Padova Restaurant Tips by mapakettle

Restaurant Name: Alfio

We walked into Alfio's the first time, and were surprised to see 1950's style booths, small tables for two, and a huge selection of sweets and sandwiches. They also appear to offer a fully stocked bar, and, of course, gelatto. All of the bakery items are made by the very capable hands of Alfio himself, so freshness is automatic.

Extremely pleasant, friendly staff, most courteous and efficient. Alfio, Graziella, and son Lorenzo greet every customer who walks through the door with a very warm and genuine smile.

The interior is bright and spotless, and most importantly to Maria and me, entirely non-smoking. Music is always playing in the background to provide a relaxed atmosphere.

Wonderful place to stop for a quick bite, and free parking is easily accessible in front.

Favorite Dish: Green tea for Ma, Caffe dopio for Pa, and 'anything' from the bakery.

We also suggest you try the Spritz, a before dinner drink, served with bowls of potato chips and corn chips.

We're both partial to the Tuna and Olive sandwiches...always fresh, and we do our best to keep them that way.

Now that the warm weather has arrived, we are able to sit outside at the table and enjoy sun and sand... 'wiches'. Sundays are special, because they offer a wonderful light, cream filled layer cake, but only on Sundays. When it's gone, it's gone.

Just a note, our total bill after sandwiches, drinks and sweets, is never more than 10 euro for two.

We visit at least three times a week...

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Theme: Bakery
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Phone: 049 615985
Address: Via Po. 5/5a Padova (Sacre Cuore)
Directions: corner of Via Po and Sacre Cuore

Restaurant Name: Pizzeria le Genziane

Pizzeria le Genziane is a nice little place that offers a fixed price for lunch, with a full menu in the evening including many different types of pizza, all of which are baked in a wood-fired oven.

We love the interior as it is very clean, with blue table cloths, and three TVs situated in various corners of the dining room. This allows for a relaxed conversation with friends, or a diversion if you are sitting alone.

The wait staff are friendly, always greeting us with a friendly hello and a warm smile. The owner, and pizza chef, is quick with a wave, between shifting his pizzas about inside the heated brick oven.

Since Ma Kettle and I have been going here, every staff member has made a point of stopping by our table. It appears we are a novelty, of the English speaking species, who are seldom seen in this part of Padova.

The restaurant is primarily frequented by locals, and we often see the same families in attendance. Quiet and low key.

Favorite Dish: We have tried various meat dishes on two different occasions, and each time found it to be aa bit disappointing. Pasta is good however, and pizza is great.

I strongly suggest sticking with the pizza, because the huge selection of combinations can keep you reading through 1/2 a litre of vino (2.60 Euro) We have yet to be unhappy with our choice of pizza, and the service is 'outstanding'. Let me repeat...The service is 'outstanding'.

GOOD service, the key to 'great' customers!!

Latest visit was Sept/05, but we tend to stop by at least once a month. Summertime is great because you can sit outside and enjoy the evening air.

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Theme: Pizza
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Phone: 049-611548
Address: Via Astichello 22 - Padova
Directions: turn left on Astichello, as you are driving north on Sacro Cuore, at a little piazza on your left hand side. Via Astichello looks just like an entrance to this little mall. There is a sign banner near the sidewalk.

Restaurant Name: Antica Trattoria Aggujaro

This is the first restaurant we visited upon arriving in Italy. It has become a staple to us, so much so that I forgot to include it in my Travel Pages. Merely an oversight, believe me.

Lunch is a flat 10 Euro, including salads, pasta, and secondo, whether it be grilled steak, grilled pork chops, boiled meats, ham hock, roasted chicken 1/2's, and so on. The secondo is always served with polanta, but not the roasted 'slab' that I prefer. The meal comes complete with Vino, always more than Ma Kettle and I can manage. Bottled water is also included in this price.

Today, they had Easter bread, oranges, and apples for dessert. Coffee is included.

Nowhere have I found such good food, in such plentiful servings, at such a low price. They cater to the working class, but that's not to say that tables of 'suits' are not in abundance.

