We arrived about 45 minutes from closing. I was concerned because I know service can go downhill at this point. It absolutely did not! The waiter was extremely pleasant & helpful. The decor was so nice & it created an atmosphere that was so welcoming. The food was so delicious we made plans to visit already! The hubby had the swordfish dish. The ravioli was freshly made & cooked to perfection. I opted for vegetables instead of pasta. Everything was seasoned perfectly. My only disappointment was they ran out of risotto & that was the dish I initially came for. That was my fault for going so late though. Overall, highly recommend!! read more

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Food A+ Services A+ Atmosphere A+ My date said the reservation process was simple and accommodating. This is one of our "Romantic Spots" read more

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This restaurant is pricey, i don't mind, we love Italian Food, but this time this restaurant has the worst chicken parmigiana that i ever had. Hard, without flavor, taste like old frozen chicken. The cook/owner is rude and unprofessional. when i let them know that the food was bad, he forced us to wait for over 15 minutes and when he finally came out he was confrontational and argumentative. after arguing with me and basically telling me i was wrong he finally refunded the meals but charged me for the grated parm they put on top of a meal that we didn't eat. he then gave me my change in all coins. If you want to have your food cooked by a chef this petty, by all means come here. I would not send someone I hated to this establishment. read more

Extremely Disappointing Experience Our visit to this restaurant was truly underwhelming from start to finish. The waiter tried to be humorous but came off as rude. We ordered a salad that was nearly inedible--strange taste and very poorly prepared. Despite notifying them of my daughter's olive allergy, the salad arrived with olives anyway. When we asked for parmesan, the waiter refused at first, only to later say, "just this once." Have you ever heard of an Italian restaurant that doesn't offer parmesan? We also requested garlic in our pasta and were again told no. Another server explained they avoid customizations because of a previous bad review--odd reasoning for a place that claims to make everything fresh. Speaking of which, we were told the sauces are premade, and the food certainly tasted that way. The pasta was soggy, cold, and flavorless--definitely not what you'd expect from a "high-end" Italian restaurant. To top it off, the pricing was outrageous for such poor quality and service. Would not recommend. This place is all talk, no substance. read more

What an amazing dining experience every time I have been here. The space is small and intimate, so reservations are always recommended. Service is always great, giving you time to enjoy your meal. The food, well that is the shining star. Chef Alex prepares everything with skill and love. There is no better Italian in this area, perhaps this country. read more

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It's been a few weeks since we dined at the Il Buongustaio. We had such an amazing experience I wanted to give it time to see how I felt before leaving a review. I read several other reviews before driving an hour to a restaurant I'd never heard of before and I was concerned. People complained about the timing between courses and the service. What we experienced was a perfectly timed 4-course meal where my wife and I had time between courses to hold a conversation and enjoy the ambiance. The duck qualifies with the best I've had and my wife loved the Petto DiPollo Al Limone (lemon chicken) all while not feeling rushed to make space for the next people. Yes you should make a reservation Yes you should plan to enjoy a longer dining experience than that of a franchise Italian restaurant built to flip tables quickly. This is a fine-dining restaurant with reasonable prices at this level. We will certainly return as often as we care to travel for the experience. read more

Food amazing service great but it's what I call a bmw(bring my wallet) restaurant it's pricey Had wine (2 glasses), appetizer (1),2 main and one dessert total with tip $165 read more

Okay Tagliatelle Al Pesto. Very autentico Italiano. Halibut very good fresh fish . read more

Do not go here. This may seem like a dramatic review, but it's honestly how it went down. My partner ordered the steak, she typically likes it on the rare side. This was in-edible, it was literally purple through and through and doused in purple gravy, so we couldn't even ask for it to get more heat. We left $35 of the $38 steak on the plate. Not that asking would have helped. I ordered the penne pasta which was cooked with the zucchini, leaving it tasteless and way too watery- like... so much water. I was trying to be polite and instead of sending the dish back, I asked for parmigiana. Harmless. The server said the chef would not be happy if he provided us with the cheese - we thought he was joking. I later asked for cheese again while the chef was walking by and promptly received a 3 minute lecture about how parmigiana would alter the flavor of my seafood dish - smh. This us exactly what I'm trying to do!! Instead of having a moment of self reflection, maybe something may be wrong with the dish, I was told that I was incorrect and mistaken to have asked for cheese on my flavorless dish. Clearly not cultured enough. At the close of his TedTalk, he said - alas, if I insisted I could receive the cheese. Holding my tongue so hard as I was with newly introduced family "Yes, sir, I insist." The server was very sweet but the chef is clearly on his high horse. We spent legit money at this place and it did not reflect the food that we were served. I'm still dumbstruck that I was dismissed for asking for cheese when I'm just looking for a nice meal as I visit family in a small town. read more

