Verona , the romantic city par excellence, home of the most famous lovers in history, as well as the most unfortunate, Romeo and Juliet . A timeless place, a jewel in the heart of Veneto that does not attract tourists from all over the world only for the Shakespearean tragedy, for the curiosity of climbing on the balcony of the young Capulet or for its famous Arena, but above all for its beauties, the its alleys, its suggestive atmosphere and, not least, for its cuisine made up of traditional dishes with a unique taste that cannot but be tasted on a trip to the city of Verona.
Here are 10 things to eat absolutely in Verona .
1 – Pasta and fasoi
Medieval dishtypical of popular cuisine, the traditional pasta e fasoi (more commonly beans) was created by the creativity of the poorest families of society during antiquity. Tasty and with a decidedly “robust” flavor, it is a specialty that must absolutely be tasted on a trip to Verona. It is often enriched with pork rinds.
- Recommended for: lunch, dinner
- Average cost: €10.00
- Main ingredients: egg pasta, borlotti beans, pork rinds, carrots, celery
2 – Bigoli with sardines
Bigoli are a typical Veronese pasta very similar to spaghetti, but thicker. Their curious name derives from the bigat dialect which means caterpillar, due to their shape. Bigoli con le sarde (bigoi con le sardee) are prepared with a very tasty sardine sauce . According to tradition, they were eaten on Christmas Eve and on Good Friday. In addition to those with sardines there are also many other versions.
- Recommended for: lunch, dinner
- Average cost: €8.00
- Main ingredients: egg pasta, sardines, onions
3 – Pastissada de Caval
Photo of PetroniusArb. More commonly called horse braised , this dish seems to date back to 489 BC when, to save money in times of famine, the population cut the meat into pieces, macerated it in wine and spices to prolong its conservation. Excellent on any occasion, even if on winter evenings when the cold and bitter is certainly appreciated more.
- Recommended for: lunch, dinner
- Average cost: €10.00
- Main ingredients: horse meat, wine, spices
4 – Polenta
A typical specialty of the Veronese area , polenta used as a food seems to date back to the 1500s. Today it accompanies second courses, in particular stews and roasts. There are numerous versions , but the tastiest and most famous is the infasola polenta , prepared with cereal flour. It is usually eaten with mushrooms and cheese.
- Recommended for: dinner
- Average cost: €8.00
- Main ingredients: corn flour, cereal flour
5 – Gnocchi
A typical dish of the Veronese carnival , potato gnocchi date back to the mid-1500s. A tasty specialty which, according to popular narratives, seems to have saved the city from famine.
SEE ALSO : CARNIVAL OF VERONA AND POPE OF GNOCO, HISTORY AND MEANING
The dressing clearly varies according to the recipe that follows. It cannot be missing among the things to taste on a trip to Verona.
- Recommended for: lunch, dinner
- Average cost: €10.00
- Main ingredients: potatoes
6 – Bollito con la peara
Typical Veronese dish of the winter season , boiled meat with peara and prepared with meat and vegetables, served with a puree of breadcrumbs and pepper (abundant). There are numerous variations of this recipe, although they all have these ingredients then cooked in different ways. Peara is just the sauce with pepper.
- Recommended for: dinner
- Average cost: €10.00
- Main ingredients: meat, vegetables, pepper, peara sauce
7 – Riso al Tastasal
Typical dish of Venetian and Veronese cuisine, this risotto is made with minced, salted and peppered meat . Recipe that was prepared to check if the meat had been salted in the right way before using it for the preparation of cured meats, the name tastasal in dialect means just feeling the salt.
- Recommended for: lunch, dinner
- Average cost: €8.00
- Main ingredients: rice, minced meat, salt, pepper
8 – Risotto all’amarone
Undisputed its delicious and full-bodied flavor, risotto all’amarone is one of the typical specialties of the Veronese tradition. It is made with ingredients and products from Veneto such as Vialone nano , the rice that is used to prepare the recipe, the Amarone della Valpolicella with which it is creamed and the grated Monte Veronese , a cow’s milk cheese produced in the area.
- Recommended for: lunch, dinner
- Average cost: €8.00
- Main ingredients: Vialone nano, Amarone della Valpolicella, Monte Veronese
9 – Fritole
Proclaimed national dessert of the Veneto state in the eighteenth century and in the same period they were also mentioned in Il Campiello , a comedy by Carlo Goldoni. Fritole (fritters) are a typical Veronese carnival sweet , still prepared today not only in pastry shops, but also in many houses of Veronese families. A little different than the Venetian fritole.
