Vicolo Colombina In Bologna

The food (in particular tagliatelle Bolognese) was really very yummy, however the service was just so slow that it ruined the atmosphere. I am usually a fan of a relaxed serving pace, but we were sitting down for over 45 minutes before the starter/any food arrived at the table (other than bread), and another 30+ minutes after we had finished that before the mains. We watched as tables who had arrived after us had their entire meal before we ate at all. We arrived at 9:30 and didn't end up eating mains til 11pm. After the mains we were given the dessert menu, although almost everyone else had left, but nobody ever came to take the order so we paid up. The service itself was quite friendly, just not attentive. Also when we originally arrived at the restaurant, there was a queue (everyone had a reservation), which would have been fine but they did not serve people in the order of the queue, just in order of who was the most pushy. A lot of people who arrived after us were given tables (of the same size) before us, because we didn't want to be impolite. In general, prices were pretty good and the food was yummy. The decor was completely fine although not particularly inspired.

Recommended by my best friend, an exceptional experience, it was a journey through the authentic flavors of Bologna. Staff very friendly and attentive to detail. Top dish: tortellini with parmesan cream, a delight. I will recommend it myself and will definitely return!

We had our eye on this place for a couple of nights & are so glad we got to go there tonight, lucky again as we had no reservation & rocked up at 9pm on a Saturday night & were sat straight down. Service was excellent all night, mortadella souffle was delightful, tagliatelle ragu delicious & roast chicken was succulent & tasty. Wine, cocktails & dessert wine all very good. Would absolutely reccomend & if it wasn't our last night in Bologna would definitely go back, thanks to all the staff 🙏

Nice service with delicious food...

Mind blowing pasta and polenta pie! We arrived to the restaurant just after the posted end-of-lunch service, but the staff still seated us. Our waiters were all friendly and engaging. Thank you for an incredible first meal in Bologna!

Super welcoming place with a good choice of first and second courses (all according to tradition), impeccable service and exquisite food with excellent quality/price. I will definitely return

I had the pleasure of having lunch at this restaurant with friends. Located in a small side street of Via d'Azeglio (then connected to Piazza Maggiore), you can immediately recognize it from the covered terrace and the welcoming entrance which leads to two internal rooms. The restaurant offers traditional Bolognese dishes prepared with local raw materials, which is absolutely no small feat and often underestimated. Personally, I ordered a mortadella and potato flan with balsamic vinegar from Modena, served on a delicious parmesan cream. Really excellent; As a first course, I took the tortellini in parmesan cream and I still remember them... The cream is certainly present in a minimal part here, you can feel that the main ingredient of the "cream" is the parmigiano reggiano, it envelops the pasta letting the the flavor of the delicate filling expresses itself. From Bolognese, one of the best I've ever eaten. We decided to share the rabbit as a second course, which was truly excellent. The tasty and very soft meat, probably also due to the long cooking at low temperatures, all accompanied by side dishes of vegetables, potatoes and a Bolognese friggione A+++!! We were really too full for dessert, and frankly we didn't feel the need to add anything to lunch, but you know, Bologna the red Bologna the learned Bologna the fat. We get a dessert for two, a Bolognese donut (ordered only because my grandmother always made it on Sundays) and I would describe it in one word: simplicity. White milk/yogurt based "cake", dry but not crumbly, cut into slices, light and with that aftertaste of lemon zest... anyone who likes it less dry can spread the zabaglione cream on top that accompanies it, but does not overpower it ( very important, I prefer it natural); The wine list also includes noteworthy extra-regional bottles, we accompanied lunch with a bottle of excellent "San-giovese", reserve, barricaded, a religion in Bologna. Kind and smiling waiters, attentive and professional service, never too zealous, you feel treated with respect. Prices in line with the quality and portions offered... Nice internal atmosphere, romantic outdoor tables overlooking the alley. A small jewel rooted in the heart of traditional Bologna, which has always been constantly changing. Highly recommended experience and to be done again as soon as possible. Thank you!!!

Super recommended, best restaurant in the center of Bologna, absolutely worth trying.

Ristorante nel salotto buono di Bologna, prenotazione necessaria, piatti della tradizione molto buoni, servizio attento. Un consiglio curate l’interno del locale, tavoli finto legno, piante finte e quadri stampati non si addicono ad un locale come il vostro

Reviewing my previous TA submissions for Bologna, Vicolo Columbina scored the highest of all the places we visited. It still features in the premier Italian food guide and it’s easy to see why. This could be the perfect restaurant. The ambience is modern but not exactly minimal. A world away from wicker Chianti “fiasco”, huge pepper-mills and cheesy music. That’s not to say it isn’t cosy - it is - and the ambience is improved by the excellent and attentive service. However, it is the food that is the real star. My wife started with a flan (think savoury scone) of potato and Mortadella, which she said was the best thing she ate during our ten day trip. The flavour of the Mortadella shone through but was prevented from being too overpowering, by the use of the potato - simply epic. The same went for my selection of local cheeses, with “mostarda and figs”. On the plate, they all looked similar, (with the exception of the Parmesan) but nothing could be further from the truth. The most surprising flavour came from a white cheese, that despite any colouration, tasted like a traditional blue cheese. I always like to see cheese on a menu as a starter. It seems criminal to save food of this quality to the end of the meal, when you are not really hungry. My wife moved on to a plate of tortelli with cheese and mixed funghi - again, simply delicious. My main course was my best course during our entire ten day trip. A simply awesome slow-braised beef-cheek, in a rich, (very rich), Sangiovese sauce, with celeriac puree. So very…very delicious and after a sixteen hour braise - you could cut the meat with a spoon (see photo). For desserts, my wife had Zuppa Inglese, (Italian trifle to you and me), which our food guide recommended not to miss, (and it was right). I preferred my dessert of classic Ciambella, (a kind of biscuit-y cake), with cold zabaione - perfect for dunking in the excellent suggested glass of dark rum. I'll tell you how good the food was - I’ve completely forgotten what wine we had with that meal, which is almost unknown for me, (a self-confessed wine bore). Rest assured, if you are lucky enough to eat at Vicolo Colombina - you will not be disappointed.