not my thing. there were bugs towards the wall where we were first seated so they moved us caramelized tomato tarte tartin - meh. just might not be my preference, but pastry was soggy and tomato flavor was offputing for me. wildboar ravioli - tough poor cook on the pasta. tough boar meat read more

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This is the classic tourist trap - and unfortunately we got caught in it. Food itself is great and excellent, no questions asked! The service is ok, and prices are just far beyond with no justification. On top of it the waiter comes at the end with classic American tipping culture: 15% - 20% or 25%. After tipping the classic European way and not dealing with the tipping BS, the waiter got rude. No thank you. No good bye. No come again... well we'll definitely not go back ever! read more

The ravioli was okay. You only get 6 bites and it was not very warm. flavor was decent but not worth the cost. My cousin had the scampi which was decent. The server was rude and provided very poor service. He did not even acknowledge us. I would not recommend this place because there are so many better restaurants in florence. The ambience was about the only thing going for it. read more

Il Santo Bevitore - ravioli - Italian Near Me - Florence, FI

Great food and great ambiance, make sure you make reservations ahead of time. Excelente comida y ambiente, asegurar reservación con tiempo. read more

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4 & 1/2..Florence, while undeniably beautiful and surely a place you must visit once, was frankly just a bit too touristy for me overall, surely no doubt helped by the fact that we visited in late August, the literal eye of the storm in it's tourist season. Our first meal in town at an egregious tourist trap rip off that looked like something out of Epcot Center (sorry to any Disney adults out there, but I don't mean that in anyway remotely positive) and Olive Garden quality food to match set an unfortunate tone, that was gladly corrected significantly by this wonderful rebound dinner the next night at this undeniable gem. It would in fact wind up ranking as one my favorite overall meals in Italy and would rank this as must book for anyone visiting Firenze. Both of the two pastas we shared were nothing short of etherial, and would provide me with my first encounter with pasta being prepared to the true Italian standard of Al Dente, which is even a bit snappier and with a bit more of a real snap verging on crunch to it than even a Italian food-obsessed native NY'er is used to, and I was immediately entranced. The first of the pastas, a spaghetti, not altogether unlike a vongole but with bracingly fresh, delectable and perfectly cooked baby squid instead of clams, was enveloped in a fantastically flavorful and briny yet wonderfully light cilantro laced sauce that tasted deeply and soulfully of the sea. This dish wound of casting a wonderful contrast to the texture and taste of the dense and plump savory and supremely gamy wild boar ravioli served atop a rich, condensed meaty broth of it's own juices, and topped with a deliciously creamy cheese that split the difference in taste and texture somewhere between the best ricottas and mascarpone you've ever encountered. We finished this off with a perfectly rare duck breast lacquered in a savory/sweet glaze and some farm fresh cucumber and paired it with a couple of glasses of deeply drinkable and super satisfying Tuscan Reds. The staff was a lovely and professional as one could hope for. The room is understated dimly lit and oozing romance and authenticity and a far cry from the countless fake, cruise ship-patron-bait operations that surround it. Do yourself a favor and book yourself a table hear to ensure your self a welcome respite from the low brow tourist hoards you'll be forced to reckon with. read more

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Best restaurant in Florence. You won't find better for the price. Each dish blew me away. Not traditional Italian. Super creative, exciting and beyond delicious food. read more

Really lovely spot in Florence -- the atmosphere was cozy and candlelit, with a cool vibe. The house wine and service were both excellent, and the beef tartare was delicious. We also tried the cod and a spicy pasta -- both were okay, but not standout. Overall, a great experience and I'd definitely come back to try more dishes next time! read more

Il Santo Bevitore - Italian Near Me - Florence, FI

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Such a cozy restaurant. The service was amazing. The wine recommendation was great. The pasta was so fresh and simple, I recreated at home in the states and will add this to my monthly meals read more

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Great place with outstanding and attentive service in a setting full of character. The risotto with cavolo nero and soprassata was perfect - creamy and flavorful with strong notes, cooked perfectly al dente. Their special of the day, rigatoni with chianina, delivered rich, flavorful meat that complemented the pasta beautifully. For dessert, we enjoyed a light and tasty puffy zabaione, with fantastic 'biscotti con pinoli' followed by a delicate millefoglie cream with fresh strawberries. Great coffee too. read more

