La Zanzara
Seafood · Porticino, Codigoro
Restaurant in Codigoro, Italy
The Read
Po Delta Lagoon Cooking
Price
€€€
Dress
Smart Casual
Why go
La Zanzara holds a 2024 Michelin star and in Codigoro, cooking lagoon eel and Adriatic fish from a farmhouse in the Po Delta. At €€€ rather than €€€€, it is one of the better-value starred seafood meals in northern Italy; but the small room and destination location make it a hard booking that requires planning well in advance.
About La Zanzara
Verdict
Book La Zanzara if you want a Michelin-starred seafood meal in one of Italy's most overlooked corners; the Po Delta, where eel and Adriatic fish are treated with the same seriousness that Emilia-Romagna applies to its cured meats. If you can get a table, take it.
Portrait
La Zanzara sits in a farmhouse outside Codigoro, reached by driving through the Po Delta Valley; a low, flat terrain of wetlands, migratory birds, reed beds that stretches toward the Adriatic. The journey is not incidental: by the time you arrive, you already understand what the kitchen is cooking from. The Po Delta is one of Italy's most productive fishing territories, La Zanzara's menu is a direct expression of that geography.
The dining room is small, for a first-time visitor the scale matters. This is not a large-format restaurant built for event dining. The intimacy is structural: a compact room, limited covers,, in colder months, a fireplace that shifts the atmosphere from restaurant to something closer to a private house. If you are expecting the high-design, architecturally ambitious rooms of Osteria Francescana in Modena or Le Calandre in Rubano, adjust your expectations. The space earns its character through restraint, not spectacle. The fireplace detail is worth noting practically: if you are visiting between November and March, request a table near it when you book.
The kitchen's focus is the lagoon. Eel appears in multiple preparations, simply cooked or grilled over embers, the Michelin documentation confirms squid and turbot as the dominant Adriatic fish on the menu. This is not a tasting-menu kitchen that ranges freely across Italian regions; it works a defined larder and works it well. For a first visit, that focus is an advantage: you are not making difficult decisions across a sprawling menu. You are eating what the lagoon produces, prepared by a kitchen that has earned a star doing exactly that.
Lunch vs. Dinner: Which to Book
La Zanzara is open for lunch only on Saturday and Sunday (12 PM–1:30 PM), with dinner service Wednesday through Sunday (7 PM–9:30 PM, with Saturday dinner starting at 8 PM). Monday and Tuesday are closed. For a first visit, the practical recommendation is dinner on a weekday if you can manage it, the room's fireplace atmosphere is most effective in the evening, the drive through the Po Delta at dusk is materially different from midday. That said, weekend lunch has a real case: the Saturday and Sunday afternoon slots are shorter windows (just ninety minutes), which concentrates the pacing and makes it a strong choice if you prefer a lighter commitment than a full dinner service. The Sunday lunch slot in particular suits visitors who are working the Po Delta as a day excursion from Ferrara or the Adriatic coast.
On value, lunch and dinner at a €€€ Michelin-starred farmhouse in this region are unlikely to differ dramatically in price structure, but lunch portions and tasting formats at starred restaurants in Italy often run slightly less than dinner equivalents. Without confirmed menu pricing, the safer assumption for budget planning is that dinner will be the higher-spend option. If you are comparing against Uliassi in Senigallia or Dal Pescatore in Runate at €€€€, La Zanzara's €€€ positioning makes either service a more accessible entry point into Michelin-level seafood cooking in the region.
Practical Details
Reservations: Hard to book, this is a small room in a destination location, Michelin recognition has tightened availability significantly. Book as far in advance as possible, particularly for weekend slots. Hours: Wed–Fri 7 PM–9:30 PM; Sat 12 PM–1:30 PM and 8 PM–9:30 PM; Sun 12 PM–1:30 PM and 8 PM–9:30 PM; Mon–Tue closed. Price range: €€€. Dress: No confirmed dress code, but given the Michelin context and intimate room, smart casual is the appropriate register. Getting there: A car is necessary, Codigoro is not served by rail connections that make this accessible without one, the farmhouse address (Via per Volano, 52) is outside the town centre. Factor in the drive through the Po Delta as part of the visit. Group size: The small dining room makes large groups a difficult fit, contact the restaurant directly before attempting a booking for six or more.
How It Compares
See the comparison section below for how La Zanzara sits against its regional and national peers.
