Osteria Antica Ferramenta: Authentic Modena Italian Dining with Handmade Tagliatelle

We stayed for a week in Modena and had dinner here two of the nights. This was easily our favorite place in the city. We had the Tagliatelle Al Ragú, the Melanzane Parmigiana, and the Lasagna. All were amazing. While the food is very good, what makes this restaurant stand out from the rest are the owners. They are so friendly and they make having a meal here special.

The tagliatelle here deserves its own love letter. You can taste that it’s fresh, handmade pasta from the first bite – those wide ribbons have that perfect bite: soft but still with a gentle chew. No mush, no overcooking, just that real Italian al dente that’s so hard to find outside of Italy. The sauce wasn’t trying to be “fancy” – it was honest, rich, and balanced. Whether it’s ragù, porcini, or a simple butter and sage, you can tell they let the ingredients do the talking. Every forkful tasted like comfort and care, the kind of dish you eat slowly on purpose just so it lasts longer. If you come here and don’t order the tagliatelle at least once, you’re missing the soul of the menu

absolutely great service, portions were generous, good food. try their own bottle of lambrusco! would come back

There's no printed menu here. The woman of the house comes to your table and tells you what's available for the day. I had the eggplant parmigiano and it was fantastico! More than I could eat and full of wonderful flavor. There are a few indoor tables and an outdoor seating area. Full of Italians, many familiar with the proprietors, and a few tourists. Don't miss this place. Not fancy by far but well worth the visit.

What a delightful meal we had here! The most delicious gnocchi and lasagna, prepared with love. My daughter and I will remember our experience fondly for years to come.

The best in Modena with the best owners. I ate based on their recommendations and was totally satisfied. Each meal is carefully prepared as the taste hits all buttons. I went there twice and they always offered me the digestivo in the end.

I came by to this restaurant because I was craving for ragu and this restaurant popped up. Their ragu is different compared to the usual ragu that is tomato based. Their sauce is more meat sauce based, which was different but nice. The team there were super friendly and they made me feel very comfortable. I asked them to recommend a dessert which was made by the lady in the counter, it was an almond cream sort of dessert, it was divine. I'd definitely be back again when I visit Modena. Prices were also very reasonable. Worth a stop for sure.

I had the most wonderful evening here that I will never forget. And you must support a place that quietly assists the community and charities with no publicity at all. I enjoyed a very generous aperitivo, a lovely welcoming waitress and friendly locals dining here. I decided to stay for dinner as my snacks, my drink and the service were so good and it was a fun night, even alone. My spritz was perfect, and without asking I was brought chips and focaccia during aperitivo (this is so much more than the tiny chips at all the bars I passed to get here). The waitress also offered me to taste some fried meatballs which were delicious (but I got a whole big skewer full!), and I don't even think she charged me, though I was ready to pay. I then added a lambrusco jug which was delicious, not like the too sweet one I tried elsewhere. The salumi platter I ordered was generous and delicious, very fresh with 6 six different meats! Two fellow diners wished me a good evening, as the regulars here are lovely too. The vibes are unbeatable, with friendly customers laughing and chatting to staff, and a fun mix of different music. The lovely man who seemed to manage the place offered to package up my meal as I obviously struggled to eat it all (this never happens but they were so generous!), and it wasn't until I was paying that I realised what a wonderful place this truly is. I even learned about local cusine and that the lasagne is very different here from Bologna (no tomatoes). I chatted for a while over limoncello, and we shared travel stories. I learned the waitress was family of the chef, who are friends with the (presumed) manager. The latter donates frequently to homeless charities and takes food regularly to the needy. They wouldn't even take my attempts to tip or donate! What a wonderful bunch of people. This night had made my trip so memorable, as I had lamented that I used to travel to Italy years ago and have experiences like this but things have changed so much. I have had a wonderful time in Modena, the locals are excellent and my experience here was what I used to find in family run businesses throughout Italy but was sad to see it has changed. Thank you dear people for a wonderful night, this is exactly how I remember Italy used to be with warm and friendly locals caring for each other. I wish I had more time here but I will return - I'll never forget your warm hospitality and kindness! A presto.