Food and ambiance are top notch. Warm and friendly staff complete the package. Good size menu, not too many dishes. Also good selection of wines and drinks. read more

The food was amazing and the service was consistent. They had a great spin on the traditional ham and melon dish, turning it into a tasty puree of cold soup with small melon balls and strips of prosciutto bacon. They wine was good and our octopus was perfectly cooked. The atmosphere was dark and intimate, great for smaller parties. Would go back again. Great food for a good price! read more

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Went when they opened at 7:30 and were told we could come back at 9:30. Went and had aperitivo at their Il Santino offshoot, then walked around a bit before returning. My boyfriend and I shared an order of one marrow, as well as the garganelli with zucchini and tomatoes and maccheroncetti with rabbit, followed by creme brûlée for dessert. Food was mostly solid, though not sure it was worth the wait. The garganelli was the highlight. On the opposite end, bone marrow was kind of tasteless. Overall it was good, though! read more

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This place is delicious and magical. I called ahead and they asked if the bar was okay since I was only one person. Perfecto. In traveling alone, you make great friends with bartenders. They become therapists and at times, your only friend. They are the only people who you know don't think you're weird for coming to a restaurant alone, or if they do think you're weird they still have to talk to you haha. I asked my new friend for food recs, and we ended up deciding on the spaghetti al pomodoro and the lamb shank. After dismantling the spaghetti and waiting on the lamb shank, I wrote this thought in my notebook and just wanted to share with you, internet people: "Traveling alone is a beautiful struggle. There are moments of exaltation where you feel absolute freedom and peace within yourself, and moments of near crippling anxiety. You are in a battle almost at all times. Battling with the external factors of "wow people must think I'm a loser" and the internal dialogue of "What the f*** am I doing?" Insecurities will inevitably pop up, but these are likely ones you have been pushing down for years. They need to be faced. But once you make peace with these moments, you realize you can be whoever you want to be. There is no pressure to do anything you don't want to, or be anything you don't want to be. In my opinion, it is the best way to figure out who you are in the shortest amount of time as you are at NO obligation to please anybody but yourself. You may realize there is a part of you that you have left in the past that you shouldn't have, or that there are current things in your life that you need to change. I firmly believe the best way to help others in the long term is to be the best version of yourself. It is a beautiful struggle, but there is no beauty without strug--" *BANG* The lamb shank gets SLAMMED on the table. GOD IT WAS PERFECT. Fell right off the bone and was exactly what I was hoping for. I also met a fellow solo traveler at the bar and we went and smoked some heaters and had some chianti at the bar next door. Shoutout to my guy Justin! read more

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Very good, an alternative to your typical Tuscan trattoria, nice ambiance and good service read more

Il Santo Bevitore - Italian Near Me - Florence, FI

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Our meal and experience was amazing, but the real star of the show was our server Safe who was so charming and lovely that my wife and I decided she was the best server we've had on our trip to Italy. The place was busy (clearly because the food is amazing) and we managed to squeeze in without a reservation. If you want to check out this place, don't count on this. I truly think we just got lucky. 10 out of 10 for the food and 15 out of the 10 for the service. read more

Il Santo Bevitore - The beef carpaccio which was insane. - Italian Near Me - Florence, FI

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We arrived for lunch and were greeted warmly although we explained we had to cancel dinner reservations due to early rising time the following morning. No problem, sit here near the window and enjoy a nice lunch. Wonderful warm chicken livers with toasted brioche, followed by wild boar ravioli (wild boar is a new favorite we discovered this trip) and a shared egg cream zabaione for dessert. Our server, Michel, was warm, steered us in the right direction and had a wonderful full smile. Grazie. read more

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I loved the warm lighting and ambiance of this place. We ordered an herb-infused ricotta with shaved truffle that was incredible. For the entree, I split an octopus that was occupied by some polenta and stingray lemon pasta. It was my first time trying Ray and I will say that I was pleased. This is easily one of my favorite restaurants now. read more

Il Santo Bevitore - Octopus - Italian Near Me - Florence, FI

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In Italy one would expect big portions. This place is over rated. Small portions, waiter was not friendly and we couldn't wait to leave! Only bad experience on our two week trip. read more

