Osteria dell'Orsa

Overall we can say that the food was great, however, it is my girl's opinion that the bolognese was mid. Staff was very helpful, friendly and English speaking. Limited variety of drinks: a couple of cocktails, tap beers and the house wine (which was good). Panna cotta was pretty bad according to my Italian friend. Portions are just. Also, it must be said that the service was swift, both for sitting us and delivering our food. We recommend it :))

Osteria dell'Orsa is a very popular spot in Bologna, and I decided to visit based on the many positive reviews on Google Maps. Reservations are not possible, so be prepared to come with patience. There are around 80 places inside alwaysall full, and outside there are only a few more. It’s very common to see a line of 20–30 people waiting outside. The service is extremely fast, which actually works in the restaurant’s favor. The ordering concept is simple and efficient — the staff doesn’t give much time to think, which is perfectly fine here. You either know what you want or you don’t. If you expect to be pampered by the staff, this is not the right place. This is about authentic cuisine that stays true to tradition. The dishes are served simply, without decoration or unnecessary extras, and you can really taste that simplicity. The focus is on basic, high-quality ingredients, without overthinking or “fine dining philosophy.” The pasta is properly cooked, perfectly al dente. We also brought our small dog with us and felt very welcome — and so did he. He is quite picky and usually refuses restaurant food, but here he cleaned his plate completely, which for us is a clear sign of good quality. Prices are reasonable. We paid around 40 euros including tip for dinner, which included a main course, a starter, and drinks. This may not be the best pasta in the city, but for the price, the quality and experience are absolutely justified.

Servers were super friendly. We had the fried tortellini and potato appetizer with parmesan cream dipping sauce. It was good. And the hubby and I split the lasagna. It tasted very rich and meaty. My husband said if lasagna was made this way in the US he would order it more. I was less of a fan of the lasagna it reminded me of canned meat chili from the US that im not a fan of. But meat to noodle ratio was good. Its my first bologna lasagna so maybe thats how it's supposed to taste. Not sure.

About the pasta: it was fresh and delicious. The waiting time was around 10–20 minutes, and they don’t take reservations. You just come, tell your name with the waitress outside the door, and they’ll call you when a table is free. The waitress was nice, but I had to wait quite a long time before she took my order (maybe because I was dining alone?).

This restaurant is cozy and charming, it looks very homey. It also has very good prices and the food is incredible ! My husband had the “Tagliatelle con ragú alla bolognese” and it was so tasty!! I ate the tortellinis and they were amazing too!

We ordered the famous Bolognese Pasta and Lasagna everything was very tasteful, the Lasagna was just melting in your mouth. Surely the best pasta we ate in our trip. Would definitely recommend trying this place! Everything tasted like home made from the pasta to the sauces. Will suggest to come outside the lunch hour, we waited for only 5-10 minutes to be seated.

--Food-- -Pasta- I had Tagliatelli con Ragu alla Bolognese(tagliatelli with bolognese) and it tasted delicious. The tomatoes used in the sauce were great(this is common all over Italy as far as I have experienced) and the meat in bolognese was also good. Over all it was a delicious pasta but as I have walked all day (I am a tourist walking the city and travelling to other cities and countries currently) I was really hungry so I wasn't full when I finished eating the pasta. -Lasagne- The lasagne looked much more filling as it was big. They also used the same meat and tomato sauce on it so it is bound to be great. My friend ordered lasagne and liked it very much too so if you want to fill your belly more, order lasagna. --Wine-- Their wine was great. I don't generally like wine but when I do I like it red. I also don't like many red wines but their wine(which I believe is local to Bologna but I am not sure) was exquisite. It had the grapy, acrid taste just in the right intensity for me. It wasn't too sour and it was appetizing which is unusual for me in the case of wine. --Important-- You might have to wait a bit before going in the restaurant because sometimes there is a small line in front of the restaurant as the place is popular for its great food.

Value for Money 👌 Lasagna was great! the rest of the dishes are very average.. House wine is good, 2.5€. Salad is like home, pasta is ok. no lines. Service is good. atmosphere is good.