Pearl Picks, Also Consider
- La Capanna di Eraclio, The other name in Codigoro serious diners discuss; compare both before committing.
- Uliassi in Senigallia, Three-star Adriatic seafood if you want to understand the ceiling of this cooking style in Italy.
- Gambero Rosso in Marina di Gioiosa Ionica, Adriatic and southern Italian seafood at a different register for comparison.
- Alici Restaurant on the Amalfi Coast, If Italian seafood fine dining is your focus and you are building a broader itinerary.
- Our full Codigoro restaurants guide, All Pearl-reviewed options in the area.
- Our full Codigoro hotels guide, Where to stay if you are building a Po Delta trip around this meal.
- Our full Codigoro experiences guide, What to do in the Po Delta before and after dinner.
- Our full Codigoro wineries guide, Local wine options to pair with a visit.
- Our full Codigoro bars guide, If you want somewhere to continue the evening.
Planning details
- Hours
- Monday: closed · Tuesday: closed
- Location
- Via per Volano, 52, 44021 Codigoro FE, Italy
- Website
- ristorantelazanzara.com
- Phone
- +39 347 036 7841
The take
The Take
The Vibe
La Zanzara reads like a farmhouse that grew organically from the lagoon itself: reed-lined channels, low diffuse light and egrets set the scene long before you step inside. The dining room is small and deliberately focused, trading theatrical flare for steady, unhurried service and cooking. In winter a fireplace warms the space, reinforcing the feeling of an established place where regional practice matters. The restaurant’s identity is inseparable from the surrounding ecology—the Comacchio valleys and Po Delta inform both ingredient choices and the restrained, place-rooted atmosphere.
Best For
This is a restaurant built for attentive, ingredient-forward evenings. The intimate, small dining room and hearth-ready warmth make La Zanzara ideal for quiet date nights and special occasions when you want the food and setting to be central. The focus is on lagoon-sourced seafood and traditional preparations, so dining here is best experienced as a relaxed evening meal rather than a quick stop. Parties that appreciate regional specificity and a low-key, contemplative meal will find the setting particularly well suited to their plans.
Ordering Tips
Make space on the table for eel: the house highlights eel in multiple preparations, and the grilled, ember-cooked version is singled out for its technique and flavor. Ask about the day’s lagoon catch—the menu is organized around the Comacchio lagoon and Po Delta, so the freshest Adriatic fish on offer will showcase local ecology. Favor simple preparations that let the ingredients speak; the kitchen’s approach privileges careful heat and timing, especially for fattier fish like eel, so dishes that emphasize that technique are good bets.
Planning details
Hours
- Monday
- closed
- Tuesday
- closed
- Wednesday
- 7 PM-9:30 PM
- Thursday
- 7 PM-9:30 PM
- Friday
- 7 PM-9:30 PM
- Saturday
- 12 PM-1:30 PM 8 PM-9:30 PM
- Sunday
- 12 PM-1:30 PM 8 PM-9:30 PM
Location
Recognition and awards
Also consider
Also Consider
- Atelier Moessmer Norbert Niederkofler; Italian, Creative, €€€€
- Dal Pescatore; Italian, Italian Contemporary, €€€€
- Osteria Francescana; Progressive Italian, Creative, €€€€
- Quattro Passi; Italian, Mediterranean Cuisine, €€€€
- Reale; Progressive Italian, Modern Cuisine, €€€€
Restaurant context
La Zanzara sits at €€€ in a category where most of its starred Italian peers operate at €€€€. That price gap is the first decision variable. Dal Pescatore in Runate and Osteria Francescana in Modena are both €€€€ operations with multiple Michelin stars and national reputations; they are better choices if you want maximum prestige or a broader Italian culinary reference point. La Zanzara is the better choice if your priority is ingredient-driven, place-specific cooking at a one-star level without the €€€€ commitment.
Atelier Moessmer Norbert Niederkofler in Brunico and Reale in Castel di Sangro share La Zanzara's rural destination character; you are driving to reach all three; but both operate at €€€€ and with more elaborate tasting formats. Quattro Passi in Marina del Cantone is the closest comparator on cuisine style (Mediterranean seafood, Italian coast), also at €€€€, and offers easier logistics if you are already in the south. For pure Adriatic seafood at the highest level, Uliassi in Senigallia is the three-star benchmark against which La Zanzara's one-star approach should be measured; a materially different scale and ambition, but useful context for what the region's seafood cooking can reach.
