Jiani's Food & Beverage in Bologna, review: a cocktail bar with Chinese cuisine
Aside from Jiani's Food & Beverage, Via del Pratello is Bologna's go-to street for pubs and cheap eats. It's always crowded with students until late at night, and has never lost its charm as a corner of the city with a distinct profile, despite being right in the center.
Anyone familiar with Bologna knows that on weekends, this bustling pedestrian street offers kebabs, falafel sandwiches, sweet and savory croissants until 5 a.m., as well as trattoria-style dishes, Chinese food, pizzas, piadinas, salads, plenty of beer, and the inevitable charcuterie boards. This area has, however, been spared the culinary catastrophe that has befallen other tourist-heavy neighborhoods. The uninterrupted panorama of outdoor seating, always packed in summer, ends with a couple of restaurants located at the end of the street that offer a truly respectable culinary experience, such as this cocktail bar with a kitchen.
Opened five years ago, Jiani's owes its name to its owner, born in Bologna to Chinese parents, who runs this cocktail bar and bistro with its light colors and grassy ceiling, a sort of upside-down Bologna vibe. The cuisine offers a menu worthy of a Chinese restaurant, consisting primarily of appetizers and first courses, including a bit of everything from spring rolls to ramen, rice dishes, and various versions of spaghetti.
It's not a true ravioli shop, but in our search for this specialty, Jiani's was recommended to us for the meticulous care with which the filled pasta is crafted by Sofia (that's the Italianized name), the owner's mother who runs the kitchen. Jiani, on the other hand, oversees the mixology and bar service, creating a slightly unconventional but not at all unpleasant mix, where you can enjoy a bao with a spritz and a plate of udon with a mojito (maybe not, but it depends on your taste).
The ravioli come in three varieties, faithfully mirroring the most common ones found in Chinese restaurants: meat, vegetable, and shrimp. In my personal opinion, as Rino Tommasi would say, the latter trumps the first two, although the vegetable ones are a close second. The vegetarian version, in addition to its excellent filling, is distinctive in that it's closed like culurgiones, a characteristic it shares with the famous Sardinian specialty. We also tried the udon, mixing the dishes as if it were a single, grand appetizer, and it must be admitted that they are worthy of note, but average compared to what you'll find in other Chinese and fusion restaurants.
The price of 6 euros for a portion of 6 ravioli is more than fair, whether you're planning on having a single sample to accompany a drink or if you want to enjoy an entire dinner in a slightly noisy and very informal setting.
Opinion
A Bologna nightlife spot offering drinks and Asian cuisine unlike your average Chinese restaurant. Handmade dumplings, udon noodles, and bao are perfect for an aperitivo or a casual dinner with friends.
AGAINST
- If you're looking for a real restaurant, this isn't for you.
