Trattoria Aldina

If you’ve searched for an authentic Modenese dining experience, Trattoria Aldina will have certainly appeared in your search results - and for good reason. The obligatory queue before opening time is richly rewarded for its patience. This bustling and efficient trattoria packed full of diners anticipating their meal has the atmosphere of a big family occasion. The food is sooo good - obviously home cooked and freshly prepared. The accompanying wine options are fitting and everyone leaves with a feeling of satisfied contentment. Make sure you get to dine here at least once during your visit to Modena.

Some of the BEST food our whole trip. We were recommended to come here after our balsamic tour and were soooooo glad we did. If you’re reading this review do your best to get a reservation, otherwise jump on the waitlist ASAP! We’re vegetarian and they had plenty of options and every dish was delicious! Also the owner was so accommodating and we appreciate how hard he worked to make sure people could get a table and eat the amazing food!!!

This traditional trattoria was recommended on many blogs we read and the lonely planet book, a lot of hype. It was absolutely incredible - bustling with locals and serving delicious traditional pasta cooked perfectly. Some of the best food we have had in Italy. Left my husband speechless. Do the pasta tasting menu - we had tortellini with butter and sage, and the gramigna sausage ragu both were highlights!

Great place to eat, very authentic with just as many locals as tourists. The place was super busy at lunch and the food was very good, staff was very polite despite being slammed with tables. Worth the visit is in Modena. My wife and I had pasta, split a secondo and a side with small bottle of Lambrusco, dessert and 2 caffes and it was 56 euro, a solid deal for all we had.

The best meal we had all trip!! It was very authentic Italian. The cold cuts were delicious, and highly recommend the 3 pasta sampler to share. The portions were plenty and gives you the chance to try all different things. Tortellini in soup, lasagna, and tagliatelle were absolutely incredible. Panna cotta was very tasty. 5/5 stars, wish we could go back already!

It is recommended that you go as soon as it opens, otherwise you may have to wait for an empty table. The pasta and meat were very good. The panna cotta prepared woth amarena cherries was excellent.

Really good traditional Italian Trattoria! The food you get for the price you pay is just great. We had a three pasta tasting for €15 per person and a bottle of Lambrusco for €12. There were many locals eating, not just swarms of tourists. Can only recommend it when in Modena. The location was perfect as well, right in the centre of the city.

I ordered the lasagna. The presentation was not the best. I found the pasta itself too soft, like it was either overcooked or reheated. I was expecting a little more ragu between the layers and less bechamel. Also, I felt a little heavy on the fat. Maybe it was a bad day... I would go back to try something else.

Homey trattoria for traditional Italian food! It felt like stepping in to someone's home where we were treated to friendly service and delicious food. The lasagna was completely made from scratch and my boyfriend stated it was the best he's ever had. I ordered the pasta with sausage and wow, what a treat. Prices were affordable and food was serviced quickly. Can't recommend enough!

I fortunately stopped in right at opening because the restaurant was full within the hour. It would have been a little difficult to find, except that there was a line waiting to be let in. This was a good sign. I had two types of pasta, a glass of Lambrusco, mineral water and espresso macchiato for a grand total of €21. The menu said pasta "tasting". Each serving would have been more than enough on its own, and it was all delicious. Things to note: -Stairs to 1st floor; there is no elevator -Cash or banc card only, so make sure that you have cash on hand -indoor seating only, but there was air conditioning and Celine going fans. - it gets very busy at opening

Trattoria Aldina is one of our favorite restaurants in the world! The tortelloni with butter and bacon is a recipe perfected!!!!! Every dish is beyond delicious! And, the service is exceptional. *****

This place is a hidden gem! They say if you want to eat well go to Modena and I have to say Trattoria Aldina is one of those places you must try at least once in your lifetime. They are located upstairs in a very cute yellow house. My first time there was in 2018 and I didn't know they were cash only and I didn't have any cash on me. The atm was closed due to lunch time and Chef Mattia was so nice and told me it's on the house and to enjoy Modena. It was the kindest gesture and one that I will never forget. They are known for Tortellinis and lasagnas. Must order both and don't forget their desserts, it's so fresh and homemade.

I spent about a week eating pasta in Bologna and Modena, this place was the best. Located upstairs with a limited special of the day menu. Friendly staff with ok English and the food is superb.

This place is no longer here. I can't leave it at this because Yelp says I need another 55 characters to write. Ok then.

