Oltre. - BOLOGNA

Confused and a disappointed in our expedience here. The food was very creative, favorable and very good. But the service was rough. Not sure what was going on here but we will not return. We ordered the tasting menu and the wine pairings. We were then told that they were short staffed and not able to do the pairings. Odd. We were then told that they could do a abbreviated pairing of four wines verses six on the list. We said that that was unusual but fine. By our fourth course we were not offered any wines. I then had to flag down the waiter who had been in lengthy conversation with another table (thought they were short staffed? and asked about our wine. He then admitted that he “forgot”. He then presented us the wine that would accompany our next course. He never returned with any additional wines or offer us any options and or to see the wine list. We completed our meal. We were never asked if we would like coffee or anything else. I finally flagged the waiter down again to request the check. He acknowledged our request and was never seen again. After 20 minutes we just got up to leave and again asked him on there way out for the check. He said that you just go down to the bar to pay . He could have given us those instructions when we first asked for the check and we would have done so. I do have to wonder if this restaurant or homophobic. As there was another male couple at the table next to us who went out to have a cigarette with 1/2 a bottle of wine on there table and in the middle of their tasting menu. Their table was complexly cleared. When they returned they sat back down at an empty table and after a long period had to get up and ask the waiter hat was going on. They were then escorted to another table with settings and I assume picked up where they left off. Had we not been treated so oddly/rudely I would give this place high marks. Great food, nice atmosphere. But the service is a huge problem. They made no effort to apologize or made any effort to acknowledge they screw us. Next time we are bologna we will not return. For 200 euros I expect more.

Innovative food in Bologna! We loved our dinner at Oltre. It was amazing, modern Italian food. Beautiful setting, and very involved staff who clearly care about the food, wine, and service level. Would definitely recommend and return here.

Went there for a refined culinary experience as advertised) but all we got was the same food for more money and at times poorly executed. The atmosphere was very nice, cool, contemporary feeling, good and prompt service. However, in the cotoletta one could hardly taste the veal, but rather the parmesan and prosciuto which made the dish too salty, the pané was moist and everything served without a sidedish. The fish was undercooked the waiter was however kind enough to replace it), and together with its sidedish bland and insipid. I had the impression they invested a lot in the visual and plating and too little in technique and taste. Disappointing:

Locale moderno con un'atmosfera romantica grazie alla presenza di luci molto soffuse. Il menu bolognese offre i piatti tradizionali. Ho apprezzato il "pescato del giorno", un filetto di ricciola con salsa di asparagi: delizioso! Il servizio è cordiale e il personale in sala è attento al cliente. Ho gradito la presenza di un esperto in bevande alcoliche per consigliare gli abbinamenti. Il prezzo è alto.

Went to Oltre which is very different from the many trattorias and osterias that you find in Bologna. The atmosphere is really cool, the cocktails we had were great. However, we ordered two mains (secondi) that were not so great, my dish was missing the chickpeas (which I later confirmed with the waiter), and the fish had no flavour, it was served only with broth and vegs so I'd hope it to be tastier, maybe the chickpeas made all the difference. My boyfriend ordered the veal bolognese and it was soggy, he just had had it a couple of nights begore in another place and just wasn't as good. The desserts were very good but still felt disappointed with the mains.