Antica Trattoria Cattivelli

The story

Antica Trattoria Cattivelli: Country Cooking on the Po River, Monticelli d'Ongina

Antica Trattoria Cattivelli, Monticelli d'Ongina

On the quiet Isola Serafini, an island in the great Po River, Antica Trattoria Cattivelli has been a family affair since 1947. The restaurant’s name translates to “ancient trattoria,” and its cooking is rooted in the stories and teachings handed down through generations, tightly bound to the traditions of the Piacentino territory.

The kitchen follows the natural seasonal cycle of local products, privileging zero-kilometre ingredients and seasonal produce. The menu is a living archive of the lower Piacenza area’s gastronomic history: house-cured salumi, handmade fresh pasta, river fish, local meats, and homemade desserts. The wine list focuses on the DOC wines of the Colli Piacentini, alongside a selection of national wines and craft beers chosen to complement each dish.

This commitment to quality and hospitality has earned the restaurant a Michelin Bib Gourmand, which recognises good quality, good value cooking. The trattoria is also a member of the Strada del Po e dei Sapori della Bassa Piacentina and holds the Chiocciola di Slow Food, symbols that the team considers not just awards but encouragement to continue working with passion, faithful to their vision and their bond with the land.

The atmosphere reflects the setting: a dining room that opens onto a garden, where the calm of the river island sets the pace. With air conditioning and outdoor seating, it is a place for unhurried lunches and dinners that honour the authentic, unfussy country cooking of Emilia-Romagna.