Trattoria Il Fantino

The food was amazing, as expected, but the staff made this whole experience even more beautiful. It doesn't feel like a restaurant, it seems like you're having a dinner at some nonna's kitchen. Definitely worth it!

I saw good reviews for this place so I decided to have the birthday dinner there. There was a free table outside for two so we sit outside and were ready to order a few courses & dessert. One lady came to take the order and she was in good mood, brought me a nice glass of red wine. Nadia brought our two plates, threw them on the table and left .. without the typical "Buon appetito" or similar, which is so rare in Italy. My wife´s food was tasty but mine was ok at most, very salty green pasta with porcini and pancetta. The prices are very fair: 2€ for water and 3€ a glass of wine. Coperto 2.5€ per person. The place did not felt welcoming and I do not reccomend it.

Great atmosphere, nice and kind staff. They let us stay without reservation although it was swarming with people when we got out. Great food!

N.B - Please book to not disappoint. Arrived in Modena to the request of this restaurant. Tucked away lil restaurant with brilliant service given by bilingual courteous & smiling staff. Great menu with lots of delicious specials available too. Great range of desserts too. The balsamic vinegar is very thick & to die for, available to buy to bring home too!!

Recommend the tasting menu (it’s 35€ per person)! And reserve your lunch/dinner of course!

Amazing service and food! Totally worth. Try to book in advance or arrive early

Good quality food at a decent price. The guy who served us was friendly and helpful. He spoke good English. Everyone in our group enjoyed their food. The gnocco were particularly good and the meat on the ribs just fell off. Relatively short menu with daily specials. Looking forward to going back.

If you want to eat local food this is the place but book in advance. Amazing and authentic food. We ordered the Piatto unico della tradizione, the gnocco frito and the tigelle are simply amazing, all came super warm to the table together with very good cold cuts. This dish also included ribs that were very tasty. It was a lot of food, we didn’t know about the quantity and ordered also gnocchi and ravioli that were both great. Was a very good experience recommended if you are visiting Modena.

everything you've read is true and more. authenic cuisine from the region and odds are you'll be sitting next to locals. no reservation? you'll be out of luck so book in advance. the food, wine, and gracious hostess was exceptional. the only "have to" meal in Modena. seating is extremely limited and don't let the modest setting fool you - you will not be disappointed.

What a meal... This restaurant is worth a detour and a quick drop-by in Modena. Nothing fancy, this place looks like a very neat mom and pop Italian restaurant which is frequented by both locals and tourists (thanks to TripAdvisor) and serves truly delicious Italian food. Their pastas are out of this world. Friendly staff and great service. Eccellente!

Best meal I ate in Italy. My friend and I sprang for the tasting menu. For just over 30 Euros we got a bounty of full-portioned handmade pasta and meat dishes, a bottle of wine, pork spread and bread, and a small dessert tasting. The server brought us ice-cold limoncello and nocino, then left them on the table for us. Il Fantino was delicious, generous, quality, and well worth the money. Make reservations as the place fills up even in winter.

Very busy - a full house on a Wednesday evening in late September. We had heard a great deal about this resto - great food, great price, best food in Modena. We were less than impressed. For our prima pasta dishes, one was overly salty and the other was unseasoned and bland . Our secondi dishes were also disappointing. My roast veal (a cold platter) cried for salt and pepper; my wife's bocconcini di pollo (chicken titbits [yes - "tit bits", as translated in their menu]) were to have a balsamic vinegar sauce (it was so acidic as to be almost inedible). Portions were large but quality was mediocre. Service was fast and friendly. Price was quite good, but there are better choices within a two block area, if you want to eat something special. Overall, this is an overrated restaurant.