Gracious service with delicious food! We loved the Florentine steak with potatoes and the fried bread was as good as the previous reviews claimed. We enjoyed the chocolate cake and tiramisu for dessert. Would love to return if we are ever in Florence again! read more

My husband and i loved this place so much that we went twice during our stay in Florence! We would have gone more often if we had longer! They start you off with fried bread--- out of this world so good. I got the homemade pasta bolognese both times because it had such a comforting made by a Nonna taste to it. Perfection. The lemon cake was one of the specials for dessert--- best cake we have ever had. The crème brûlée was also the best I've ever had- I'm usually not a fan but it was amazing. The tiramisu was great, the other 2 desserts were better. We also loved the people working there. I wish we could take this restaurant home with us! read more

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Best dining experience we had in Florence by far. Food was superb. Service was excellent. Highly recommend. read more

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One of the best meals we had in Italy. Every pasta was delicious and perfect, the bistecca fiorentina was cooked perfectly, dessert was good. And don't forget the fried dough - hard to not keep eating it! Service was efficient and friendly as well. Make a reservation, as they get packed. Highly recommended. read more

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I was on a Tauck tour and our tour director arranged for our whole group to have dinner here tonight. It was about a fifteen minute walk from the St. Regis hotel. We were seated at three round tables of six people a piece. They brought out complimentary fried pasta and it was delicious. The menu had about six appetizers, six pastas, and six entrees. There were also a few specials. I opted for the caprese salad. It was very good. For my entree I had a special that contained rolled veal stuffed with cheeses and covered in a Mushroom truffle sauce. It was so tasty. For dessert I had the melon Gelato. My husband had the lamb chops and a seafood linguine dish. Other diners had the sea bass and tuna entrees. Everyone loved their dishes. read more

L'osteria di Giovanni - Tuscan Near Me - Florence, FI

I was searching for places for dinner one of the nights we were in Firenze when I stumbled upon L'osteria di Giovanni. The reviews were great, and since we had nothing to lose we thought it would be a good place to check out. There were tables available, so I booked it and we made our way over shortly after. Compared to the other restaurants we visited for dinner, Giovanni was larger and a little more upscale (at least in aesthetics). Upon entry we were led to a back room which was an extension of the main dining room that I could see being used for private parties. The menu was typical of other Tuscan restaurants we visited - apps, pastas, and mains with an emphasis on steak. We decided to start with an app, and then share a pasta course before getting our own mains. We decided on the Caprese salad which one may think are a dime a dozen but Giovanni adds artichokes and substitutes burrata for the traditional mozz. The salad was great - super fresh and that burrata really elevated it. For pasta we chose the pici with sausage and kale ragu. This was delicious - the pasta was fresh and the sausage mixed with the kale was super flavorful. For my main I went back to steak but didn't have the strength for the t-bone so I ordered the filet mignon instead. The steak was great - cooked well (but not well done ;-) and paired with tasty roasted potatoes. As a finisher we were provided complimentary biscotti and lemon sorbet - again both delicious. Service was great, everyone was friendly and our dishes came out at a good pace. Overall, I'm glad we decided to try Giovanni - the food was tasty, the aesthetics were lovely, and the overall experience was on par with other good restaurants I dined at in Firenze. read more

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Really great. The pappa al pomodoro was sooooo good and the filleto di manzo was great. Honestly I hadn't heard of this place before and just walked in to see if they had a spot for dinner. So glad they did. Service was wonderful. read more