Delicious spot! We had to wait 20 or so minutes outside, but the person helping us was really friendly. We ended up getting table in the second room, not the one near the main entrance. We ordered a few plates of bolognese, the tortelloni in soup, cutlet, pumpkin tortellini, and a meat/cheese plate. All of the items were so delicious, especially the bolognese. We ended the meal with the tiramisu, which was rich and creamy without being to heavy. Overall, fantastic experience!

What a great local place! I went with a group of friends, one whom is a local, and he recommended it, and boy, was he spot on! We arrived and they were full, but said they would have a table in 15 minutes or so, we ordered drinks and congregated outside while we waited. They have a large beer selection, and the bartender explained what they had, I had a local IPA which was incredibly tasty. Our tables became available, and we sat inside, the place has a lot of music-oriented stuff on the walls, ticket stubs, set lists, very interesting. You could also tell that everyone in the place was a local, no tourists. Our local friend ordered us a bunch of appetizers, which were huge and delicious. As a main, I ordered lasagna and a Caprese salad. Too much food, but it was all great! We were too full for dessert, but we did pass around a plate of Tiramasu, which was tasty as well. I would happily come here again, even if only for a drink!

This is a no fuss osteria offering Bologna classics. The first time I came here I got the tagliatelle with bolognese and the second time I got the lasagna. Service is really quick and they seem to turnover tables very efficiently so even if you get here and there's a wait, it's probably worth sticking around since it'll likely move fast. We were seated in the basement at one of the picnic tables and the food came out really quickly. The tagliatelle was absolutely delicious. The bolognese sauce was expertly made. We got a carafe of the house red wine which paired nicely. The total bill for two pasta entrees and six glasses of wine was around 30 euros. Can't beat it! The next time I went, I tried the lasagne. While I wasn't as big a fan of it, it was still really good. It was about 15 euros and a generous serving size.

My first eating restaurant in Bo! I tried the most popular Ragu. It's has nice flavor,although the noddle is a little bit undercooked for me.

Lugar original en bologna, comida local. Tagliatelle , más lasaña a la bologna deliciosamente rico. Buen vino local. Excelente lugar para deleitar comida comida por primera vez . Pide todo de una vez a veces los meseros son malcriados

A solid 3.5 stars. As most reviews have mentioned, it is casual dining place that is affordable and frequented by university students. We made a reservation just in case and noticed it was easier to get a table earlier in the evening. Even then, most diners were in and out and tables were turned over quickly. We were seated in the downstairs/basement area. Ordered the tagliatelle which was fresh and we enjoyed the texture of the pasta. Was it the best tagliatelle I've ever had? Not necessarily but it did the job. We also ordered the gnocchi with garlic breadcrumbs as well as the fries and fried tortelloni starter. Both were very rich dishes. Nothing about it is bad, and it gets the job done if you want a casual, quick meal.

Pros: Service is fast, staff is kind, crostini are flavorful and budget friendly. Cons: While the bolognese is picture perfect, it was bland and lacked flavor. Not even copious amounts of cheese could make it palatable. While I was hungry, I simply could not take more than two bites. This is not the bolognese your palette is craving, but more or less similar to a truck stop diner...in and out.

Definitely FIVE star Staff very helpful. Food we ready quickly. It was very crowded in a Tuesday night, but they took care of us (party of two) quickly. We ordered cotoletta all's Bolognese and Lasagna Ana bolognese. They were amazing. Ambient was great as well.

What a hidden gem!!! We found this place at the end of our stay if I'd know how amazing the food was I would have made a few more trips!! It's quaint and has old world charm but from an American standpoint it's much like your local gastronomic pub maybe a little more dicey feeling but the flavors coming out this kitchen phenomenal! I was so happy everyone ordered something different so I could get a taste of everything. I got to taste the tortellini in brodo, lasagne verdi, and the tagliatelle al ragu, the meat must of been simmering all day, it was that kind of flavor! EVERYTHING was amazing! A perfect meal.

Very good pasta. Cooked well, good sauce. Spritzes are good, food comes quickly. Didn't have to wait but we walked in on the early side to avoid crowds (18:30). The pappardelle, tortellini en brodo and lasagne are all fantastic.

Tagliatelle Ragu was the best one I had in Bologna compared to three other places around here. This place is really a must visit with over 5000 google reviews. Get here before 20:00 dinner rush and ask to sit downstairs where is cooler. No English menu but most servers speak the common tough fairly well.

