The story
Just outside Bologna, in the quiet town of Argelato, L'800 occupies a carefully renovated casale that has been welcoming guests since 1985. Large windows in the main dining room open onto the surrounding farmland, and in summer, candlelit dinners are served in the spacious garden. A smaller, more intimate room offers another setting for the same thoughtful cooking.
The restaurant is run by Deborah Martelli and Alessandro Formaggi. Deborah, the sommelier, greets guests and selects wines to accompany each course. Alessandro is the chef, and he prepares every dish himself, from antipasti to desserts, including the bread that arrives at the table.
The menu blends the deep flavours of traditional Emilian cooking with a more modern approach. Alessandro sources ingredients with care, focusing on freshness and seasonality. Pasta is made in-house, and the kitchen takes pride in producing everything on the plate.
A standout specialty is frogs and snails – dishes that Alessandro reworks with creativity, making L'800 a local reference point for these ingredients. The antipasti include bignè of frog legs with basil foam, and a half-dozen snails Bourguignonne. Among the primi, tortelli stuffed with snails in herb butter and tagliatelle with frog leg cacciatora show the kitchen’s confidence with these traditional flavours. Classics like tagliatelle al ragù and tortellini in capon broth are also present, executed with care.
The restaurant’s commitment to quality and value has earned it the Michelin Bib Gourmand, an award given to just 250 restaurants in Italy. As the team notes, it is a recognition of the love for their craft and the excellent price-quality ratio they maintain. This honour sits naturally alongside the warm, professional hospitality that defines L'800.
Recognition
Ambience
Details
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