You have to walk past the 'bar' area just off the front sidewalk/parking lot to access the restaurant itself. You'll know you're in the right spot if the waitresses are calling back and forth to one another, and scurrying from table to table. They don't stand on pretense here, and that's a good thing.

Favorite Dish: I can't describe my favourite meal, because all except one has been excellent. The boiled meats are not my favourite. Not to say that it has not been well prepared, because judging from the tables around me, it is one of the most favoured meals offered. Neither Maria or I enjoy the boiled sausage, and that's all there is to it. Unfortunately, they often offer it on Saturdays, and that is the day we like to go out for lunch.

The atmosphere is what I imagined lunch time in Italy to be like, noisy, busy, and huge platters of food. The waitresses travel a mile a minute, but getting attention is easy, because they are so attentive.

They do tend to become a bit short with me now though, I guess after two years the staff expect I should be fluent in Italien. I understand however that their having to talk very slow' to this stupid Canadian does throw them off their pace.

The salad bar is huge, containing traditional Italian fare. Great variety.

The pasta is always so flavourful, three varieties are offered, as are three secondos. Your choice.

The supper 'fixed price' meal we have never had, and I can't say if the price is the same or not (believe it to be 20 Euro). I do know a menu is available, and grilled meats appear to be a specialty.

UPDATE...We have now enjoyed dinner here, to celebrate the visit of Vter's Bernishand and RexVaughn and respective spouses to Padova. Dinner was a huge salad bar, pasta as a primo (3 choices), two huge platters, one heaped high with grilled ribs, sausages, pork steak, bacon, and the second one filled with wonderfully tender, cut with a fork steak. Bottomless carafes of wine, topped off with two bottles of liquor left on the table with the coffee. On Wednesdays, they offer live entertainment, which is a real hoot. No more said...Total price per person this night 22 euro

Well worth the effort to visit, lots of parking, and you'll experience the true Italian meal, with no Hollywood backdrop. Just be aware, English is not spoken here, and tourists are a rare oddity.

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Theme: Italian
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: 049-600748
Address: Via Sacro Cuore, 4 - Padova
Directions: corner of Via Sacro Cuore and Via Po, right across the intersection from our favourite pasticceria 'ALFIO'S'.

Restaurant Name: Padova Train Station

My wife's favourite pizza in all of Padova can be found at the train station. This makes for a very cheap meal. (and date)

Her family owns Frankie & Johnny's Pine in the Bronx in New York, so she knows New York pizza. The train station pizza is as close to NY's as you can find in this part of Italy. Try it.

Please note that pizza found in train stations throughout Italy is not the same quality. We have found that the pizza baked at Padova station remains consistantly good. This is not to say it will remain so, but presently....
'two' thumbs up. The portion size in Padova is greater than others, for example Vicenza is 1/3 smaller, and tough.

Favorite Dish: Pizza, at least until yesterday, when we spotted french fries fresh from the deep fryer. I always thought that North America invented french fries, I guess because of the vast advertising campaigns launched by the major quick food chains, but now....I am re-thinking my idea. These were wonderful, perfect in fact, salted just right, plus something added, another spice I can't quite place. I found it odd that besides ketchup, you are given mustard packs .....
(my wife says it was mayonnaise, guess I'll have to go back and check it out) The things I do for you VTers.

The pizza, (wait for the fresh ones to come out of the oven though), are great. The crust is thin, tender, lots of cheese, and cut in large portions. The drinks are cold, without ice, which means not watered down.

Great value, good price.

The ambiance leaves a lot to be desired, and you have to ignore the local characters who appear to live there. Harmless, and are quite needy. You won't be approached, but be kind.

Our last visit was was Nov/04.

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Theme: Pizza
Comparison: least expensive
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Address: train station cafeteria

Restaurant Name: Ristorante Cinese Shanghai

Ma Kettle and I have attempted to dine here before, but we were either too late for lunch, or too early for dinner.

Fortunately, we lucked in the other day. As we entered, we hesitated for a moment, as it looked expensive, with white table cloths, and, a glass floor, through which we could observe the huge Koi swimming lazily below. This was a treat.