Service was fast. The tagliatelle ragou was good. Nothing wow but good. Al denté although some noodles were hard as they were stuck together. Didn't bother me I was starving :) Tiramisu was good as well. But watery towards the bottom but I believe it's just how it is?! Waiter are nice and always cleaning tables. Overall a good place. Cosy and small. Had meal, dessert and a Coke Zero: 15€. Not expensive at all for a good meal and cosy place. Brava!

Good, but not worth waiting in line for. Kind of a tourist trap. At best, I'd recommend going during less busy hours, though you can definitely find better lasagna or tagliatelle con ragù elsewhere.

Sunday lunch -- arrived at 12:45 as it says they open then but found the restaurant packed with folks in full eating mode. After 15 minutes wait we were seated and ended up ordering from the day's lunch menu - a great vegetable soup which was packed with all kinds of things - I recommend that one. We added ravioli, tortellini in broth, and vino to round out the meal. They were all good with the tortellini having the most head nods at the table -- House red vino was a perfect add and we left happy, full and with a slightly less expensive then most other places - note that lasagna was not avail until after 18:00. Not sure if that is an everyday thing or not. Service was great - we had our dog and they were very accommodating to us -- I would recommend this place as it is a nice walk to get here and the food was very good.

This place was recommended by my Italian friend, and it turned out to be so good that we had to come twice during our trip! It's very simple yet cozy and charming Italian restaurant that serves excellent traditional and modern dishes of Bologna! Pasta Bolognese is a must! Also, if you're vegetarian - they have the best ravioli, and their vegetarian sandwiches are to die for! Highly recommended!

Fantastic tagliatelle, local wine, panna cotta and coffee. The place around lunch time crowded, apparently known for its great food among locals.

The food was fantastic. Stopped by late night and the staff was great. Really enjoyed our dinner. Top notch food and service!

It was okay, nothing to write home about. Had the tortellini soup, mortadella (because you must when in Bologna), an Orsa Spritz drink. Seemed really busy and loud inside.

Came hereto eat after we saw a line waiting to be seated. We waited for about 5 minutes. Once seated, we waited about 10 minutes before our server Cc ame to take our order. We had the homemade tagliatelle Ala bolognese which was good. Popular place for college students as we were advised it is pretty cheap place to eat.

Service is okay but the food was really outstanding! We all enjoyed every dish we got....except the one that never came! Lol... but not to worry, we were totally full and content!!

Had my first meal in bologna here and it was pretty good! I was a solo traveler so I asked for a table for one and it seems they put people together community style. So other people you don't know may be sitting with you which is super cool but I just wanted some alone time that day so I asked to be sat outside. They accommodated well. I ordered the ragu and red wine and for the price they were both so worth it! Service was good, quick, and efficient. The fresh pasta was so good it's hard to come back from that. I just wish they had more pasta. I'd definitely come back here when I go back to bologna!

I went on a Thursday around 5pm, there were very few people eating inside or out. I was a single and they directed me to a small table right by the restroom, and another single diner. It seems that Single Siberia is still the norm in Italy. Ordered a beer and lasagna. Both came quickly. Waiters were totally disinterested. I was not offered any cheese for the lasagna (I later noticed there was a sign, in English, by a container of the precious topping that said "do not touch.") It seems they weren't offering it to anyone else. My meal was good, and reasonable for the size portion, but I felt like you need to be demanding, or a young gorgeous woman, to get good service; I'm neither.

Good food and super cheap as well! We had no problems getting a table for 8 people without reservations. We ordered the tagliatelle with ragu-ragu was definitely not one that came from a can or jar.. or at least an American one since it wasn't overly salty, 5 types of the chef's crostini (mortadella, pork meatballs with balsamic vinegar, grilled veggies, mozzarella with tomato sauce, greens with brie. Our favorite was the pork meatball and the mortadelli), tortellini, brie with prosciutto and greens, tiramisu (best dish out of them all), and a custard dessert with berries and ladyfingers on the bottom. Definitely beats anything that I got in college back in the States and for 8,50 euro per person. Can't beat that!!

Worth the wait. Go to the front, put your name down down, grab an Aperol spritz at the bar next door and check out the menu. First place we stopped at in Bologna and we most definitely will return.

