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Antica Osteria del Mirasole
Emilian · San Giovanni in Persiceto
Restaurant in San Giovanni in Persiceto, Italy
Book with PearlThe Read
Farm-Rooted Emilian Grill
Chef
Franco Cimini
Dress
Smart Casual
Why go
Antica Osteria del Mirasole is a farm-driven Emilian osteria in San Giovanni in Persiceto with genuine credentials: OAD Casual Europe #11 (2025), a Michelin Plate, a kitchen that sources directly from the family's farm and dairy. Lunch is the practical choice for day-trippers from Bologna; dinner suits those with time to linger. Book a few days ahead; it is easy to secure, worth the detour.
About Antica Osteria del Mirasole
A farm-rooted Emilian osteria that earns its detour from Bologna
If you are driving into the Emilian countryside specifically to eat tortellini made with cream skimmed from the best of fresh milk, Antica Osteria del Mirasole in San Giovanni in Persiceto is the right call. This is the place for anyone who wants to eat the cuisine of Emilia-Romagna in its most direct, produce-driven form; not a tasting menu at a destination restaurant, but a genuine osteria where the farm next door supplies the kitchen. First-timers should know: this is a casual, neighbourhood-anchored room, not a formal dining experience. Dress accordingly, arrive hungry, let the à la carte menu guide you toward what the family's farm is producing that season.
What to expect
The kitchen is led by Franco Cimini, the produce comes directly from the family's farm and dairy. That supply chain is visible on the plate: tortellini filled and sauced with ingredients sourced metres from where they are served, a grill section among the main courses that reflects what the farm raises. There is also a shop on site where the same dairy and farm products are available to take home, which tells you something about the confidence the kitchen has in its raw materials. Visually, the room reads as a classic Italian osteria; the kind of space where the tablecloths are white, the ceiling is low, the walls carry decades of accumulated character.
For first-timers deciding between formats, Mirasole offers two tasting options alongside the à la carte: a menu built around the great classics of Emilian cooking, a second built around the restaurant's own signatures. The classics menu is the stronger starting point for anyone new to the kitchen's style; the signatures menu rewards a second visit when you already have a baseline for what they do well.
Lunch versus dinner
Lunch here has a strong case over dinner for most visitors. The kitchen runs a full service both midday and evening Tuesday through Saturday, with lunch running from noon to 3:30 pm and dinner from 7 to 11:30 pm. A midday sitting at an Emilian osteria of this calibre is a different rhythm to dinner: lighter in atmosphere, well-suited to a longer drive through the region, practically easier to slot into a day trip from Bologna. Dinner is the better choice if you want the full room at its most settled and have time to extend over a second glass. Both services are substantively the same kitchen, so the decision comes down to your itinerary rather than any quality gap between the two sittings.
Awards and standing
The Opinionated About Dining (OAD) guide has ranked Mirasole among its leading casual restaurants in Europe for three consecutive years: #14 in both 2023 and 2024, rising to #11 in 2025. A Michelin Plate in both 2024 and 2025 adds further confirmation that the kitchen is consistent. Taken together, these credentials place Mirasole well above the average provincial osteria and justify a dedicated trip rather than a casual pass-by.
Practical details
Reservations: Easy to book; advance booking is still advisable for dinner sittings, particularly on Friday and Saturday evenings. Hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 12–3:30 pm and 7–11:30 pm; closed Sunday and Monday. Dress: Smart casual is appropriate, this is a well-regarded osteria, not a trattoria, but it is not formal. Budget: Price range is not published, but the OAD Casual ranking and osteria format suggest a mid-range spend; expect less than the €€€€ bracket of Bologna's destination restaurants. Getting there: San Giovanni in Persiceto is a short drive west of Bologna; the osteria is on Via Giacomo Matteotti in the town centre. Shop: Farm and dairy products are available in the on-site shop and online for those who want to take the ingredients home.
How it compares
For context on where Mirasole sits in the broader Italian dining picture, see our guides to Osteria Francescana in Modena, Arnaldo - Clinica Gastronomica in Rubiera, and Osteria del Viandante in Rubiera, the last two are the most direct Emilian comparators at a similar casual register.