L'osteria di Giovanni - pappa al pomodoro - Tuscan Near Me - Florence, FI

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Sorry Yelp, but your "5-stars" doesn't really do proper justice this time around. We need something with just a bit more 'flare' (like brown-nosers back at school that got an "A++" on their test, along with a sticker next to their score from the teacher) to let people know how stunning and remarkable a place is/was. Cutting to the chase: this place is officially in my TOP 5 RESTAURANT/MEAL/EXPERIENCES EVER. We got there early, waited across the street, right at 7pm we walked in with some other diners. We started by admiring the layout and artwork and overall 'vibe' of the ristorante - each was another layer building to a perfect night out. They started us with a (freebie) plate of what seemed like 'retrofitted' zeppole - but instead of being big, dense, dark brown (from being oily) and drowning in confectionery sugar - these were light, small and pinged with salt. (We would've given this place 5-stars on this dish alone.) Countless specials (on top of a solid/standard menu) and the fam went all-in to be adventurous... Carpaccio (first time for one kid) Fresh fava bean salad (first time for me) Shaved truffles (another item I'd never had before - so much better and different from the "infused truffle oil" I did have/use in the past, of course) over homemade pasta. You know the chef is serious when your other kid asks for a steak and the customer is told how it'll come out (hey, we were in Florence and I guess this is something they take religiously). Great (affordable) wine (trust me- they offered plenty that weren't!) on top of astonishingly flavorful and interesting food, just a block from the Arno River... can it get any better? (Yup... because dessert's next.) I abstained but they brought out complimentary 'shots' of lemon sorbet (Italians and lemons, right?) and these fresh-baked semi-soft mini-biscotti that were just bonkers. That was on top of the cheesecake special, brownie and crème brulée (another first for one kid) - that the rest of the family dug. Most expensive meal while in Italy but so so (so!) worth it. read more

L'osteria di Giovanni - "One of the very nicest things about life is the way we must regularly stop whatever it is we are doing and devote our attention to eating." - Tuscan Near Me - Florence, FI

This ristorante is fantastic! The staff is very friendly and welcoming. The owner is very gracious. The food! So delicious. You can't go wrong here. Five stars! read more

Our favorite restaurant of entire Tuscan vacation. All food and drink was fabulous; the service was the best ever, very attentive. Grazie! Best table in the house. read more

Their special truffle menu was amazing! We really enjoyed our meal here. Highly recommended!!

This is my favorite place when going to Florence we have to go at least on e if not more. Food and service is exceptional. Make reservations. Caterina is the best. Uno dei nostri ristoranti preferiti di Firenze. Ci andiamo almeno un paio di volte. Servizio e piatti eccellenti. Caterina è fantastica. read more

We were lucky to get a table here. Although it was in the cellar, we quite enjoyed the experience. We were the only ones there and it really felt like a private room. We ordered appetizers to shared. Some of us had a pasta dish and some didn't. When the appetizers came, we were shocked by how big the portions were! It seemed like the appetizers were scaled to the number of guests, for the same price. When we moved on to the next course, as not everyone had ordered something for that course, they gave those who didn't bowls of soup. The filet mignon was the biggest I have ever seen and delicious. Of course, as with most places, they offer some limoncello and biscotti to end the meal. It was a very memorable experience and given the chance, we would go back again. By far one of the best dining experiences I have ever had. read more

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Food was wonderful and the staff were just great. Great atmosphere. Highly recommended.

We got so lucky at this wonderful place. We should have called for reservations but it got lost during the day. They were able to seat us anyway. The food was amazing, the service was incredible and it was flooded with locals. It was quintessential Tuscany inside. If you are looking for a formal/ casual (weird but true) dinner and eat like you are a local this place is for you. We sat at the front window on the side street gem and ate like a visiting Doge of Venice then call for a reservation early. read more

Florentine Steak and Zucchini Flowers w/Ricotta. House wine was lite and refreshing. The service was excellent! KD was fantastic and was amazing till the end. Would recommend to anyone visiting the area. We've had excellent food in Florence,,,but not to the level of service and hospitality that was shown to us. read more

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So good! One of the best meals I've ever had. The chicken leg was so delicious and the seafood was so tender. Great service too. Definitely recommend and will come back! read more

L'osteria di Giovanni - Chicken leg - Tuscan Near Me - Florence, FI

This came highly recommended by a relative who lives in Tuscany. The service was impeccable. Especially since we had to move tables after adding another person after drinks and appetizer. The table was served Prosecco and fried dough to start. Delicious. I absolutely loved that their fried dough was smaller pieces than other restaurants served. The appetizers were incredible- artichokes, a type of soup with bread. I had the special - gnocchi with raw shrimp and tomatoes. The sauce was a little spicy. The table also had the truffle pasta which had a ton of truffles but the flavor wasn't overpowering. Also, the tortelloni. High marks for all!! read more

