Trattoria Mercato In Castel san giovanni

05/10/2025: A cute little place, very clean and well-kept, even on the outside. In addition to the restaurant, there's a stall outside with garden produce, both fresh and prepared. Genuine and authentic Piacenza food. Excellent quality cured meats, and very light and non-greasy chisolini. The giardiniera is made with vegetables of varying crunchiness, very good. Delicate tortelli, and the anolino is also good, although it's made with meat and isn't typical of the area. Lots of desserts on the menu. Excellent value overall for what you get. There are, however, some downsides: ❌Too many tables in the main dining room. I find three lines excessive unless you guarantee fast service and adequate table coverage. The service is slow and confusing; there's often no one in the dining room to ask, and the girls rush by without a chance to stop them. A bit of a wait between dishes. There's no permanent receptionist outside; people wanting to sit can sometimes arrive halfway up the restaurant, and given the narrow aisle, they're practically on your shoulders. The food is excellent, but the portions are very small. At least the appetizers aren't abundant, while the amount of chisolini is just right. There are no prices on the menu, and they're required by law! (Still, it's not that expensive.) Too many desserts, 10 different desserts. We tried the tiramisu; it was a little watery. The cakes aren't bad. The side dishes are good, but I'd specify that the radicchio is the raw leaf variety. We spent about €130 for four of us, including a bottle of wine, two bottles of water, and tried everything from appetizers to desserts, with a first or second course each. Overall, I recommend it. Make sure to book and come either right when it opens, when there are fewer tables, or later, when most of the service has finished.

03/10/2025: Gorgeous place, welcoming staff and excellent food.