il Portico Bologna, Italy Paolo

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ROF= Ring of Fire  ITL= Italy journey 

Thursday November 19, 2015    

Bologna, Italy 

Paolo at il Portico restaurant 

...A follow up from an earlier post...  our dining at "iL Portico" later that night. We were treated like kings! 

Walking around the Old City square - historical district - was wonderful. Architecture,... historical buildings from the middle ages, Neptune Fountain, The City Cathedral- The Basilica of San Petronio was absolutely magnificent.

Marble steps up to the entrance platform. 20' wooden doors. The huge brown brick wall is deceiving,... it's the end of the cathedral hall, The construction started in the middle ages, 1390. 400' long,x 190' wide, x 150' high... 

... it is overwhelming to stand on the marble floor tile work, turn and look at the artistic craftsmanship of the sanctuary and breath the air of this sacred place. It is humbling; I stand in awe. ... and have to take a few minutes to say a prayer for Sons.

Inside the Basilica is breathtaking beautiful. These pictures can't even capture the magnificence of this 700 year old Cathedral.

You could spend days here... it's that powerful.

After walking The Old City district for the rest of the day, headed back to the apartment. Pit stop, freshened up, ready to go out early evening for some good Italian food. 

You could walk by this and not know there is great food inside... but you can smell the fresh baked bread from the sidewalk.

 Of course,... we go back to il Portico restaurant. ... and there's Paolo; his friendly greeting welcomes us back. We are seated in the mid-way back, near enough to see the chef baking in the wood fired brick oven.

 Plenty of menu items to choose. Welcome to il Portico Bologna, Italy!

 Very clean, squared away= organized. We're early evening customers.

 Soft European background music. This is a fun place to dine at.

A quaint but cosmopolitan restaurant, romantic setting table for 2. 

While looking over the menu Paolo brings us an appetizer of fresh baked bread, balsamic vinegar, and olive oil. The smell of fresh baked bread. ... the aroma... fantastic. The bread was really good.  

 The balsamic vinegar is most unique tasting, a really rich taste. 

The olive oil was the house brand, but it was the real pristine,... real Italian olive oil. The best olive oil in the states doesn't taste this good. This olive oil is better than any I've ever tasted in the US; this is the real taste of Italy. This olive oil is probably pressed from local olive tree groves.

 Fresh bread appetizer right from the oven. Had to let the bread cool for a minute it was still hot. We're being treated like kings.


You could gain weight just from the aroma of the fresh baked bread; it's that good.

 Unique lighting at the back of the restaurant.

 Placed our order... and a wonderful Italian salad to start dinner.

 The chef preparing our dinner. The brick oven is fired and ready.

 This chef really enjoys his work. I think it's his calling.

 Fresh bread aroma. This is the real deal.

 Paolo brought an appetizer side order of Mediterranean flat bread to go with the balsamic vinegar and olive oil. The garlic and spices make the difference. This chef really knows what he's preparing!

 A schnitzel and potato for the lady.

 And of course.... Uncle Hargus knows how to order. When in Bologna; eat what the Bologna locals eat.... A real Italian pizza. Tomato base,... aged prosciutto ham, local mozzarella cheese, garlic and spices, and rocket= arugula. When you go to Bologna.... this is what you want to order.

 Good food, good friends... It doesn't get any better than this!

            Dining customer and Paolo

T-bird had a schnitzel and potato dish and there was too much she couldn't finish it & got a go box. I had a pizza and it was great. I asked Paolo what was "rocket" on the pizza; arugula. It was fresh picked that morning for the local market. Cured prosciutto, local made mozzarella cheese, spiced with garlic and fresh oregano... it doesn't get any better than this. 

 We were early... the local crowd started coming in soon.

 A real fired brick oven.

The chef with a loaf of bread right from the brick oven.

Not because we were in Bologna, Italy on a journey... Food usually tastes better when eating out but this was 1st class dinner at very reasonable/ similar pricing of other restaurants we ate at. Not over priced. And Paolo was a gracious host; I am glad our paths crossed.

La cuenta, por favor... I think the bill was E22- Euro, and that's with a glass of red Cabernet. 

I don't do commercials on this blog,... but if you're fortunate enough to get to Bologna, Italy... stop and eat at il Portico. Good Italian food! a good place! Paolo will make sure you are an honored guest. 

You never drink twice from the same stream.

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