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This was easily the best restaurant we had while we were in Florence. We made reservations and were greeted right away by the owner who was very welcoming and gracious with her service. It was also the only restaurant that served us their fried bread. Never had anything like it, and we voraciously gobbled up two plates of that stuff. We ordered the seafood pasta, my gf had the Raviolis and her mom had the truffle pasta. Everything was delicious. Be sure to order their lemon sorbet for dessert! Highly recommend you make a reservation as well which you can do on their website. read more

AMAZING!!!! This was the best restaurant during our two-week vacation in France and Italy!!! The food is delicious, the waiters were attentive and the owner was just wonderful , she made us feel so welcomed. If you want a true Italian experience- you have to come here!!! We loved it so much, we came here twice ; every waiter that was there the first night recognized us and showed amazing hospitality. And the owner was absolutely incredible- she sent us drinks and a care package to take home. It was the most WONDERFUL last dinner we had in Florence- could not have asked for a better experience!!! read more

Really liked this place. It was really really good and we were able to get a reservation just a day or two out. The service was terrific. The food was really good. The new olive oil was just pressed so they brought a bottle to the table for us to put on everything. I put a picture and check out the color. It was amazing. The steak was delicious. The potatoes were fantastic. We had fried zucchini flowers. I don't even know what that is but I loved it. Loved the carpaccio with truffles, the tortelli was really good. We had an artichoke salad with parmigiana cheese that was really good too. Not as pretty a restaurant or as fancy as some others but I liked it a lot. read more

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Amazing experience! We had a party of 10 and they were able to seat us in the wine cellar. The food was delicious! Would have eaten there again if we stayed longer. read more

Fantastic spot for celebrations, family meals and rustic Firenze dishes!! Last minute request for a dining spot from our hotel concierge; did not disappoint. read more

I love Italian food. I love Italy. But the bread here was just okay. I know, it's Pisa's fault that it's unsalted. But still. The bread bites are buttery and delicious. We sure did finished off the whole plate. The wine is also inexpensive and delicious. The truth is I should have ordered the Florentine steak. But it's so hot and that was tooo heavy!! We ordered pasta. I didn't love any of the pasta I ate in Florence. I know!! I'm embarrassed to admit it. We had truffle pasta and my daughter's sauce/gravy was a bit watery. We seasoned it with lots of cheese to soak to the liquid and salt and pepper, but still it was just okay. The staff was friendly and eager to please, the food was just okay. I did love the lemon granita they gave us at the end of dinner. read more

This was hands-down the best restaurant service we have received while visiting Rome and Florence. Our wait staff was attentive and thorough and our food came out with good timing and perfectly cooked. read more

L'osteria di Giovanni - Seafood pasta special - Tuscan Near Me - Florence, FI

This was our favorite meal of our trip to Italy and after all the amazing food we had, that is saying something! We were able to snag a table by calling earlier in the day and were quickly seated in the back in their second room. They started us with some fried dough which was amazing. Next we started with the tomato soup (€12) which was super hearty and flavorful. They were kind enough to split it into two portions. We then got two mains: pasta with porcini mushrooms and truffle for €12 and a tagliatelle with clams, shrimp, other seafood for €15. Both dishes were amazing! The mushroom pasta was excellently flavored, creamy, rich, and so fresh. The truffle sprinkling elevated the dish. The seafood pasta was perfectly cooked, fresh, flavorful, just a perfect dish. We were stuffed but opted for desert and got a chocolate mousse cake that was served alongside gelato for €8. While this wasn't anything I haven't really had before - it was still a delicious piece of cake. They also served cookies and limoncello to the end the meal. We lingered with our wine for a bit and weren't rush one bit to pay. Highly recommended for a fantastic meal in Florence! read more

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Truly amazing!!!! The smoked duck app was beyond words! Out of this world! Next, the truffled pasta that my husband ordered was mouth watering...I'm still thinking about it! lol! I had the stuffed rabbit...I think that's what it was, anyway it was delicious too. From the moment we walked in to the moment we walked out...such an incredible dining experience!!! read more