Within Codigoro itself, La Capanna di Eraclio is the local comparison worth investigating before you commit. For most visitors planning a single serious meal in the Po Delta, La Zanzara is the stronger booking on the basis of its Michelin recognition and price positioning; but if you are based in the area for more than one night, both restaurants deserve separate reservations.
Explore Codigoro
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full La Zanzara guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare La Zanzara
| Venue | Price | Booking Difficulty | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Zanzara | €€€ | Hard | 2026 Michelin 1 Star2025 Michelin 1 Star2024 Michelin 1 Star |
| Atelier Moessmer Norbert Niederkofler | €€€€ | Unknown | 2026 OAD Top Restaurants in Europe Ranked · #92026 Les Grandes Tables du Monde Members2026 Michelin 3 Stars2026 La Liste Top Restaurants2025 World's 50 Best Restaurants · #202025 OAD Top Restaurants in Europe Ranked · #362025 The Best Chef Three Knives2025 Michelin 3 Stars2025 La Liste Top Restaurants |
| Dal Pescatore | €€€€ | Unknown | 2026 Relais Chateaux Restaurants2026 Les Grandes Tables du Monde Members2026 La Liste Top Restaurants2026 Michelin 3 Stars2025 OAD Classical in Europe Ranked · #162025 Michelin 3 Stars2025 Relais Chateaux Award2025 La Liste Top Restaurants2024 OAD Classical in Europe Ranked · #12 |
| Osteria Francescana | €€€€ | Unknown | 2026 OAD Top Restaurants in Europe Ranked · #212026 La Liste Top Restaurants2026 Les Grandes Tables du Monde Members2026 Michelin 3 Stars2025 OAD Top Restaurants in Europe Ranked · #27Chef's Table Featured Restaurants · 20252025 Michelin 3 Stars2025 The Best Chef Three Knives2025 La Liste Top Restaurants |
| Quattro Passi | €€€€ | Unknown | 2026 Les Grandes Tables du Monde Members2026 La Liste Top Restaurants2026 Michelin 3 Stars2025 OAD Classical in Europe Ranked · #522025 La Liste Top Restaurants2025 Michelin 3 Stars2024 OAD Classical in Europe Ranked · #1162024 Michelin 3 Stars2023 OAD Classical in Europe Ranked · #128 |
| Reale | €€€€ | Unknown | 2026 OAD Top Restaurants in Europe Ranked · #222026 Les Grandes Tables du Monde Members2026 La Liste Top Restaurants2026 Michelin 3 Stars2025 World's 50 Best Restaurants · #182025 OAD Top Restaurants in Europe Ranked · #25We're Smart World Top 100 2025We're Smart World Top Restaurants 20252025 La Liste Top Restaurants |
A quick look at how La Zanzara measures up.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Is La Zanzara good for solo dining?
It works for solo diners who are comfortable with a destination meal as a deliberate, unhurried experience. The small dining room in a farmhouse outside Codigoro has an intimate scale that suits a solo visit; you are there for the food (Michelin-starred, €€€), not a lively room. That said, booking a solo seat in a small room that fills quickly may require more lead time than a pair.
What should I order at La Zanzara?
Eel is the signature, prepared simply or grilled over embers; order it. Adriatic squid and turbot also feature prominently and reflect the restaurant's lagoon-driven identity. At €€€ with a Michelin star, the menu is structured around these ingredients, so lean into the house strengths rather than steering away from them.
Is lunch or dinner better at La Zanzara?
Dinner is the stronger booking for atmosphere: the small dining room with a fireplace in cooler months is more evocative at night. Lunch runs Saturday and Sunday only (12 PM–1:30 PM), which suits a day trip through the Po Delta. If you're making a special occasion of it, dinner on Friday or Saturday gives you more time and the full room experience.
Is La Zanzara good for a special occasion?
Yes; the combination of a Michelin star (2024), a farmhouse setting, a focused seafood menu makes it a strong choice for a meaningful meal. The journey through the Po Delta Valley is part of the occasion. It's not a city restaurant with easy logistics, so plan the evening around it rather than treating it as one stop among several.
Is the tasting menu worth it at La Zanzara?
At €€€ and with Michelin recognition, the structured format here is built to showcase lagoon ingredients across multiple courses; that's where the kitchen's skill reads most clearly. If you're travelling to Codigoro specifically for this meal, the tasting menu is the right way to experience it. If you want a lighter, more flexible meal, check whether à la carte is available when you book.