Loved the food, service, and ambience! The veal cut like butter and exploded with flavor. the monkfish and pasta were divine. The Negroni was not top 10 but good enough. Chianti was superb. So glad to dine there! read more

Florentine friends insisted this place be our last meal while in town and I can't thank them enough. Everything here was delicious, from start to finish. Presentation, like the menu itself, is a balance of classic and stylish. The meal began with an assortment of breads. Our favorite was the crispy cheese cracker, but everything was nice, especially with olive oil, spices, and their fresh Parmesan. I recommend asking for balsamic vinegar as well. For my pasta course, I had the tagliatelle in a creamy sauce with figs and ground spiced meat. It was a nicely balanced dish with just the right amount of things going on. The sweet potato gnocchi are also amazing. They melt in your mouth and come with a bitter coffee drizzle to balance the sweetness. I also tried a little bit of the spicy pasta and I'd recommend listening to the staff's warning- it is incredibly spicy! I ordered the pheasant as a meat dish. I liked the creamy sauce it was with, but I loved the pomegranate seeds. If you're only having one course, though, I absolutely recommend the gnocchi or the tagliatelle. As a table, we shared the cheesecake and the strawberries with cream for dessert. The cheesecake is phenomenal, some of the best I've ever had. The texture is so light and creamy. I could eat a mountain of pasta and still have space left for that cheesecake. I definitely recommend making reservations. It's not touristy, but the staff still speak just enough English to make sure nothing gets lost in translation. It's got a great romantic atmosphere yet they also have space and deal well with bigger groups like ours. read more

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We've been to Italy several times, this trip, we've been here for 4 weeks. in Florence 3 times. This might have been my favorite Italian meal. The food was perfect - balanced, subtle, delicious. Service was on point. And atmosphere was lovely -- low lighting, spare yet warm decor-- all perfect. Can't wait to return! read more

The food was delicious and amazing here. It's not "traditional" Italian food but it's Italian food made well. Our pasta dishes were the right size and perfectly cooked. I don't recall the name if the dish but mine was pasta in a spicy tomato sauce. The waiters kept warning me about that spice level and if I was sure I wanted it. I said yes it's fine. If you like spicy like me then this is nothing more than putting Sriracha sauce. I think since Italian food doesn't typically use a lot of spice and heat, then this dish is super spicy to them. If you are like me and love eating Sriracha or Thai chiles then it's child's play. The pasta dish with the wild boar was great too! My husband also ordered a beef dish for more protein and it was so tender. Loved our Poppy seed sable dessert was the perfect ending. Very light and not super sweet. I thought the service was great and our waiters were super friendly. We didn't get any attitude here because we weren't locals or didn't speak Italian. The one with the condescending attitude was the table next to us and unfortunately the couple was from Los Angeles --- giving Americans a bad rep. Also I know people complained about portion sizes. If you're going to a more upscale restaurant then it's a given that portion sizes are not going to be huge like eating at Nona's kitchen. The quality of the food surpasses the fact that the quantity is not huge. You definitely need reservations here. We reserved a table on a Saturday night and the place was packed with locals! read more

So good we went two nights in a row! Make a reservation- this place fills up fast. The food is fantastic. I had the Tuscan Bread soup one night. It was not what I've seen before. It was thick. You could eat it with a fork - and it had layers of flavor. The second night I had Wild Boar Ravioli- wonderful. I had the shank one night. And I would have that again. The second night I have the filet - also great. My other half - spicy spaghetti both nights and he'd go back an again for it. read more

Il Santo Bevitore - Filet - Italian Near Me - Florence, FI

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Cozy ambience, good service and delicious smoked-broth wild boar ravioli. We tried some other dishes that weren't memorable but it's worth a trip for the Cinghiale!!! read more