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Absolutely amazing! The service is first class and it matches the food! We were greeted by the manager, Gaetano, who was pleasant and professional. The fritelle (fried bread puffs that they brought out to welcome us) were addictive The appetizers that we ordered (asparagus salad and zucchini flowers) are local favorites and I cans see why! We both went with one of the specials (the beef stew and roasted potatoes) as the waiter described the slow roasting process to us He again, mentioned that it is a local favorite. It did not disappoint! The beef was so tender, it was easy to split it with a fork and melted in your mouth. We thought we were stuffed, so we figured we would skip dessert. When we asked for the bill, we were surprised to receive a little glass of frozen limoncello and biscotti. Stuffed as we were, it still was amazing! It has been our best meal in Italy so far! read more

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I felt the need to try Florentine steak while in Firenze, so I was looking for a place to get an Italian dining experience. (Honestly, my first choice for dinner in Florence was the steakhouse Chianineria Trattoria dall'Oste. I walked passed this place twice already during the day, but didn't think to make reservations. By the time I got hungry for dinner, I realized they actually required reservations in advance. I didn't bother walking back to see if they could seat me.) Giovanni didn't disappoint! Their hours were 19:00-22:30, and I got there just after 21:00. I didn't plan to dine for so long, but I left around 22:30, oops! The servers were exceptional, and they were so patient with us trying to figure out the menu. There was an Italian one and an English one. They charge a cover fee of €4 per person, which included water and the "free" fried bread, which was surprisingly delicious! It was interesting that they served the food in order of courses: appetizers, primi (pastas), secondi (entrees), and then desserts. I wanted to try their faraona all'arancia (guinea hen), but the server told me it was seasonal. GIOVANNI'S ANTIPASTO: interesting selection of meats, cheese, and bruschetta. We enjoyed the meats the most. BAVETTE ALLO SCOGLIO (tagliatelle): This dish was very flavorful. Noodles were al dente. I was sharing this but ate a good portion of it, oops! BISTECCA ALLA FIORENTINA (Florentine steak): The server recommended half to one kg for one person. The meat was good; actually on the salty side for me. This wasn't my dish, but I would have preferred more medium than rare. CONIGLIO (rabbit): I was curious about rabbit meat, so I ordered this just to try it. I didn't like the way it was prepared with cheese and artichokes. We didn't order dessert because we were so full! But they served us some digestives anyway. I didn't have anything to compare this dining experience with, but hopefully I'll be able to visit Italy again. read more

What an amazing experience! Our waiter was so accomodative and gave us great suggestions. We had the house red wine, loved it! I am a vegetarian and had the zucchini flowers stuffed with the most delicious ricotta ever...and the tortelli with pear and cheese! My husband had the Fiorentina steak, the best steak he has ever had (he had portions meant for 2 all by himself, so says it all) Absolutely wonderful experience, to add to the great service our waiter gave us complementary biscottis to go, definitely coming back here! read more

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We came here based on reviews from online searches for the best steak house in Florence for Bistecca Florentine. This place was on at least 3 lists. Food: ***** The food here was DELICIOUS! Though this is the first Florentine steak I have had, it was great tasting and had great texture as well. Outside with a light charred exterior and very tender inside. The appetizers and veggies were great as well. Staff: **** Extremely nice owner, manager and waiter. Everyone was very accommodating. The only downside was that it was super busy and we had to wait awhile for the check because of how many tables the waiter was serving. Misc: They kept throwing free drinks and food at us, it was a dream for me! I love free stuff :D We got some Prosecco, an appetizer, dessert, a house wine, and shots of Limoncello. It was AWESOME! Price: €€€ 100 Euros for 1.2 kg of Florentine Steak, Giovanna Antipasto, fried artichoke and a glass of wine. Worth it? Yes. Definitely not a meal I could afford to eat too often, but I'd definitely eat here again if I return to Florence. read more

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Best restaurant that I've ever been to in my life. Yes, once again the best food you'll ever have in your life. If you can, make a reservation or show up the second this restaurant opens for dinner. Look at all of the pics I posted. You're going to love this place. read more

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I have visited Giovanni since my first trip to Florence unfortunately my father and Katerina's dad both have oassed. Katerina has done a great job at raising the bar my review from 8 years ago speaks volumes of what a great restauranter her dad was bull she is incredible . God bless both our dads and thanks for welcoming my family in 2024 for my 8'th visit. This is not the best restaurant in Florence this is the best in all of italia read more