AUTHENTIC ITALIAN! I was so glad my mom and I popped in here one Wednesday evening while I had returned home for a visit. My Italian roots appreciated every part of this restaurant and chef's team. The menu is setup for a traditional Italian dinner course, and the very friendly waiter shows so much excitement for their food and homemade pastas. The chef and his uncle are originally from Italy and are bringing Italian family dinner flair to this cute location. The crusty bread was impossible to turn down by basket number two. We opted for the Insalata Mediterranea and Insalata Di Rape Rose Con Noci salads to start. Mine had roasted beets over a spring mix, fresh goat cheese crumbles, with crunchy caramelized walnuts drizzled with a homemade blackberry vinaigrette. Wow, so fresh and flavorful! For our main course, we shared the Lasagna with bolognese sauce (wow, such crispy edges and a creamy bechamel sauce) and the Tagliatelle Al Pesto. The pesto and the pasta was all made fresh in house with such bold flavors. LOVED it! We were sad to say that we were too full from the double bread loaves to make room for dessert. But that menu also sounded decadent and all made in house again! This family is serving up the good stuff with lots of traditional Italian family love and passion with each dish. Please show your local support and stop by. You'll have a new favorite Italian restaurant in town for date nights and family dinners! read more

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Was very fancy but extremely expensive I really recommend for the wealthy people and people who can afford to spend 126 dollars! for mediocre food and some bread excellent service they were very patient and very helpful read more

IL BUONGUSTAIO - Lasagna - Italian Near Me - Florence, South Carolina

If I could give this place negative stars I would. We went on a Thursday night. We were greeted nice enough then it went south. We ordered our food and over an hour later and 4 tables getting there order before us that came in way after us, here comes our food. My wife had the steak medallion, the menu states This meal is cooked medium rare, it was well done and the red wine sauce was rushed to where the wine was curdled. I had the seafood pasta the noodles were brick hard. Our food was rushed and poorly cooked. The staff offered no apology only took it off the ticket. Then made us feel it was our mistake for the poorly prepared food. Never again at all ever. Oh and the 14.00 salad is iceberg, three slices of cucumber and 4 olives. read more

IL BUONGUSTAIO - Just so you know the professional behavior the owner and Chef Alessandro has. - Italian Near Me - Florence, South Carolina

Well, so not impressed. Service was meh. Duck came out cold. $5 for 4 rolls of bread that is not Italian bread at an Italian restaurant. No apologies for bringing wrong dish to a member of our party. Won't be back for those prices, meh food and meh service. read more

This is my favorite restaurant in Florence!!! I have dined here 3X and the experience has been stellar each time. Luigi is the best server and provides the best service. The food is always delicious and delivered as ordered. I enjoy the ambiance and décor of the place. read more

Came and tried this place for the first time after hearing the raving reviews. Everything that I had heard from people was to try the lasagna as it was amazing. I don't understand how someone can say that the lasagna was soupy and watery. It was cooked to perfection. Thank you Chef Alessandro and we will definitely be back! read more

IL BUONGUSTAIO - Italian Near Me - Florence, South Carolina

Found this little hidden gem on Yelp and am so happy we did! Atmosphere was delightful. The food was outstanding. Pasta was homemade with flour flown in from Italy! Will definitely be returning. read more

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Wow! What a fabulous restaurant! Service was wonderful. They were perfect. We made reservations. We were promptly seated. Tables are a bit small, that's the only downfall. read more

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This place never disappoints. Best charcuterie in town, best pesto around, wonderful wine selection, and that panna cotta ........

This restaurant is super delicious with friendly staff! We had a date night there and it was a nice setting my only complaint is that the restaurant isn't big enough or have booths. Also a reservation is recommended! read more

IL BUONGUSTAIO - Charcuterie board - Italian Near Me - Florence, South Carolina

Horrid. Should have known as soon as I saw that bread (3 frozen rolls) cost $5. They came with house butter.

Absolutely recommend this restaurant! From start to finish, we had an excellent experience. The atmosphere, the staff and the food were all exceptional! We couldn't decide on our entrees because there were so many incredible options to choose from, so we asked our server to ask the chef to make us his favorite dishes and we were not disappointed. Will absolutely be back again in the near future! read more

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They accepted me at a late hour when the place was full with several large parties. I expected a long wait and slow service, which would have been understandable under the circumstances. But, I got the opposite. Very detailed service and my delicious Veal Marsala was presented to me before I could finish a glass of wine. This is a very quaint family owned business. Exactly what I try to support! When in Florence, SC you know where I'll be!! read more

We went for our first try and we were so very pleased. The food was outstanding.....true and authentic Italian cuisine that is unlike any other Italian we've had in Florence. The wine choices are limited but thoughtfully selected. We started with bread that was warm and delicious. The mussels were a delight, but I will try the tomato-based broth next time. A chilled Caesar salad was another tasty choice. The lasagna was filling, yet delicately prepared with a sauce.....you wanted to lick the plate. The pasta and seafood dish was outrageously generous and caused the taste buds to beg for mercy. Luciano's service was perfect. We will be back! read more

