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Bologna Dining Experience

Dining in Bologna is an experience. Don't be surprised if, rather than being handed a menu, the chefs and staff bring out their specials for you to enjoy or offer just two or three of their favorites from which you can choose. While those not accustomed to this tradition may be a bit taken aback at first, it is actually a special treatment-the chefs are hand-crafting their best dishes for you. However, the staff in the local restaurants are very friendly and accommodating, and if you have special requests or would like to see a menu, ask and they will comply (given that the restaurant actually has a regular menu made up). One of the blessings (and curses) of dining in Italy, and especially in food havens such as Bologna, is that the food is all fresh and often locally grown. While this does make for an excellent meal, it means that certain foods, particularly fruits and vegetables, are only available "in season." So, for example, if you are going to Italy in the fall and looking for broccoli and cauliflower, you are unlikely to find it-it is not in season and frozen foods are not in the vocabulary in most Italian kitchens.