So, before we left for Tuscany, I found a list of recommended local restaurants. Out of the 5 this was my favorite menu wise so we made a point to drop by. The first time around we were told the wait was nearly 2 hours so that was a dud. I should've taken that as a sign to abandon ship, but we happened to walk by on a different night and they weren't as busy so we said fuck it. We asked to be seated right outside, there's one table right by the entrance. I was very much looking forward to my meal, but it was all downhill. Don't get me wrong, the food was great. Everything else however was a disaster. I get that Europeans don't tip since most restaurants have a cover charge which I assume goes to the servers, but damn at least care a little. Our server who to me sounded American based on his accent (he definitely didn't sound Italian) was kind of a dick. He was very short with us and didn't seem too thrilled to wait on Americans. My friend and I noticed how differently he treated the Italian diners. He didn't say more than 2 or 3 words to us, but he sure did have full on conversations with the local diners he waited on inside. While the food was good, it's not enough to make me give them more than 3 stars. At least they were consistent with keeping in tune with service in the city. Florence doesn't care about customer service at all. And this place was the perfect example of that. read more

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Was it a bad night? I thought this was just alright. The bread and cured meats (prosciutto and salame) were extra dry. Presentation was definitely above average. Standout was the ponzu beef carpaccio (which in the English menu was labeled as marinated beef). Also had the risotto, gnocchi, and riccioli. All average. Momtblanc for dessert came with a tasty persimmon ice cream. read more

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We absolutely enjoyed this charming restaurant in the Oltrarno part of Florence, which is located "Across the Arno." This spot has everything going for it, from its beautiful dining room and urban feel of old rich wood, white subway tiles, simple table settings complete at lunch with butcher paper. We came for lunch and it was by far one of our better meals in Florence. The wait staff were friendly and jumped between Italian, English, French and Spanish, easily depending on the clientele at the table. All that, and Mario Batali tweeted that this is one of three restaurant recommendations in Florence. Not bad. Lunch was completely reasonable and delicious. We enjoyed a starter of Tuscan cheeses and got a food crush on the mustard and peach mixture they served alongside it. Our better lunch orders included a simple plate of pasta in tomato sauce and a lovely, savory fish fillette with roasted potatoes. The wine selection here is excellent, and we got a nice red half bottle. Most of those around us had beautiful plates (I had a case of order envy for this meal) of either pasta or risotto, and I think if I had to return, either would be on the top of my list. I got a good order of braised meats (I forget the name, but it was a traditional Tuscan dish and I wanted to try the local fare) but given it to do over, would definitely order pasta here as the braised meat was tasty, but understandably heavy as a lunch order. This is a solid, wonderful spot! read more

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For our first dinner in Florence, we chose this place, since Lonely Planet heralded it as one of the most romantic restaurants. I find this title funny given that most of the restaurants I walked past seemed romantic (dim lighting or candlelight, well spaced tables, intimate & quiet). Our hotel had made us reservations ahead of time; however, restaurant was great about accommodating a change to our arrival time. Upon arrival, we were seated immediately and it was busy with locals & non-locals dining (not as quiet as I had hoped). We asked for the sommelier and ordered an incredible bottle (or 2) of a super tuscan, so they have a great wine selection. My food was delicious. We started with a plate of "ham," meats from a local farms. I had the Potato Foam Zuppe. Creamy & Rich & Flavorful. Husband and I both ordered the Risotto w/duck confit and we were thrilled with our choice. A lovely dinner. read more

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This was really good. If there was any negative, it was that we came here for dinner after going to Osteria Francescana for lunch, so this was inevitably going to be a victim of that sequence. That said, we really enjoyed our dinner. We started with the pickled veggies (spinach, onions, and some amazing red peppers), after which I got the (nduja) and my wife got the (garganelli). All three dishes were very good -- my pasta was really spicy, and my wife said her's was a solid choice after what was an incredibly heavy lunch. Really solid. read more

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A well known restaurant, we weren't fully convinced. Perhaps a matter of taste, we felt the place was quite loud and the food was ok, but didn't stand out. read more

Beef carpaccios are incredible. Great wine and atmosphere. English speaking waiters and great service accommodating my wheelchair.

I'm not sure why previous reviewers say the restaurant staff is cold and the portions small, because I left as expanded as a balloon and the staff, Michel especially, were so friendly and assistive. The prices are not bad at all either and very comparable for restaurants which serve food of the same caliber. The wood pigeon pici was divine; a flavorful ragu with perfectly cooked pasta. I also tried my friend's garden vegetable pasta, which had tender roasted vegetables with the right amount of seasoning. The staggering of the courses made it easier to have so much food, and I appreciated not feeling rushed to leave unlike other restaurants. The real highlight for me was the herb encrusted lamb, and the pan sauce was so good I was eating it by itself like a monster possessed by the flavor. Definitely try this one if you find yourself in Florence, and make sure to get the mascarpone for dessert! read more

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Highly recommend. Good is great staff is great. Wine selection on the wall is fantastic.

