CIVICO 186 Al Santo/Ospedali

Al Santo is just a few steps from the basilica, and there seemed to be plenty of locals eating there. The restaurant has a clean, modern look, and the staff were very friendly. During my five days in Padova, I ate there three times. I would have gone a fourth, but it closes on Tuesdays. I had the pasta and fagioli soup twice, and it was wonderful. I also tried the house-made macaroni with baccala and artichokes, which was very good. I had dessert every visit, including the cake of the day twice.

We only went to the restaurant, on a late weekday evening after a scorching day, for a simple meal. There was a good selection, the food was really tasty, and the staff were friendly without hovering.

The food was delicious, and the place felt clean and pretty. The staff were especially kind. Ten stars for the waiter from Sarajevo, who made us feel at home and suggested places to visit since it was our first time in Padova. :)

We came for dinner one Sunday after mass and visiting St Antonio tomb and reliquary. There were two adults and our children, aged 5 and 2. We didn't stay at the hotel, so my room, service, and location ratings are about the restaurant. It was getting dark when we walked in off the street, drawn by the warm lighting. The restaurant was a short walk from the bascillica, and turned out to be a quiet, fly-free place nearby. We had a very large double sport Thule, wheelchair-sized, and the staff helped us bring it in and store it safely before showing us to a table. The prices were excellent for the portion sizes, and everything tasted superb. Inside, the atmosphere was lovely, with nice art, lighting, decor, layout, and music quiet enough to talk over dinner. Everything was clean and tidy, from the tables and colourful glasses to the floors and seats. Even the table wasn't sticky, unlike in some other places. I used the baby changing facility, which was extremely clean and had a changing table. The WC didn't smell at all. Paper towels in the bathroom and a step stool for a small child at the sink would be helpful. Service was excellent. The friendly staff spoke English and Italian, checked on us often at our booth, and brought food and drinks promptly. They answered our questions about the food and gave us complimentary bread, a real help since the children were hungry while we waited. The meal arrived quickly. The pizzas were huge and tasty, and my beef with spinach, Parmesan and cherry tomatoes was excellent. The house white was fresh and sparkly. The desserts were delicious without being overly rich: one was like cream brûlée, and the cheesecake had a modern, light style without too much flavouring or fuss. Every staff member was patient and friendly with my two-year-old, who was tired and wanted to be on the floor. That made a big difference. Eating out with little ones can be hard, but here it wasn't. Thank you for being so kind to the children. I would recommend this to everyone. If we were staying another night, we'd come back. Sadly I didn't take photos, and the ones on their page don't do it justice.