Trattoria Le Viole

The story

Trattoria Le Viole, Parma – Emilian Cuisine & Michelin Recommended

Trattoria Le Viole, Parma

Just outside Parma, in the countryside of Baganzola, Trattoria Le Viole has been a family-run haven since 1989. The restaurant was born when sisters Lucia and Rosanna Petrera, originally from Gorizia, and Rosanna’s husband, Parma-born chef Roberto Oppici, fell in love with an old farmhouse that once housed the village osteria. Their dream was to blend two different regional traditions—Friulian and Emilian—into a warm, welcoming “casa” where guests feel looked after from the moment they arrive.

Chef Roberto Oppici trained at the Istituto Alberghiero di Salsomaggiore and spent a formative stint in France with Chef Antoine Westermann, learning cooking techniques that were still uncommon in Italy at the time. He later worked at the Grand Hotel Gallia in Punta Ala before returning to Parma. In the kitchen, Roberto brings this experience to bear on the restaurant’s Emilian cuisine, crafting dishes rooted in local tradition but with a personal touch. Meanwhile, Rosanna explains the menu to guests in the dining room, and Lucia serves as sommelier, curating a wine list that spans Italy’s best regional bottles.

The menu changes with the seasons, always centered on the classic flavours of Parma and the surrounding lowlands. The restaurant describes its offering as “ricette gustose” — tasty recipes — and “specialità parmigiane,” from handmade pastas to slow-cooked meats. Every dish is prepared with a “particolare semplicità,” a particular simplicity that lets quality ingredients speak.

Trattoria Le Viole has earned a Michelin recommendation, a recognition that reflects the consistency and passion of this family team. Lunch and dinner are served Wednesday through Sunday, and during warmer months, outdoor seating is available. The atmosphere remains that of a country trattoria: unpretentious, convivial, and deeply personal.