The Rundown
It’s not often that you find 2 Calabrese brothers team up and open a restaurant in the very heart of Bologna. But with Roberto Bistro, that’s exactly what you get. Roberto Bistro has a couple of really important things going for it, and one of them is their location. Though there are dozens of other restaurants right in the center of town, there are few that have the same style and elegance that Roberto Bistro offers. The menu is full of high-end items that you won’t find just anywhere. For example, you might want to order their pasta with lobster. As I told my friend who was with me that evening, when you’re with Lisa, you can always order the lobster.
The restaurant opened in 2014, and since then the management has seen a steady increase in clientele. While the vast majority of customers are tourists, that doesn’t mean that they don’t welcome locals as well. It’s very clear however that their main target is the foreigner on vacation. And that should be no surprise considering where they’re located. The foot traffic is heavy and steady, since the bistro is located right by the historical center of Bologna. After taking in the sites, it’s just expected that you’ll want to go grab some yummy Italian food.
The Menu
The food is a bit non-traditional, though they still make an effort to put those stereotypical dishes on the menu. Their most popular and frequently ordered dishes being the pasta al ragu, or Lasagana alla Bolognese.
And while lobster is all fine and well, and certainly a special treat, nothing I had that night held a candle to the primo that the manager recommended I try. Tortellini filled with ricotta and mortadella, lathered in cream made from gorgonzola cheese. Wow. This was incredible.
Given that the chef is a bit international in his approach to cuisine, it’s no wonder some of their dishes are non-traditionally Italian. Having spent time cooking in different countries outside of his native Italy, he picked up some of his skills in Germany, France and even Spain.
In the process of explaining on video all about the delicious antipasto I was in the middle of eating…just for you…
Oh my Gosh. The Cocktails.
But if we want to talk about the real hidden treasure I discovered while at the restaurant one evening, it’s their cocktails. Without a doubt, these were the best cocktails while I was in Bologna. The staff were overly modest about the intense creations, saying that they were more well known for their wines than cocktails. I would highly encourage them to shout as loud as they can from the rooftops that they make the best cocktails in all of Bologna, because without a doubt this is the case. Definitely try their house cocktail, which has now been officially renamed (par moi), “Lisa’s Cocktail”.
I cannot stress enough how talented the bartender is, and how much I would encourage anyone and everyone to go there specifically for their drinks.
And it’s not just the cocktails that I would highly recommend trying while you’re there. Though those are the best thing in my humble opinion. The desserts are also something not to skip. In fact, if I were you, I’d skip the dinner and go straight for dessert and drinks. But that’s just me. My plan for next time.
My assistant Anna told me the Tiramisu was a dream; unfortunately I’m not able to have anything with caffeine so I had to take her word for it.
Non-Stop Service
Having been open for several years now, the manager is confident that they have excelled in the field and have learned through experience how to be a better restaurant. One thing he mentions that keeps customers happy is staying open all day. “The kitchen is open from 11 AM to 10 PM. Non-stop. The tourists appreciate this because we’re not closed in the middle of the day. So, they can eat whenever they like. It’s difficult to find restaurants that are open all day, but we are.”
This is a frustrating and accurate fact about Italy. Generally restaurants will close for several hours during the day. That being the case, for the tourist who isn’t familiar with this annoying custom, staying open all day is beneficial to the restaurant, and a smart move on the part of the management.
With candles everywhere, beautiful decor and intimate lighting, it’s the ideal spot for a date, or a quiet night out with friends over a bottle of wine…or cocktails! When you order that cocktail though, make sure to tell them Lisa sent you!
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