Explore further
- Our full San Giovanni in Persiceto restaurants guide
- Our full San Giovanni in Persiceto hotels guide
- Our full San Giovanni in Persiceto bars guide
- Our full San Giovanni in Persiceto wineries guide
- Our full San Giovanni in Persiceto experiences guide
Planning details
- Hours
- Monday: Closed · Tuesday: 12–3:30 pm, 7–11:30 pm
- Location
- Via Giacomo Matteotti, 17, 40017 San Giovanni in Persiceto BO, Italy
- Website
- osteriadelmirasole.it
- Phone
- +39 051 821273
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Antica Osteria del Mirasole reads as a lived-in, intimate village osteria where regional tradition is not a prop but a daily practice. The room feels used by locals who know what they want, and that familiarity translates into a quietly confident dining atmosphere. Chef Franco Cimini keeps the cooking anchored in the land — much of the produce, dairy and meat come from the family's own farm — so the experience is warm, straightforward and deeply rooted in Emilian everyday life rather than theatrical reinvention.
Best For
This is a place for focused, ingredient-driven meals that suit evening dining and occasions where food and provenance matter. Mirasole works well for date nights and special-occasion dinners that favor authenticity over flash, and it also fits family meals where the emphasis is on hearty, regionally specific dishes. The kitchen’s seasonal, farm-driven approach means menus evolve with what the family’s land is producing, so visits reward diners who appreciate traditional Emilian preparations executed with steady care.
Ordering Tips
Prioritize the house signatures: the tortellini with outcrop cream and the tagliatelle with courtyard ragu are flagged as representative preparations. Because the kitchen sources from the family farm and dairy, the menu shifts with the seasons — ask about what’s freshest that day and follow the kitchen’s guidance. Expect straightforward, classically minded portions that showcase ingredient quality; lean into pasta courses to experience the restaurant’s particular strengths.
Venue details
Ambiance
rustic and homely with an ancient, cozy atmosphere evoking the chef's own kitchen, featuring visible open-fire grilling.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
Sourcing
At the Table
- Dress Code
- Smart Casual
- Noise Level
- Conversational
- Service Style
- Upscale Casual
- Meal Pacing
- Leisurely
- Capacity
- Small
Signature Dishes
- tortellini with outcrop cream
- tagliatelle with courtyard ragu
Planning details
Hours
- Monday
- Closed
- Tuesday
- 12–3:30 pm, 7–11:30 pm
- Wednesday
- 12–3:30 pm, 7–11:30 pm
- Thursday
- 12–3:30 pm, 7–11:30 pm
- Friday
- 12–3:30 pm, 7–11:30 pm
- Saturday
- 12–3:30 pm, 7–11:30 pm
- Sunday
- Closed
Location
Via Giacomo Matteotti, 17, 40017 San Giovanni in Persiceto BO, Italy · Directions
Recognition and awards
Also consider
Also Consider
- Atelier Moessmer Norbert Niederkofler; Italian, Creative, €€€€
- Dal Pescatore; Italian, Italian Contemporary, €€€€
- Enoteca Pinchiorri; Italian - French, Italian Contemporary, €€€€
- Enrico Bartolini; Creative, €€€€
- Le Calandre; Progressive Italian, Creative, €€€€
Restaurant context
Mirasole occupies a different tier from the €€€€ Italian restaurants most commonly compared to it. Dal Pescatore in Runate and Enoteca Pinchiorri in Florence are both multi-Michelin-starred Italian institutions with formal service and price points to match; Mirasole is the better choice if you want Emilian cooking at its most direct and farm-honest rather than its most theatrical. The spend at Mirasole will be substantially lower, the experience is casual by design rather than by compromise.
Le Calandre in Rubano and Atelier Moessmer Norbert Niederkofler in Brunico represent the creative, avant-garde end of Italian fine dining; technically impressive, but a different proposition entirely from what Mirasole offers. If the reason you are travelling is to eat the pasta of Emilia-Romagna as it exists in a working osteria with a functioning farm, those restaurants do not serve that need. Enrico Bartolini in Milan is similarly positioned as a destination for creative, high-concept cooking rather than regional tradition.
