Verona, Italy is surrounded by great wine regions. But it’s also a food powerhouse, with hundreds of restaurants. While almost all of them offer Italian fare, some are trendy; others are more traditional and/or specialize in the local North Italian Veronese food. The area was historically a poorer region; local dishes include boiled meat, potato gnocchi, and polenta, which is made from cornmeal. You may even occasionally see horse on a menu.
We’re big fans of exploring and stumbling across that little “find” of a restaurant, and we did some of that in Verona. But it helps to make a few reservations so you’re not out of luck or stuck going to a simply okay place (Verona is very busy during the summer opera season).
However, we discovered that while there are articles and listicles about Veronese restaurants, there’s little consensus on which ones to go to and which to skip.
So we did our own research.
We had several criteria. We wanted a few nicer restaurants but also to try the regional food; we wanted to eat in or near the historic city center since that was where our hotel was; and we wanted to avoid the touristy market square known as Piazza Erbe. We also wanted to try at least one “osteria,” Verona’s “old bars.” We used the Michelin guide as one resource but didn’t rely on it.
We ended up eating our way through Verona and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.
Here are seven don’t-miss restaurants to sample in Verona, Italy, in alphabetical order. This is not an exhaustive list; there are additional spots we plan to visit when we return.
Caffe Dante Bistrot
The venerable Caffe Dante Bistrot is a Veronese institution, dating back to the 1860s (the writer Dante used to live in Verona). The restaurant’s motto is “tradition, seasonality, and a pinch of innovation.” So while the menu has local Veronese dishes such as Amarone risotto it also has dishes like sea bream. We were also given sbrisolona, a local “crumb” cake, for dessert. This place is in the Michelin Guide.
L ’Evangelista
L’Evanglista, a restaurant and wine bar, is one of the more traditional, elegant places we ate in, with chandeliers and wallpapered walls. It’s just outside of the pedestrian city center overlooking Piazza Bra, where the ancient Roman amphitheater is located. The tasting and a la carte menus change with the seasons. We were given an amuse bouche and spumante to start, and dessert with Acqua di Cedro, a liqueur made with Cedro lemons, a cousin to limoncello.
Locanda 4 Cuochi
Chic and trendy, in between the pedestrian historic center and Piazza Bra, Locanda 4 Cuochi is one of the larger, bustling places we ate at. It’s more modern and casual. There are colored pencils on the tables so that patrons can take notes or doodle. The menu includes some Veronese dishes but also more contemporary ones, like zucchini flowers. There are tasting menus and an a la carte one. This is also in the Michelin guide.
Osteria il Bertoldo
Tiny and cozy Osteria il Bertoldo is hidden off a residential side street in the pedestrian zone. Established in 1988, this 20-seat spot specializes in typical Veronese food. After dinner our waiter gave us “Camilla,” a local Chamomile liqueur.
While the food was great, the restaurant is also notable for the hospitality we witnessed. Another patron accidentally spilled red wine all over his shirt. Our waiter quietly went into the back room and brought out two of his own shirts so the customer could change. That’s a generosity you don’t normally see.
Ristorante Antica Torretta
Ristorante Antica Torretta is in a non-touristy area off a side street in the north of the city center outside of the pedestrian zone near the meandering Adige River. There were quite a few locals here. Friendly and elegant; this was more refined food. The restaurant offers a couple of different tasting menus as well as an a la carte option. We ate outside, but the main dining room was pretty. We were given an amuse bouche of truffle bread and passion fruit sorbet for dessert.
Romeo
We stumbled upon the elegant, 18-seat Romeo on a non-touristy side street almost outside of the pedestrian zone in the south. It felt like being in a private club; it was beautiful and had soft jazz playing in the background. You could choose either a tasting menu or a la carte. The cocktails, made in front of you, were done with skill and precision (very few places use pipettes). This restaurant caters to locals. We were given an amuse bouche of olive tapenade and cream in little cones, and after dinner limoncello from nearby Lake Garda, chocolates, and amaretto biscuits. After we complimented the mixologist for his artistry, we were told that the restaurant has one of the best, most exclusive, and impressive cocktail bars in the city and were invited to go upstairs and have a drink (of course we went).
Trattoria Arco dei Gavi
For a change of pace, go to Trattoria Arco dei Gavi, a rustic, homey 20-seat spot south of the pedestrian zone in a more residential neighborhood. We were the only non-locals there. This was very traditional, local food, and this place did have horse stew on the menu (we did not try it).
We hope this guide of seven don’t-miss restaurants to sample in Verona, Italy helps you narrow down your choices when planning your next trip there.
Writing this blog post brought back great memories – and made me hungry!
If you have any recommendations of other great food in Verona or elsewhere, please send them our way at info@winewithourfamily.com. Always feel free to reach out to us with any questions or feedback.
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