Extremely overpriced mediocre fare and that's being generous describing it as mediocre. There is no ambiance in the small dining room. If it gets busy it gets very loud. The wine list is very limited. I had the Risotto with seafood on my latest and definitely my last visit. Seafood did not seem fresh and it was over salted. We asked for extra bread during the meal and never received it. They charged us for the extra bread and would not take it off the bill. Owner/chef said we needed to take it to go. Seriously?!? I gave the place numerous chances but it just isn't worth the price of the meal. read more

So arrived as they opened, claiming not seating unless reservations. So I asked for take-out and refused- claiming only T,W,Th. When I called back to speak to owner as I have eaten here several times and conversed with him- The hostess stated the following" the owner said he is too busy to talk to a customer and will call you back on Tuesday- today is SATURDAY. So no matter if the food is good the service from the owner down to wait staff obviously needs basic home manners. Such a shame I helped the business by posting across all my media accounts- I will not be back read more

If you're looking for real Italian food, in Florence, SC, this is the place. Il Buongustaio is an absolutely amazing gem. The restaurant is nicely decorated, atmosphere relaxed, staff is always welcoming and friendly. Wine is great and the food is delicious beyond words. Alex, the owner and chef, has a special knack of making every dish a delight to the senses. This is more than just Italian food... it's a true Italian experience. You won't be disappointed. read more

Really bad attitude. Host was not nice at ALL. All tables were empty and said we had to have reservation. This is not Beverly Hills. They are lucky to break even. And smelled bad anyways. read more

Great chef and excellent food and service! Quite the jewel for Florence and the Pee Dee area. read more

I was celebrating my birthday with my sons and their significant others and had the most amazing birthday ever! I can't recommend this place enough. The food was awesome. The atmosphere was amazing. And the staff was sorprendente. We will be back! read more

Fantastic meal, excellent service. Had a little bottle of Prosecco with my seared duck and beet salad (salad not pictured because I ate it too quickly!). The menu is a little pricey, but if you want a "treat yourself" night with authentic Italian food and a nice environment, this is the place for you. We made a reservation, which I do recommend, because it filled up pretty quickly at around 7:00. read more

IL BUONGUSTAIO - Petto D'Anatra Al Porto - Italian Near Me - Florence, South Carolina

The Italian Server assume because we were black he was not going to serve us. He talked to our server, who was black, very rudely. Normally I love this place but the attitude from that man made the experience a bad one. We normally have a good. experience. read more

Authentic Italian food! You will not be disappointed. The Chef/owner take pride in everything he puts out!

Didn't live up to the hype. I was pretty disappointed in the lasagna. Looked more like sloppy joe on the plate. Watery and not much taste. Nice ambiance but the food needs an upgrade. read more

Very small and quaint. Real authentic Italian. Service is excellent and the food is extraordinary. Alex is the chef. He came out and spoke to us and he was so friendly. Can't say enough about our meals. Husband had the special...halibut and I had veal. We started with a meat and cheese board. The duck pate is incredible. Ended with tiramisu which was a perfect ending. We will definitely be back. Best restaurant in Florence. read more

Very nice atmosphere. The people and wait staff seemed delightful. It honestly is very cute inside and I really wanted to like it for that reason. However, the food overall was very plain, all of the pasta sauces were very much so on the acidic side, and overall it didn't fit anyone in my party's taste. It may be a slight step up from Olive Garden, but even for the Italian restaurants in florence it's definitely not worth the visit, especially with the price. For just the three of us without any drinks, it was over $100. I think it definitely has the potential just the wrong execution. read more

First - the food was nothing short of amazing. However, the wait to enjoy our dinner was totally unacceptable. (I did see the multiple reminder signs that this establishment is NOT a fast food restaurant and orders are prepared to order.) We arrived at 6:30, enjoyed a bottle of wine, hot rolls & an acceptable salad. Things were moving slowly, it's now 7:45 when our server, Nesha, came over to the table to ask us what we'd ordered. Not sure what happened, but I witnessed her going directly to the computer and what appearing to enter info. (We had ordered a second bottle of wine, which was never delivered.) We inquired about our offer at 8:03 and Nesha told us, "5 more minutes". We'd decided we'd be departing at 8:10. Just as we were preparing to get up from the table, like magic our dinners were served. Again, the food was exceptional! We enjoyed our meals, although the mood of the evening had been spoiled. Plus, we'd had to request water refills twice before getting glasses refilled. Good service can make bad food tolerable, bad service can ruin exceptional food. It's all in the training. If Nesha had been forthcoming about what was happening, regardless of what was the root of the issue, our evening would've been more pleasurable. (We noted several other patrons discussing the exhaustive delays.) Would we return, maybe for take out - but unless you have time for a 3 hour dinner, stay away - a least until they sort out their issues. read more