Service was quick and efficient, and all in all, it was a pleasant meal. The menu is quite extensive, the food fresh, and each dish has a distinctive flavour, unlike many Chinese restaurants we have visited over the years.

The prices are very reasonable, portions are a good size, and served with a smile.

Total price for three antipasta, two primo's, and two secondo's, plus pot of tea, bottle of water, and coperto...29 euro.

Favorite Dish: The shrimp dumplings were wonderful. In fact, every shrimp dish was wonderful.

They serve very fresh, succulent, lip smacking good, extremely plump shrimp, in larger quantities than you might normally expect. We were pleased.

Hours 12.00-14.30 / 19.00-24.00

BTW....Ma Kettle and I have been here a number of times now, and have brought others as well. Each visit has been a delight.

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Theme: Chinese/Dim Sum
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: 049.652910
Address: Via Marsala, 6/8 Padova
Directions: On Via Marsala, just off Via Roma, 2minutes south of Via San Francesco. You can see the restaurant from the corner, just look for the red lanterns hanging outside.

Restaurant Name: Bistro Ristorante Messicano

Just to set the stage a bit, Mexican food is our favourite, and has been sorely missed since arriving from Canada over two years earlier. We had a number of great places we used to frequent, in Canada of course, but also during our frequent visits to Las Vegas.

This has been a big quest for us, and we finally found it. Highly praised by locals, but tucked away behind the Teatro Verdi, on a side street, Via Dei Livello, 11.

We waited patiently for the doors to open, the hours posted showed it opened at 6pm. No lights, no movement of any sort at quarter past. We wandered, we paced, until finally the gates were lifted at 6:30pm, normal, and typical for business in Italy.

Unfortunatel, we were told upon entry, that the kitchen didn't open until 7:30pm, but we were welcome to wait at the bar. We relented, but only if we were seated inside the restaurant portion.

The colours were bright, festive, Mexican decorations adorned every wall, plus the wooden chair backs were fashioned in the shape of a catus plant, without the needles.

The unisex bathroom (one) was clean, but it was the typical hole, lots of paper and soap however. I would encourage use early in the evening, as patrons often miss as the drinks are consumed.

Favorite Dish: Service was good, very friendly, and great background music. We shared a couple of very potent Sangia pitchers, and enjoyed the liquid refreshment.

The appetizer we ordered was wonderful, stuffed jalepeno peppers, but no nibblers were offered, no taco chips or salsa to slop down your shirt front.

The rest of the dinner was terribly bland, no spice to give it a sorely needed kick. The rice was dry, and was used as a plate filler, my chicken skewer was just 'OK', but Ma's vegetarian dish was plain kidney beans, cold, with lots of barely warmed rice pilaff, and a bit of corn, lettuce, radicchio. Very sad showing.

The food was less than mediocre, the atmosphere was great, and as a watering hole I might recommend it. As a restaurant, a very big NO!!

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Theme: Mexican
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$21-30  » Currency Converter
Phone: 049 8759203
Address: Via Dei Livello, 11 (Dietro Teatro Verdi) Padova
Directions: Just follow the contours of Teatro Verdi on Via Verdi, the restaurant is on the backside, to the left of the theatre entrance.

Restaurant Name: "La Lanterna"

I literally fell into this place. I was shopping in the centro with Ma Kettle, and her mom and sister, and stood off under an overhang to get some shade, and do what I was getting used to doing...waiting !!

I leaned against the building behind me in order to dislodge a pebble from my sandle, and in doing so, inadvertantly pushed open the restaurant door.

We had walked past it numerous times over the past year, and due to the excessive use of wood on the fascade, just never took notice of it being a restaurant. Plus, it looked expensive, especially when I peeked inside.

White table cloths, uniformed waiters, air conditioning, wonderful smell, plus, the open pit with blazing fire for pizzas was facing the front door.(inviting)

I checked the menu while I waited for 'my girls', and was pleasantly surprised. Very reasonable, for both pizza and pasta. I got a table for four, and retreived the shoppers.

Everyone was surprised to find such a clean and well maintained restaurant...very elegant, but very comfortable. No pretense spoken here.