Delicious food and a great atmosphere and they had aircon, which was lovely to get out of the summer heat.

This placed filled up fast by 12:10pm on a Saturday. No reservations. It's hidden upstairs, so unless you're looking for the sign out front, it's easy to miss. There's basically no English. Our front, there's a paper with some price guidance, but there's no printed menu. Our server spoke a little bit of English, so we got by with some effort. House wine is a Sangiovese. You get one glass, so you can pick/ alternate between water and wine. There's also a full bar. - Tortellini di bordo: great broth; the tortellini was not bad - Tortelli di zucca with balsamic: definitely add some parmigiano reggiano to enhance it. The pumpkin filling was super sweet. The other option was brown butter and sage - Tagliatelle: with ragu, probably my least favorite - Perciatelli: short buccatini? with bolognese - this was my favorite for texture and flavor Sides: - Steamed spinach - Broccoli with olive oil and garlic It was a pretty solid meal. They do have a bathroom. Cash only (or an Italian bank card if you have one...)

We had stopped by in Modena before heading down to La Spezia, as we wanted to pick up some produce from Mercato Albinelli. Decided to get some lunch beforehand and apparently this place is a gem according to Yelp. There is a golden plaque marking this place. Head of the stairs to the first floor and enter to your right. It's not a schmancy place, but that's how trattorias are. But for me, I love it - the tablecloths, the simple decor. We were sat down and note: there is no written menu. The lovely waitress came over and I was worried that we would have difficulty finding out what the menu was, but she happily and confidently announced the menu in English. We took the tortellini in broth and the tortellino filled with pumpkin, served with bacon and Balsamico. While we waited for our food, we were able to snack on what I think was pork crackling bits - naughty! :D And yes, the food is simple but my god it's soooo good and tasty. I seriously dream of my tortellino that I had; I could eat it for every meal if I could!! Anywho, definitely give it a go, you won't regret it!! **NOTE: For lunch, come before 12:30 so you can get a place. Also they only do dinner on Fridays and Saturdays. Buon appetito!!

My Modena experience would have been incomplete without Aldina! They're a small home run Italian Trattoria - they don't have a large seating, chances are they will not take will your call. Just show up! (Same advice for Enzo and all of them) - Literally, Just show up! The menu changes daily, you can close your eyes and trust on your server when she gives you recommendations. Ours was Tortellini with Ricotta and spinach! So delicious, we also had Tiramisu in the end which was really great. I was very delighted to see that they have caramel custard - something I almost never find in the States as desserts. The service is good, the food is addictively delicious and you will have an authentic Italian experience! A must Go!

Traveling through Modena we wanted an authentic lunch. There's a lot of restaurants in Modena around the main piazza and none that we saw felt like mom and pop ran it. We stopped into the tourist office and asked to be pointed in the direction of a screaming good hole in the wall. Like if you could only eat once in Modena where would you go? We were sent to Trattoria Aldina. We never would have found it on our own as you have to ascend a flight of stairs to get to the restaurant. The signage is rather small, you'd miss it with so much to look at. This is where the locals eat. We had two delicious homemade pasta lunches, bread, water, and a carafe of wine for less than 20 euros. Mission accomplished.

Awesome. Order the lasagna- you'll thank us. Chocolate cake is a must. Tagatellie with ragu was excellent but the lasagna was the best hand down. Great authentic place and super sweet server. Don't miss out!

Mediocre. The tagliatelle was dry, underwhelming, and lacking in sauce. Nothing special. We also tried the tortellini and the mini tortellini in broth and it was all so-so as well. Nothing stood out! The best thing I ate was the cantaloupe melon with prosciutto. Everything else was disappointing. Maybe we should've tried the lasagna?

One of our favorite meals in Italy. Get there when it opens at 12-1230 and beat the rush. Amazing pasta and meat sauce. Wow!!

This place was just perfect! Home style italian, no printed menu just a listing of daily offerings! The staff was accomodating in our english and bad italian, and we had the best 3 pasta dishes thus far in italy. We're coming back!

Incredible food, good service, great prices. House wine was delicious and the tortellini in beef broth was unique and amazing.

We were recommended "Aldina" from another restaurant we wanted to go to but was closed the day we wanted the booking. Being a short notice booking with friends and family joining us, we were nervous about how "Aldina" would be. The ravioli verde were amazing, then the tagliatelle were perfect and the mascarpone topped off the perfect meal. Today I learnt how good traditional Italian food can taste! We will be going back many many times while we live in Modena.