- Recommended for: always
- Average cost: €5.00
- Main ingredients: flour, eggs, sultanas, grated lemon peel, a glass of grappa
10 – Pandoro
As it is known, Pandoro is one of the traditional sweets of Verona and of the Christmas holidays. Its origins date back to the 19th century, when the Pan de Oro was served to wealthy Venetian families. Its creator was Domenico Melegatti who made this dessert in the shape of a star with eight points for the first time . Together with the Milanese Panettone it is the best-selling and most appreciated Christmas cake in Italy.
- Recommended for: always
- Average cost: €8.00
- Main ingredients: flour, butter, sugar, vanilla
Where to eat in Verona: cheap restaurants, typical bars and street food
Remembering Verona only for the Shakespearean characters would be an understatement when instead it is a worldly and always alive city, with a thousand architectural beauties and a rich traditional cuisine.
To taste the various delicacies we can only recommend the area of ​​the historic center, as it is full of historic but also modern places, and in particular Piazza delle Erbe where aperitifs are trendy in the ancient cafes and taverns, where you later stop at dinner. Here are the best places to eat in Verona .
1 – Caffe Mazzanti
- Description : elegant restaurant with outdoor tables serving from aperitifs to local and world creative dishes
- Specialty : Valeggio tortellini with cream and speck
- Average price : from € 25.00 per person
- Address : piazza Erbe, 32 / 32A – Get directions
2 – Caffe Monte Baldo
- Description : historic place with vintage furnishings that offers cicchetti for an aperitif and Veronese cuisine
- Specialty : risotto with Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG wine creamed with cheese
- Average price : from € 18.00 per person
- Address : via Rosa, 12 – Get directions
3 – Osteria del Liar
- Description : rustic setting with exposed brick, own cellar and varied cuisine with local products
- Specialty : Liar’s polenta
- Average price : from € 25.00 per person
- Address : Corso Porta Borsari, 17 / A – Get directions
4 – Ancient Amelia
- Description : family restaurant with retro furnishings and typical Veronese cuisine served in a creative way
- Specialty : boiled meatballs with green sauce
- Average price : from € 35.00 per person
- Address : lungadige Bartolomeo Rubele, 32 – Get directions
5 – Locanda 4 Cuochi
- Description : informal setting and rustic furnishings with creative local cuisine and a wide choice of wines
- Specialty : risotto with radicchio and red wine
- Average price : from € 30.00 per person
- Address : via Alberto Mario, 12 – Get directions
6 – Osteria Al Carroarmato
- Description : one of the oldest taverns in Verona, it offers a selection of over 40 wines, starting at € 1.50 per glass. It offers shared tables and excellent home cooking
- Specialties : pasta and fasoi, baccala alla Vicentina and mushrooms, polenta and asiago
- Average price : from € 20.00 per person
- Address : vicolo Gatto 2
7 – Enochs
- Description : Tucked away in a quiet side street away from the tourist bustle. It offers a la carte menus with traditional dishes based on simple products, soups and pasta dishes.
- Specialty : pork shank
- Average price : from € 15.00 per person
- Address : vicolo Pomodoro, 3
8 – Trattoria Pane e Vino
- Description : it is located in the center but slightly out of the way. For 14 years expertly managed by Angelo and Alessandro, the trattoria represents a reference point for local customers and tourists who want to taste the true typical Veronese cuisine.
- Specialty : risotto all’amarone
- Average price : from € 25.00 per person
- Address : via Giuseppe Garibaldi, 16 / A
9 – Hostaria Vecchia Fontanina
- Description : offers a brilliant mix of typical Veronese dishes based on fresh and genuine products, offered at a reasonable price. The restaurant is very welcoming, with a delightful summer terrace.
- Specialties : risotto with Amarone and ricotta gnocchi
- Average price : from € 15.00 per person
- Address : Chiavica square 5
10 – Osteria Sottoriva
- Description : Sottoriva is one of the most famous clubs in the city, chosen by many customers for both lunch and dinner for the quality of the food and the popular prices. Do not choose this place for a quick meal, a notice posted at the entrance warns customers “slow service”!
- Specialties : tripe alla parmigiana, polenta and gorgonzola, crepes with ricotta and spinach
- Average price : from € 15.00 per person
- Address : via Sottoriva 9 / a