I was not very happy to note that there was a huge queue at 2.30 mid-week. But since most of the other waiting patrons spoke Italian (locals?) and I had no real back-up plan, we decided to put down our name on the list and wait. After about 40 mins and were seated (secret tip: after us almost no-one came so if you want no wait, come after 3 pm). We had the obligatory Tagliatelle Alla Ragu (aka pasta bolognese) and oh man, it was good! I can tell you this is really much better than what you get even at a nicer Italian place abroad, let alone the standard dish they serve at an average cafeteria. All for 6.50 euro. It was our cheapest meal in Italy and I would certainly recommend you to go when in Bologna! Recommended!

I came here with my bf after getting some recommendations from his friends. It was a busy place and doesn't take reservations, so there was a bit of a wait when the two of us went (this was fine, didn't really mind it). When we finally sat down, it was really packed inside. Lots of tables with narrow walking spaces. In the end, the food was good - I particularly liked the simple tortellini in broth and the tasty tiramisu. Echoing the other reviewers though, the service was just okay or less. It was hard to get the servers attention, and it was also quite slow. (Couldn't have been a language barrier either since my bf is from Northern Italy, so speaks fluent Italian).

The green lasagna (with their Ragu)was the best we had in Bologna. Their red Lambrusco wine pairs well with it. They do take reservations but the wait was not long & worth it.

All of the research I did pointed to the fact that Orsa is the spot to try in Bologna. There was a healthy wait when we arrived, but they move things along pretty fast. We tried their Bolognese pasta, pumpkin tortelli, and their pizza-like dish, which they described as a taco. The pizza was on a tortilla. It was not worth ordering. Anything with sauce and cheese tastes fine though. The Bolognese was special, but the tortelli was not too good. The pumpkin taste was overwhelming and the pasta itself was very hard. Could've lived without, but pretty good

Amazing staff, loved the food and staff! Highly recommended if your near here! The desserts are also amazing as well. Andre was very helpful along with the staff.

A very fine and inexpensively-priced meal - with community style seating for smaller parties. Definitely a "locals" type of experience. Worth a wait, though the turnover is quick. Don't miss their tagliatelle bolognaise.

The tagliatelle in ragú was very delicious! The meat sauce was perfectly seasoned and very fresh, and the pasta was very well done. The server was also very nice to a foreigner!

This was perhaps one of my favorite spots in Bologna and ranks high in my entire Italy trip. Osteria Dell'orsa is a chill, sizable indoor/outdoor restaurant that serves up some of the most delicious pasta I have ever had and the price was almost ridiculously low. There is a bit of a wait, but you can always grab a drink from their sister bar next door and drink outside as you wait for your name to be loudly called. Once seated, we had a liter of wine (4 euro), their pasta dishes (tortellini in brodo and a ragu), and some apps. Our waitress was very accommodating despite being rushed and was quick to say we should avoid ordering from one section and focus on the other (and prices I'd say were higher on avg in the section I was deterred from). Overall a really lovely place to get great food at an unbeatable price.

We were seated downstairs in a cave-like setting. The atmosphere was friendly and jovial as tables are shared with other guests. I got the fusilloni (big fusilli) with pumpkin and my boyfriend got the ragu. I tried and loved both and tasted their desserts (tiramisu and mascarpone)!

This is absolutely the best Taglitelle I've ever had in my entire life and I'm really really old. Sometimes I wonder, am I dead yet?

Number one can I say how impressed I am with the pricing here!!!!! Oh my goodness. Also the food is spectacular. It's one of those joints adored by the locals. Tables squished super close to fit as many adoring fans and foodies as possible. I had an amaaaazing tomato and pesto sauce penne. Holy lord I think it was one of my favorites ever.

Was recommended this place by two friends who had lived in Bologna. The restaurant is near the university and a short walk from the center. It also is open in the afternoon which is rare for restaurants in Italy. The food is cheap! I had the tagliatelle ragu (bolognese sauce to rest of the world). It was excellent and the egg noodles were so thick. All of this was for €6!