Ways to maximize your dinner experience: 1) Sip on some refreshing Prosecco at the bar while waiting for your table. Pinkies up. 2) Once seated, order a bottle of wine immediately and proceed to chug with abandon. Hey, you're on vacation! 3) Devour the luscious sformatino and wonder if a rendition that's just as good can be found back at home. 4) Drunkenly fondle your companion under the table while waiting for the dessert course. The restaurant is dimly lit for precisely this reason. 5) Ask the staff to call a cab for you because flagging one down is prohibited in Florence and your hands are preoccupied anyway. 6) Return to hotel and try to finish what you started in the restaurant without barfing. read more

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This was our first dinner in Florence and we got there late but thank God they close late! It's a romantic & cozy restaurant that is perfect for a date night - also a little modern considering that it's located in Florence. The burrata with tomato was ok, but nothing mind blowing. The portion was huge though because they give you 2 monstrous pieces of burrata over a plate full of grilled tomatos, topped with a little bit of pesto sauce. The tomatoes were fresh and sweet. Overall, it was satisfying! Sadly, everything else we had for dinner was very salty!!! I had the angel hair with lobster bisque. It had a few pieces of lobster on top, a huge portion of pasta doused with really saltly bisque that was really hard to eat. I will not recommend this dish! Another salty dish was the stuffed calamari... After a couple of bits of this, my head started to spin from the salt. Sadly I wanted to love this place.. I would definitely come back for drinks but not the food. At least the calamari & lobster pasta anyways. read more

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Rating: 100/100 pts Amazing restaurant that provided one of the best meals I had while in Italy. A friend and I decided to drop into Il Santo Bevitore, based on the strength of their other reviews, and the foreknowledge that trekking out from the Florence city center and crossing the Arno River almost certainly results in better food quality. Since it was off-season, I never even thought to make a reservation. Up until this point, I had been able to instantly slip into every restaurant I went to. However, on entering Il Santo Bevitore, I was greeted with the 3rd sign that food was going to be good: the place was jam-packed with locals, and the staff asked if I had a reservation--and this was on a MONDAY night. I told them I didn't. The receptionist gave me a flustered sigh, but consulted with the waiters and graciously made room for us towards the back. Phew! My excitement grew. As our appetizer, we ordered a plate of 3 Sardinian cheeses, which included Pecorino sardo (DOP), Fioretto sardo, and Semicotto caprino. These were incredible, and among the best cheese I had on my entire trip. Each had its own texture and level of pungency. They were served with a sweetened mustard, which beautifully complemented the cheesiness. If you like cheeses, get this, as you probably won't see them anywhere else unless you plan on going to Sardinia. For our primo, we got Riccioli di Pasta Fresca: curled pasta, cooked with a spicy red sauce and topped with grated pecorino cheese. The pasta was hand-made and fresh. The sauce had a serious kick to it, neutralized just enough by the cheese, which gradually melted in. For our entree, we shared the Millefoglie di Lingua (sliced cow tongue). This was incredible! Delicate, thinly sliced layers of tongue were placed atop each other and interspersed with layers of cheese and grilled sweet onion. It was amazingly rich, and oozing with umami. We had just enough room to enjoy one of their house-made desserts, and ended up settling on their Pomegranate Semifreddo. It came out as three small, cloud-like puffs, each largely unsweetened but supplemented with a flake of crystallized brown sugar, with swirls of tart pomegranate seeds and glaze, and garnished with mint. Contrary to the other heavier dishes, this had a much lighter, more mature flavor. Balanced and not overly sweet, this served as a perfect conclusion to the meal. Prices are outrageously reasonable--I enjoyed each dish immensely, and because it was so good, I was expecting to pay a whole lot more. (It came out to around €20 per person, without drinks.) The food here ends up being more of an Italian bistro. And though I tend to prefer more traditional food, this was fine, as it is tastefully executed. There are a plethora of more traditional Tuscan restaurants in the area, and this is a prime spot for a taste of something a bit more modern. Reservations are highly recommended. read more

