The name recalls its previous life as a pharmacy, and the shelves that once held tinctures now hold bottles of Sangiovese and Lambrusco with a devotion that suggests the proprietor considers wine the superior medicine. The kitchen operates in dialogue with the cellar, each dish calibrated to complement what is being poured — a philosophy that produces Emilian classics refined by the logic of pairing. A tagliatelle al ragu arrives alongside a suggestion of aged Lambrusco that lifts the richness. A cotoletta bolognese finds its counterpoint in a Colli Bolognesi white of unexpected depth. The room is intimate, candlelit, and the kind of place where conversation slows to match the pace of the wine being opened.
Location
Centro, Bologna
Insider Intel
Surrender to the wine pairings — the cellar is the engine and the food follows. Tagliatelle al ragu with whatever the house suggests alongside. Cotoletta bolognese for the secondo. Ask the staff to choose the wines; they know the cellar with an intimacy that printed lists cannot convey.
Reserve two to three days ahead for dinner — the intimate room fills quickly. The candlelit atmosphere rewards evening visits. Lunch is less atmospheric but the kitchen is equally attentive.
Via Cartoleria 10, Centro — a narrow street near the university quarter. Reservations recommended, call directly. Expect EUR 40-55 per person with wine. Cards accepted. The former pharmacy shelving is original; the transformation from remedies to Lambrusco is an improvement by any measure.