, light, but exceptional — and one of the best bottles from our trip (and yes we tasted out fair share of wine) . The whole experience felt thoughtful and sincere, with real care put into every detail. I’d highly recommend a visit if you’re in the area, it’s well worth the short journey.

Andrea Funi is not a chef, he is a magician! With his magical art the taste of his dishes tells a joyful story of experience, care and love that starts from the choice of ingredients, searched and selected among the proposals of the magnificent territory, with attention to quality and detail to create a wise balance of genuine flavors, that leave the palate happy to have encountered this restaurant.

Last week, just for fun, my wife and I started counting the restaurants we had tried in the province of Bologna in the last three years: 150! A number that surprised us and made us smile, but also confirmed that we had gained a certain amount of experience in the Bologna restaurant scene. We can say it with full knowledge of the facts: the Antica Trattoria La Grotta di Mogardino restaurant on the hill overlooking Sasso Marconi, where we had dinner last Friday, turned out to be a rare gem, capable of standing out in a panorama already full of excellence. It is not only the excellent quality of the food that makes La Grotta special, even if every dish we tasted was a masterpiece of flavors, prepared with the freshest ingredients and an obsessive attention to detail. What really struck us was the overwhelming passion of the owner chef Andrea Funi, a constant and warm presence in the dining room. He didn't just take orders, but transformed every moment into an experience: he enthusiastically described each dish, revealing the secrets and philosophy behind its creation, advising us with expertise and, in some cases, serving directly at the table with a smile that conveyed all his love for the job. A special mention also goes to the staff both at the reception and at the table, we were also amazed by the speed in serving us despite the restaurant being full. The atmosphere is welcoming, a perfect mix of elegance and familiarity, and the impeccable service made the evening even more special. The ancient Osteria la Grotta is not just a restaurant, but a place where food and conviviality are celebrated. After 150 restaurants, we can say it with certainty: La Grotta is one of the most memorable experiences we have had. We will return soon, with the desire to be surprised again!

Top. Location with attention to detail. Attentive and very friendly staff. Raw materials of the highest level and preparations that start from tradition to reach a notable refinement. The chef is very attentive and explains with great professionalism his preparations and their ingredients directly to the customers. Excellent wine list. One of the best restaurants in the region.

It is often said that great treasures are sometimes hidden, and this applies to Andrea's wonderful restaurant. We went there by fluke, choosing to have lunch on the road on our drive between Verona and Firenze. The Michelin Guide suggested the restaurant and we decided to make a detour and head there. We were lucky enough to be able to be seated without a reservation (but do make one when you go!) because the last table was a no show. From the get go we could notice this would be a great experience, the chef welcoming us at the door, great lively salon, classy comfortable and inviting space. The combination of local produce, a knowledgeable and creative chef, generations of experience in the same family, meant that Antica Trattoria was hands-down the best food we had on our trip to Italy from Brazil. The menu changes daily based on the local ingredients and is full of original ideas and inventions from the Chef (I recommend you pick those). I cannot recommend enough that you make the (lovely) drive up there if you are anywhere near bologna and the region!

Excellent food and impeccable service. High quality raw materials processed by expert hands. Compliments

A culinary experience not to be missed, excellent dishes in an enchanting atmosphere The search for a cool dinner on the hill led us to discover this place: a wonderful discovery! We were able to enjoy exquisite dishes, made with carefully selected and unique raw materials, in the delightful setting of the sunset light on the terrace, accompanied by the kindness of the waiting staff and the chef who made us travel inside the dishes we were tasting, telling us how they had developed. A culinary and at the same time cultural experience, like when an artist guides us in the knowledge of their works, in which all the senses are involved. In short, we had a great time, we ate excellent dishes: we highly recommend everyone to go: we will definitely be back! Thank you all!

Torniamo in questo ristorante io e mia moglie per riassaporare altre novità di stagione. Perché lo Chef Funi con ogni prodotto stagionale propone piatti nuovi: rinnova il menù molto frequentemente. Eleggiamo questo ristorante a nostra prima scelta per le pietanze di terra, con l’esperienza di aver provato molti altri ottimi posti, negli anni. La qualità delle materie e la ricerca dei prodotti di livello, l’entusiasmo e la professionalità dello Chef, la gentilezza del personale e la location in mezzo alla natura, fanno di questo locale una meta imperdibile. Un grazie sentito per le esperienze che facciamo qui. Riccardo.

My husband and I are in Emilia-Romagna on vacation from America. We found Trattoria La Grotta dal 1918 on the Michelin guide, and also received a recommendation to come here from a local chef. Even before we made a reservation, Chef Funi communicated with us via WhatsApp, as my husband and I both have dietary restrictions. He was very thorough with his discussion of the food and assured us that he could accommodate our allergies. When we arrived at the restaurant, we were welcomed by Chef Funi, who described the menu of the day and his kitchen philosophy in detail. It is clear that Chef Funi has a deep love and passion for cooking and a dedication to his kitchen. Everything is thought out and intentional. Only local products. Only seasonal products. We have eaten at some of the world’s best restaurants, including three star restaurants, and never have we experienced the degree of passion and hands-on care that Chef Funi provides. It is one thing to be exacting in your menu and service, but Chef Funi also made us feel that we were long time friends. Every guest was treated this way, like they matter, and that he deeply values their opinion. Obviously, what matters most in a restaurant is the food itself. Chef Funi’s menu changes often, based on seasonal and available products. For antipasti, we had a special aged prosciutto platter, and polenta with truffles. My husband then had a pasta with wild boar ragu, and I had a mushroom pasta using a very limited/rare mushroom evidently only available in May in this region. For our second course, we had pork with asparagus topping, grilled vegetables, and radicchio salad. For dessert we had a sorbet and bombaletto. Chef Funi also produces a small selection of wines exclusively for the restaurant. We had his Lambrusco. All of our dishes were fantastic. The quality of the products sang, and the dishes were balanced and light. The experience is like an elevated home cooked meal with chef training. We enjoyed his food so much that we unfortunately did not take any photos. When we return to the Bologna/Modena area, we will definitely come back and see what Chef Funi has on his menu that day.