My husband and I are leaving for Bologna in two weeks with our toddler daughter and in-laws in tow. I have a few specific eating questions:

1. Any recommendations for good but casual places to eat with the baby? She doesn't need any special food - she is a good eater - but we do not want a three hour dinner, just good food in a lively (e.g., noisy) and casual setting. I have found several good recommendations on this board and chowhound but can't tell which are fancy and which would be fine with a child. We have taken her to Italy before and understand that most restaurants welcome well behaved kids.

2. Are many places open for dinner at 7pm? The usual 8pm is a little late for us with a child.

3. What are the typical lunch hours?

4. We usually do not make reservations to provide some additional flexibility. I imagine that will be even more important traveling with a larger group. However, with 5 people will we need to make reservations at the trattoria type places I described above? For dinner only or lunch too? We don't have our heart set on any one spot, just want good food.

5. Is it typical for restaurants to provide a smaller portion of the regular menu for a child?

6. Are there many restaurants in Bologna with seating outside in mid-October? We found eating outside with a child to be great during out other trips.

Any other advice would be welcome. We plan to also be in Ravenna, Parma, Modena, Ferrara and Florence for day trips so resto recommendations there would be great too. Eckscrunchy - I've got your report printed out and ready to go!

We were in Bologna last October and most every meal was taken outdoors except for a couple of evenings. The weather was delightful.

We had lunch most days about 1:30 or so as we like to have dinner 8:30-9:00pm. We did make reservations and we glad we had them but that could also be the restaurants we chose and the time we prefer to dine, which is when many Italians go out as well.

Cannot help with restaurants that would be good for toddler but hopefully others can.

Thanks Kfusto. I am hoping someone else sees my question and gives me some restaurant recommendations. Or is every place so good it doesn't matter??

Sally30: Most restaurants will offer half portions of pasta, and sometimes other dishes. This will not be written on the menu, so you should ask. There will not be any special child menu, but my guess is that the wait staff will be accommodating as far as ordering for the little one. I think you will find places open at 7:30, but at 7pm I would not expect much to be open past the cafe-type places. I think that the level of quality is generally very high but you cannot do wrong with taking a few names and reserving at least a few hours ahead for dinner at least. In my report I mention a lunch at Gianni--that place would be a good fit, I think. The entrance is a bit hidden, down a little alley, as I remember, but it is right in the center of the city in the food shopping area off Via Clavature, at #18.

http://www.todine.net/bologna.html

Ekscrunchy - thanks for that link (and the advice). We will definitely ask for the kids portion so I don't have to share my food! Gianni looks good. One more question - my in-laws interested in going to I Carracci in the Hotel Baglioni (without the little one). Is it supposed to be good or just expensive? I hadn't heard much about it but do see from the link that it got a great rating in the Michelin guide (I assume forks mean quality not price). With so many great, more casual choices, it isn't grabbing me but maybe I am missing something.

Sally, I have not heard of that restaurant but the hotel is legendary, so I imagine that you would not have any regrets, food-wise. Prices are probably much higher than they are at a more local trattoria, but if they are treating you, why not?!


http://www.travelandleisure.com/arti...en-treasures/1

Just checking in - I have not been. Hope you get some responses with detailed suggetions. Many food magazines and websites describe Bologna as the foodie capitol of the world (although Tokyo has the establishment vote).

DH and I based in Bologna and stayed near the train station at the Sofitel (which I highly recommend). We ate at Ristorant da Bertino and had an amazing meal and enjoyed watching others eat as well. He got boiled and I ordered grilled from the meat trolleys.

The restaurant was about a 10 minute walk from the hotel but I didn't save an address. Very much a neighborhood/family place.

ps-We also walked around the university area and stopped at Caffe Almetti and had empanadas for lumch. They were stuffed with meat, olives and carrots and were delish! Again, no address.

You will eat well!