Fantastic dinner spot. Made a reservation because other reviews said there was sometimes a wait and when we got there we were seated immediately. We were then welcomed with some Prosecco and fried dough that were both so good along with some fresh bread. The service was very attentive and there were several people waiting on us that made the experience flow very smoothly. To start we had the duck carpaccio (melted in your mouth it was so tasty), the fried zucchini flowers stuffed with ricotta and mozzarella, and the grilled octopus special. All were wonderful. The octopus was prepared perfectly and had great flavor. For mains we had the osso bucco (one of the best I've ever had), the ravioli with mushrooms and truffle (it was filled with potato which was very good and the truffle wasn't overpowering- tasted amazing), and the filet mignon (cooked perfectly but it wasn't our favorite dish). At the end the brought out complimentary lemon sorbet and biscotti. Overall an amazing dining experience and I would highly recommend going here. read more

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Wow! Best meal we had in Florence! The wait staff was thoughtful, funny and attentive. They had lots of great recommendations. I'm gluten free (intolerant, not celiac) and was shocked at how many things that they could make to accommodate me. They brought grilled gluten free bread to the table (delicious), subbed GF pasta into the dish I wanted and made an accommodation to sub GF crumbs into a dessert! Wish I would have discovered this place earlier in our trip to Florence as I would have eaten here more than once! Beautifully decorated as well! read more

L'osteria di Giovanni - My gluten free pasta with Ragu! Yum! - Tuscan Near Me - Florence, FI

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The service with Hercules was amazing. The food was extraordinary. The ambience was beautiful, like being a true Italian family restaurant. There is a private wine cellar you can request if you want a private dinner in an old world cellar. Highly recommend! read more

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We had dinner here a couple nights ago. Possibly the best restaurant experience ever. The owner and staff extremely accommodating. I had never had anything with real truffle before, only fries with truffle oil (which was horrible). Decided to take a chance. OMG!! So delicious. My companions had seafood pasta and tortellini stuffed with pear and pecorino cheese. Also delicious. GO HERE!! read more

L'osteria di Giovanni - Truffle pasta special - Tuscan Near Me - Florence, FI

Outstanding food. Extremely busy. We were lucky, showed up at 8:15 and got a table for two about 8:30 PM. The atmosphere is very loud. I had the pasta of the day, one of the best seafood pasta dishes I've ever had. Homemade spaghetti noodles. Fish of the day was filleted tableside and it was also outstanding. read more

How fortunate for L'Osteria di Giovanni that they have Manuele on their staff! From the moment we sat down until we finished, Manuele provided us with the ultimate care and service. He had such an engaging and welcoming personality and attended to our every need. He was our waiter extraordinaire! First, he brought complementary fried bread to the table. We felt so decadent eating those yummy morsels. Then, I savored ravioli with pear and pecorino cheese with cream of leeks and almonds and onion straws. My husband enjoyed the pappardelle pasta with Bolognese sauce. Both great! Afterwards, Manuele surprised us with glasses of frozen crèma di limoncello and a huge plate of almond biscotti. But, we were not done yet! During conversation with Manuele, I had mentioned that my grandfather was from the southern Italian province of Calabria. So, after the Limoncello, he asked me if I had ever enjoyed an after-dinner liqueur, Vecchio Amaro del Capo, which was made in Calabria. When I said "No," he promptly brought us two glasses. Our total bill for the two pastas, bottle of Chianti Colle Senesi, water and service was € 53. The restaurant is very large with 4 separate dining rooms. It is exactly what we want an Osteria in Italy to look like - vaulted ceilings, pizza oven, Italian artworks, wine bottles and oozing charm. Reservations are a must at this restaurant! read more

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A nice restaurant on a small street away from the tourist spots of Firenze. We had a reservation but were running late (30 minutes late). They offered us an aperol spritz while we waited outside. What we thought was a nice gesture, was actually a 20 euro order. Although that was sneaky, the food was nothing short of perfect. I had the duck carpaccio which was so incredibly filled with flavor. The truffle was was also perfect: rich, creamy, decadent. Then finally, the florentine steak was probably the best I had. It was packed with flavor, tender and beautifully cooked and perfectly portioned for probably 3 people (they say it's for 2 people, but it's good for 3). I would definitely recommend this to everyone and absolutely plan on coming back! read more

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