On a prelude I gave on my travels to Bologna, I mentioned that I had the best Parmigiano Reggiano, Tagliatelle alla Bolognese and Tortellini Pasta in this city.
Part of that credit goes to Savoia Hotel Regency’s restaurant, Garganelli, who had a flair for fantastic seafood while also having some of the best of Bologna’s traditional cuisines.
The picturesque and quaint grounds that Garganelli Restaurant is located at is the elegant Savoia Hotel Regency just a couple of blocks outside Bologna’s city center.
Charmed by its refined grounds, I was captivated by its quite open, sun-lit, and exquisitely decorated lobby hall featuring the most glamorous chandeliers. I continued to ooh and aah as I caught a glimpse of some of the property’s well-appointed suites..
They also had an excellent conference center and meeting space readily equipped for any kind of event. Now, imagine a work convention or wedding in the picturesque Bologna, fully catered with a daily banquet-style set-up featuring the most sensational and authentic meals of the Emilia Romagna region
Menu Details
Seafood | Fried Prawns and Battered Vegetables, Saffron-flavored Sweet & Sour Sauce and Linguine al Frutti di Mare
Pasta | Home-made Tagliatelle with Bolognese Ragout Sauce, Lasagna Bolognese, Spinach Tortellini
Meat | Garganelli Traditional Petroniana Veal Steak with Baked Potatoes and Sweet & Sour Baby Onions
Dessert | Crisp Puff Pastry with Wild Berries and Mascarpone Cream (Italian soft cheese)
Dessert | Old-fashioned “Tagliatelle” Cake and Sorbet
We decided to enjoy the idyllic Garganelli Restaurant for lunch during a brilliant late summer. The lovely Giuliana, woman-in-charge of the hotel’s Public Relations, sat with us and talked about how all their pasta noodles are hand-made here at the restaurant daily starting at 5 a.m. Now, talk about fresh, homemade and ultra-authentic!
White wine started coming in, from the Romagna region of course, called Clementine Primo Gold along with fried prawns and battered vegetables with saffron-flavored sweet and sour sauce. We also tasted a hefty serving of their famous super-crispy Garganelli Shrimp, Vegetable and Apple Tempura served with a sauce made with sultry pineapple juice, racy red bell pepper, and zesty vinegar. This appetizer plate is certainly a recommendation we would make, as it was quite amusing to admit to myself that one of the best Japanese Tempura plates I’ve ever had in my life actually happened right here in Italy.
Another classic and favorite dish we savored was the Linguine al Frutti di Mare. Like I mentioned, Garganelli is quite well known for its seafood and I definitely understand that after enjoying this signature dish. A generous plate, their handmade linguine was incredibly luscious in spite of being small and dense, while the clean seafood flavor was evident.
Now, we wouldn’t be leaving Bologna without encountering credible Bolognese pasta – this is the city where this dish was born after all. Garganelli prepared the most savory Lasagna Bolognese and let me tell you, I was in complete surprise by how flavorful one meat dish could have. In awe, we continued on to another delicious plate – the Tagliatelle al Ragout Bolognese, another flavorsome, meaty meal featuring appetizing tomatoes and distinctive wine. Juicy and sumptuous, these two traditional Bolognese fares will leave you content and convinced that you just had a very real gastronomic moment here in Bologna.
To boost our culinary tour, we also sampled a Spinach Tortellini dish that was also typical of the Emilia region. I am dazzled how simple yet so thick, rich and creamy the pasta can be which was truly emphasized by this fare. It is exciting for me to be coming across all these original recipes right here in the city where it originated.
Named after the city’s main church, the Basilica di San Petronio is an authentic Petroniana with melted Parmesan cheese and succulent veal served deliciously on a bed of enticing potatoes with savory gravy. The flavor of the small onions on this dish certainly jumped out at me. According to our server, this plate is completely a local dish.
With this much food, we were naturally quite stuffed. But I’ve always believed that a proper dessert is the culmination of a culinary journey. We had the Crisp puff pastry with wild berries and Italian mascarpone cream which proved to be incredibly delicious yet not overly sweet. The fruits themselves taste favorable and ideal that they must have gotten the freshest bunch that morning. The layers of cream are split with a thin, delightful flakey biscuit. We were quite ecstatic with how the cream and layers of biscuit were so complimentary with the sweet fruits.
The second dessert was a hot one prepared similarly to a Pasta Frolla featuring a warm mini piecrust with deep-fried Tagliatelle Pasta on top. This was made with a cream of fruit, frutta seca and mascarpone prepared with a scoop of delectable ice cream. The crunchy yet cakey texture was especially appealing to the taste.
What I truly love about Savoia Hotel Regency is that it embodies such a tasteful and elegant flair just minutes away from the heart of Bologna’s city center. With Garganelli headlining such a tempting menu amidst the most picturesque of surroundings, any guest would feel that they wouldn’t want to leave this unbelievably perfect and serene setting.
As a city, Bologna, personifies an iconic and historic beauty. Moreover, its trendsetting culinary culture draws people all over the world. Drop by Garganelli if you want a mouthwatering and exquisite gastronomic encounter whether for its heavenly seafood or divine and traditional Bolognese fares. Savoia Hotel Regency has truly positioned itself to be the perfect home away from home right here in La Rossa Bologna.
Suite Photos by Savoia Hotel Regency | Thanks to Giovanni Trombetti & Giuliana Di Venti of Garganelli Restaurant | Via del Pilastro 2, Bologna | 051 376 77 66