Within the Emilian casual register, the most useful direct comparators are Arnaldo - Clinica Gastronomica in Rubiera and Osteria del Viandante in Rubiera. Both share Mirasole's tradition-first approach and comparable booking difficulty. Mirasole's edge is its farm-to-table supply chain and its consecutive OAD Casual Europe top-15 rankings, which give it stronger external validation than most osterie of its type. For a first visit to Emilian casual dining, Mirasole is the strongest starting point in the category.
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Compare Antica Osteria del Mirasole
| Venue | Location | Cuisine | Awards | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antica Osteria del Mirasole | San Giovanni in Persiceto | Emilian | 2026 OAD Casual in Europe Ranked · #142026 Michelin Plate2025 OAD Casual in Europe Ranked · #112025 Michelin Plate2024 OAD Casual in Europe Ranked · #142024 Michelin Plate2023 OAD Casual in Europe Ranked · #14Pearl Recommended Restaurants | ; |
| Atelier Moessmer Norbert Niederkofler | Brunico | Italian, Creative | 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 | Runate | Italian, Italian Contemporary | 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 | €€€€ |
| Enoteca Pinchiorri | Florence | Italian - French, Italian Contemporary | 2026 OAD Classical in Europe Ranked · #73Star Wine Lists 20262026 Wine Spectator Grand Award2026 Les Grandes Tables du Monde Members2026 La Liste Top Restaurants2026 Michelin 3 Stars2025 OAD Classical in Europe Ranked · #942025 Wine Spectator Grand Award2025 La Liste Top Restaurants | €€€€ |
| Enrico Bartolini | Milan | Creative | 2026 OAD Top Restaurants in Europe Ranked · #762026 Michelin 3 Stars2026 Les Grandes Tables du Monde Members2026 La Liste Top Restaurants2025 OAD Top Restaurants in Europe Ranked · #722025 Michelin 3 Stars2025 Michelin 1 Star2025 La Liste Top Restaurants2024 OAD Top Restaurants in Europe Ranked · #71 | €€€€ |
| Le Calandre | Rubano | Progressive Italian, Creative | 2026 OAD Top Restaurants in Europe Ranked · #38Star Wine Lists 20262026 Relais Chateaux Restaurants2026 Les Grandes Tables du Monde Members2026 Michelin 3 Stars2026 La Liste Top Restaurants2025 OAD Top Restaurants in Europe Ranked · #292025 World's 50 Best Restaurants · #31We're Smart World Top Restaurants 2025 | €€€€ |
How Antica Osteria del Mirasole compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
How far ahead should I book Antica Osteria del Mirasole?
A week's notice is usually enough for midweek lunch, but Friday and Saturday dinner sittings fill faster; aim for two weeks minimum on those. The restaurant is closed Sunday and Monday, so weekend planning is effectively Saturday-only. Given its three consecutive OAD Top 15 Casual Europe rankings, it draws destination diners, so earlier is safer.
What should I wear to Antica Osteria del Mirasole?
This is a countryside osteria, not a formal dining room. Neat, relaxed clothing fits the setting; think what you'd wear to a serious trattoria lunch in Bologna. The Michelin Plate recognition signals kitchen ambition, but the atmosphere is grounded and informal, rooted in a family farm operation rather than a white-tablecloth format.
What are alternatives to Antica Osteria del Mirasole in San Giovanni in Persiceto?
San Giovanni in Persiceto is a small town with limited dining alternatives at this level. For comparable Emilian cooking in the region, Arnaldo - Clinica Gastronomica in Roncole Verdi and Dal Pescatore in Canneto sull'Oglio are the reference points, though Dal Pescatore operates at a significantly higher price point and formality. Mirasole is the practical choice if farm-direct casual is your brief.
Can I eat at the bar at Antica Osteria del Mirasole?
Bar seating is not documented in the available venue data for Mirasole. The restaurant offers both à la carte and two tasting menus; great classics and Mirasole signatures; so the format is table-service focused. If a casual counter option matters to you, confirm directly before booking.
Is Antica Osteria del Mirasole good for a special occasion?
Yes, particularly if the occasion calls for something personal rather than formally grand. The combination of farm-sourced produce, Franco Cimini's kitchen, three years of OAD Top 15 Casual Europe rankings gives it genuine destination credibility. For a milestone that warrants white-glove service or an extensive wine programme, Dal Pescatore or Enoteca Pinchiorri are better fits; but for a meal with real character and provenance, Mirasole delivers.
