"Chef Luca Tomasicchio's Michelin Guide kitchen in a reborn old trattoria — fried langoustines with lime mayo and an open kitchen that make Padua's most considered tasting menus."
About Tola Rasa
Tola Rasa sits at Via Vicenza 7 in central Padua, where chef Luca Tomasicchio refurbished one of the city's oldest trattorias and reopened it in May 2015. It anchors part of our Padua guide and our Italian coverage as the city's most thoughtful modern table, and it has appeared in the Michelin Guide since 2020.
Born in Milan but a Paduan by choice, Tomasicchio trained in serious Veneto kitchens — Dolada, La Montecchia, Le Calandre — and in Lombardy with Knam and Cracco. The name plays on 'tabula rasa', a clean slate.
The Kitchen
The cooking is Italian tradition built on the freshness of the raw material, transformed minimally to enhance its flavour. The fried langoustines and vegetables with lime-scented mayonnaise have been on the menu since the start and are beloved by regulars; l'Orto — 'the vegetable garden' — is the dish that best states the philosophy.
Diners choose between two tasting menus, Classici and Contemporanei, or order à la carte; a three-course meal runs around €75 and the contemporary tasting around €120. The wine list spans Italy and France.
The Room
The choice to leave the kitchen completely open is deliberate — Tomasicchio wants empathy between dining room and kitchen, and the few beautifully laid tables put guests close to the cooking. The setting is elegant and minimalist, a quiet contrast to the building's old-trattoria bones.
With only a handful of tables, booking ahead is essential, especially at weekends.
Not for
Not for a casual quick bite or a large, loud group — it is a small, refined open-kitchen room built for tasting menus and unhurried meals.
Frequently Asked
What is Tola Rasa known for?
Modern Italian cooking from an open kitchen in a refurbished historic trattoria. The fried langoustines and vegetables with lime-scented mayonnaise and the l'Orto vegetable-garden dish are signatures, served via Classici and Contemporanei tasting menus.
Who is the chef at Tola Rasa?
Luca Tomasicchio, who opened the restaurant in 2015. Born in Milan, he trained at Dolada, La Montecchia, Le Calandre and with Knam and Cracco.
Where is Tola Rasa?
At Via Vicenza 7 in central Padua, in the Veneto region of Italy.
Is it in the Michelin Guide?
Yes — Tola Rasa has appeared in the Michelin Guide since 2020.
How much do the tasting menus cost?
A three-course meal runs around €75, and the contemporary tasting menu around €120, with à la carte also available.
Reserve a Table
Reserve at Tola Rasa
Booking ahead is essential — there are only a handful of tables. Find it at Via Vicenza 7 in central Padua.
Affiliate disclosure: Restaurants for Kings may earn a commission when you book through our reservation links, at no cost to you. Our scores are editorial and never paid for.
Practical Information
AddressVia Vicenza 7, Padua
NeighbourhoodCentral Padua
CuisineModern Italian
RecognitionMichelin Guide (since 2020)
ChefLuca Tomasicchio (opened 2015)
PriceThree courses around €75; contemporary tasting around €120
ReservationBooking essential