With all reviews, take them with a grain of salt. Some people have great food and leave a mediocre review cause they got less than perfect service. Others compare their with the best they've ever had. And some, just don't know good food. Wish people would rate it for what it is and if they could do better, just stay home and make something as good. This place serves fresh pasta. And since people are in Bologna, they get the Bolognase sauce. We ordered the tortellini on broth, and the pasta in Bolognase sauce. It was flavorful and we would be hard pressed to find the similar quality and flavor in Los Angeles. The tortellini was surprising good. It's a meat filling in a light chicken broth. It was a cold day and it totally hit the spot. The dessert, was simple but a great way to finish the meal. This place gets packed for a reason.

Incredibly rude, unprofessional staff except for one person who seems to be the designated translator for the menu. The pesto gnocchi was decent -- just a good home cooked meal, nothing crazy. The stuffed pork dish tasted awful; it tasted like 3-day old leftover dry thanksgiving dish with old gravy. This restaurant was recommended by the Airbnb host. Seriously don't understand the hype. Should've read yelp reviews beforehand.

very typical northern italian cuisine. prices are pretty low and service is efficient and friendly. good if you want some quick no-frills cheap bites.

I had heard rave reviews of the food so went here for dinner on 7/16. It's too bad I didn't get to try anything. Unfortunately I can confirm many of the other reviews here along the same lines. The staff was so incredibly rude it was nearly comedic. Our waitress looked positively angry that we decided to sit down there. After getting up to leave, we got a 'ciao' in a seemingly mocking tone on the way out. There are other good and welcoming establishments in this area you should visit instead.

Wow this place is bad. The differences in the tone of the voice, facial expression, and attitude toward different tables were very salient. Too bad the differences seemed to be driven by the race of the diners on each table. Did not expect this in 2019. Good work guys, keep it up. Hope to see the same in the next 40 years!

The pasta is so fresh and delicious. Had the Tagiatelle Al Ragu. And it was amazing. Seems to be the most popular dish at this restaurant and now I understand why. Soooo good.

Service was quick at this place, but that's about all positive feedback they will get. Even though we did not speak Italian there was no need to be rude. Food was tasty though, a little bit more salt would have perfected it. Will not go again, been there done that.

Over rated ! Simple and done ! Considering it's only a tad bit cheaper than other finer establishments with much better atmosphere, it's not worth going here

There was no room to sit outside, and we almost wept. Inside? But. . . it's so. . so. . HOT. . . .until they directed us "downstairs" into what must have been the refrigerated meat locker at some point. HEAVEN. Pasta was fantastic (yes, I too had the tagliatelle ragu, but also tried the tortellini dish with a beefy cream sauce), wine was good, service was adorable, and prices were wildly reasonable. I would definitely come back.

The guidebook didn't lie on this one. Holy cow, the food is incredible. The service, sucks, and there's nonfunctioning wifi, so that does blow. We got there for a late lunch on a Sunday and had to wait for a bit it was so jammed. But that's always a good sign! I got the ricotta tortellini with Swiss chard, smoked cream and pistachio cream. Absolutely heavenly. I never knew tortellini could be so good. A good-sized portion as well. My husband got the gnocchi and again, I never knew balls of dough could be so incredible. The rich butter flavor was out of this world. No need for sauce! The only damper was the shitty service. We were ignored for quite some time despite openly staring at waitstaff. Of course, there was a lack of drink refills as well.

The food was ok, but not as mind blowing as in other bolognian trattorias. What is very attractive is the pricing (6€ for tagliatelle with ragu) and that the place is open all day long - so no tragedy if you're hungry during the trattoria break between 3-7pm. The service could be better, the staff isn't really interested in you. And the famous change of seats happened to us - we were moved to a different table when a bigger group showed up. I guess that's okay, but it wasn't handled politely.

Extremely popular among young people for its high quality, low-priced food, this Osteria checks all the boxes. Tagliatelle is amazing, as are the crostini. At the waiter's advice, I got the mascarpone with chocolate and amaretto dessert, and it was like a dream. One of the best desserts I've had in Bologna. Be prepared for a short wait!

This is a unibo (Università di Bologna) student STAPLE. Communal tables, handmade pasta for only €6 (the tagliatelle al ragù is to DIE for), and a really fun/casual ambiance make it a cheap and memorable lunch or dinner. Make sure to get the crostini