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Had a wonderful dinner at Il Santo Bevitore (which translates to a very cool "The Holy Drinker") . . . INDEED!! . . . Our party of 3 came here after making a reservation on a Monday evening during our week-long visit to Florence in March 2012. The restaurant had been fully booked on Sunday for dinner, so we came on Monday instead as we did not want to miss this spot. Two of us enjoyed their Garganelli, and the third ordered a nice Gnocchetti di gran (translated: "great dumplings"), but basically a type of gnoccchi. Each of us tried different salads or appetizers, which included an Insalata Croccante (translated: "crisp salad"), a Misticanza (also a type of salad), and a Mozzarelline Pomodo (I.e., mozzarella and tomato salad). Each of these was excellent and are recommended. Our "Holy Drink" of selection was a very nice Pachar Lavacchio, a lovely local Tuscan wine. We really had a very nice overall dining experience. Table service was excellent, and the ambiance was a stylish Italian ristorante, with an active bar, and an engaging dining environment. 4 Stars, even leaning towards 5. [Note: For a point of reference, our tab for a party of 3 was 77.50 Euros which is about US$103 at today's exchange rates.] read more

Il Santo Bevitore - Italian Near Me - Florence, FI

It was my last night in Florence and I needed some vegetables and non pasta. I felt like I was on a carb overload and needed something a bit lighter. My hotel recommended Il Santo Bevitore but warned me that it may be tough to get in last minute. As they predicted, the restaurant was packed. Since it was just me, I got a seat at the bar to order. I started out with this fantastic artichoke appetizer. It came in a creamy sauce that was like nothing I had ever tasted. I think I should have asked for bread to help sop up the sauce but l was trying to be good. For my entree I ordered a white fish.. I think it was halibut with a garbanzo bean crust. It was pretty good. Light and fluffy but didn't have much going on in the flavor department. The ambiance seemed really laid back and relaxed. The service was nice and not too pushy. I probably should have ordered a pasta but the item I really wanted wasn't on their seasonal menu at the time. Then let me sit for a few hours uninterrupted which was really nice. Ah Italy I miss you read more

Il Santo Bevitore - Creamy artichoke appetizer - Italian Near Me - Florence, FI

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I've often thought that this place is too touristy and over-hyped, but a recent lunchtime visit has made me re-evaluate - in a positive way! Their lunch menu is highly limited, and primi are 8-10 euros, secondi around 15. This price is better than most places on the street. Their wine selection, as many have noted, is exceptional - I love the way they take your choice down from the wall with a long grabber-stick thing :) ! A nice opportunity to go beyond the usual stuff that you know and try something from a different region. Service is casual, and they let us sit there until late in the afternoon. read more

Il Santo Bevitore - Polpo scottato su ceci - Italian Near Me - Florence, FI

Across the river and in a slightly less touristy part of Florence we found this great spot. "Less touristy" is all relative, there are tons of tourists everywhere in Florence, and this spot had its fair share, but we loved the atmosphere. It was classy and dark inside, and had great Tuscan wine displayed throughout the restaurant. Everyone working at the restaurant was nice, cordial, and didn't seem to mind serving American tourists. Pretty much all of the food we ordered was top notch. We started with the standard charcuterie and cheese platter that is popular everywhere in Tuscany. The selection here was similar to many places, but that's not a terrible thing, it was fantastic. We then ordered the spicy tomato pasta sauce, which was the spiciest thing i tasted in Italy. I loved it but it was definitely spicy. Also for the pasta coarse we had the asparagus risotto, great. For the following course we tried the stuffed calamari and beef carpaccio. Stuffed calamari was above average. The beef carpaccio was just OK, I probably wouldn't order it again but no real complaints. We started with two glasses of white wine and we had a reasonable priced bottle of red with our dinner. Bill was about 100 eur. All in all, a great place. Highly recommend. Casual atmosphere, not too touristy and a cordial/friendly staff. read more

Il Santo Bevitore - meat, cheese, and white wine! - Italian Near Me - Florence, FI