Detour Pit Stop #11: Ristorante Montana, Modena, Italy
Ristorante Montana is quite simply the Ferrari of restaurants. Or, more accurately, the restaurant of Ferrari. Situated just across the road from the Fiorano test track it’s where Ferrari racing legends, engineers, designers and probably even the cleaners go to eat.
Adorned with the most amazing Maranello memorabilia, from race suits, to helmets, car parts, photographs and autographs it also happens to boast the most delicious food you can imagine.
I’ve been twice. The first time was during the launch of the Ferrari F355 F1 where, to be honest, the long lunch rather got in the way of the serious business of road testing. The second time was with the family. Having driven over the mountains from Lucca by Fiat Panda and spent a day in the Ferrari Museum we were all suitably famished.
Once we’d agreed that we were definitely using Schumacher’s spoon and Alonso’s fork we were presented with quite simply the most mouthwatering tagliatelle I’ve ever tasted. Just one of many courses, but it’s the fresh pasta that I’ll always remember.
The food is traditional, simple, hearty but absolutely fabulous. Amazingly, despite the prospect of dining with the racing gods, the restaurant was quiet mid-week and the staff wonderfully welcoming.
Even better, you don’t pay Ferrari prices.
Roadbook
Class: Restaurant
Name: Ristorante Montana
Route: Via XX Settembre, 3, 41042 Fiorano Modenese MO, Italy
Country: Italy