Favorite Dish: We have had pizza (always perfectly cooked), many varieties of pastas (wonderful), gnocci (my favourite), and fish secondo's (excellent, large portions), and salads (suggest you skip them). Tiramisu (home made on premises...perfect).

I can find no fault with this place at all. The service is good, the owner is great, speaks English, and practices on me everytime I go in, and is very nice, cute waitress (blond, bit standoff-ish)(always there).

Very clean, modern bathroom. Toilet tissue, hot water.

Last visit ... Nov/04

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Theme: Italian
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: 049-660770
Address: Piazza dei Signori, 39 Padova
Directions: look for the clock tower at the end of Piazza dei Signori, the restaurant is on your right as you adjust your watch.

Approximate cost...pizza, sea food antipasta, carafe of wine, small water, and cafe' doppio, including coperto = 16 euro.

Restaurant Name: Spizzico...

Don't stop here. It looks familiar, and it's not too busy, but, ...there is a reason. The food is terrible.

The pizza is like cardboard, and the pop has a medicinal taste. Go anywhere else, but don't go here.

I have never tried any of the other locations, but, I'm sorry, even for my VT mates I won't go that far. You want to try, go ahead, then you can write your own review.

Favorite Dish: The french fries are probably the best things on the menu, but even those are hard, lots of 'ends', and too salty.

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Theme: Pizza
Comparison: about average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Address: Centro Giotto...main floor.
Directions: Bright orange and white colors, usually fairly quiet. Various locations within Padova, and is a fairly popular chain in Italy. Why ???

Restaurant Name: Topkapi Bar

Ma Kettle and I were going to the afternoon matinee at Multisala Astra, the only movie theatre in Padova offering English speaking movies.

We were early, and I was hungry, which is my normal state of mind and tummy, so we were looking for a place to sit for a bit before entering the theatre. I saw a sandwich board outside this little bar advertising 'Kabobs', which in Italy are actually Gyros. Sounded good.

The location is perfect for a quick snack either before or after the movie, as it is almost across the street. Tiny bar, not pretentious in any way.

Cost for my Gyro...euro 3,50.

Great place for a quick bite and a beer. Nice people too...

Favorite Dish: The Gyro is sliced thin from a cone of meat as you order it, and is placed inside a fresh pita bun, with tomato, lettuce, onion, and your choice of sauce. Very tasty, very filling, but very sloppy. Great value, and a nice alternative to the typical sandwich found in bars in Italy.

Bathroom is unisex, spotless, and of the proper bowl type (with seat). Lots of paper, hot water, soap.

Last visit Dec/04

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Theme: Local
Comparison: least expensive
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Address: Via Aspetti 14 Padova
Directions: about an eight minute walk from the train station across the bridge. Topkapi Bar is on the opposite side of the street from the movie theatre.

Restaurant Name: da Maurizio.... Pasticceria siciliana Bar

This is a tiny pasticceria we found accidently while wandering the streets of Padova. It is located Via Buonarroti, 88 - 35134 Padova.

The lady behind the counter is your typical stereotype Italian lady, short, a 'little' round, with a huge, warm smile. She immediately made Ma Kettle and I feel comfortable.

The inside is nothing special, three small tables, and standing room only at the short counter area. What makes it special, is the well stocked selection of sweets contained behind the glass case, the number of 'frosted' cakes for sale, and the different types of Sicilian sandwiches and 'rice/ragu balls' (terrible description, but are wonderful). Many unusual dessert items on display, and very reasonably priced.

Favorite Dish: We had a number of different types of goodies, and I remember no names of any of them. I had a large ball consisting of rice, meat, sauce, and cheese, done in the oven, and served hot...great, and a sandwich of Chick Pea, in a omelet like mixture, served hot within a fantastic lightly toasted sicilian bun.

*** I have been informed by fellow VTer Maurizioago, since I initially wrote this tip, that the rice ball is called Arancini...thanks.

I have not done justice to the foods available here. Please, don't take my word for it, go yourself, and give them a try.

Our last visit was Dec 04/04.

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Theme: Italian
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Phone: 049 61 55 57
Address: Via Buonarroti, 88 - 35134 Padova