I attend the Trattoria Barchetta in Campogalliano, Modena, for over 10 years, I suppose. It’s one of the restaurant I choose to give me a special lunch.
I usually spend in Campogalliano a few days of my week for work and I have learned to discover its more interesting places.
Campogalliano is a town in the province of Modena, located west of the city. I will probably tell you about this pretty town in the future but now I want to talk you about “Barchetta”, a restaurant (“trattoria”, in Italian) of the many suggestions.

When I go to Barchetta restaurant, I feel at home.

The reasons are many… the first 3 that come in my mind?
The particular location, the friendliness of Giovanni e Gianna Ronchetti, the hosts, the goodness of the food 🙂

When you arrive at Barchetta restaurant you have the feeling of being back in time.
Giovanni and Gianna have chosen to maintain the old building, a house on 3 levels near the river Secchia, connected to the town by a small narrow road.
The landscape around the restaurant is full of contrasts: on the one hand there is nature and the bridge that leads in the open countryside, on the other hand an intrusive viaduct for high speed trains seems to ruin this peace. However, in the end, I believe that this sharp contrast leads the costumers to immerse themselves better in an atmosphere full of suggestions and makes more valuable the simplicity, familiarity and authenticity that reign inside. Both of the people and of the food.

The restaurant has about fifteen years. The adventure of Barchetta began in 1996. It was Gianna, together with her uncle, to start the business and then it came her husband Giovanni, who left the restaurant management of Modena North motorway services to devote himself to the family’s restaurant.
Hence Giovanni’s attitude of great coordinator comes: attentive, friendly, always smiling, he passes between the tables to take orders and have a little talk with all his customers. Gianna instead is the queen of the kitchen, she is a chef with a great experience who has been able to remain genuine and careful to the Emilia’s traditions.
They love traveling, especially in Asian countries. In order to take this photo, I have made them move to avoid in my frame the big Thai fish, hanging in the summer veranda.
Don’t you find them lovely?! 🙂

Maybe because of I’m fond of them or because I think that this restaurant is really a place to go – I always recommend it to all my friends – but I think that Barchetta has much to offer. Every time I go there I remain fascinated by little details, starting from the big window full of corks, which gives the idea of Giovanni’s attention for the wine list and arriving to the red and white checked tablecloths and the wonderful vintage furniture (you know that I love vintage, right? ;)).
And what about that magnificent barber chair placed at the entrance in front of the wine shelves? I can’t count how many times I’ve told Giovanni how it’s beautiful 🙂

And the menù?
The menu is linked to the territory but not bound. You can find traditional dishes such as tortellini or tortelloni filled with pumpkin but also many alternatives prepared with local ingredients. Every day is proposed an “off-menu” with fresh specials.

This is the case of my “Carnaroli rice with pears and Lambrusco wine” that I ordered last time.

And of the “panna cotta with pumpkin and macaroons cream” 🙂

Barchetta is a place that is also appreciated by who comes from afar. Being located 2 minutes from the Campogalliano exit of the motorway A22, it is a referring point for many “travelers” in the Northern Italy, for example, businessmen who stop to taste the specialties of the place.

Who attends Barchetta loves genuine and good foods. Giovanni says that the qualities of the food reflect his and his wife way to be. And I think he’s right. Then, if we add a wide range of selected wines and and great value of price/quality, you can well understand why this restaurant is in the list of my favorite places 🙂

My story on Barchetta restaurant is also on Steller:

The Barchetta restaurant is in:
Via Magnagallo Est, 20
41011 Campogalliano (MO)
Tel. 059 52621

Closing times: Sunday and all the evenings from Monday to Thursday.
Holiday (obviously in Asia 😉 ): from 15th August to 9th September and from 25th December and 8th January.

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