La Giostra has my heart for many reasons. Maybe it was the food, maybe it was the drinks, maybe it was the ambiance...but mainly, I think it was the memories and our company:) 6 of us Chicagoans dined at La Giostra on a Wednesday evening. It was such an experience. The mood is dark, inviting, and intimate all at the same time. It's such a cozy spot. I found the wine list to be one of the most robust I've send in all of Italy. The dining menu...equally large and varied. We went with a few bottles and 6 different dishes. We played culinary musical chairs in order to try everything that was laid in front of us. While other patrons may have found us crazy, we we're happy and more than full! I would have to say my favorite was the pasta moons with cream sauce. Yes I understand that's not exactly the correct name, but it was pasta, in the shape of a moon, with cream sauce. Yum! Rich and delish! Dessert was equally yummy....the warmed cheesecake was super different, yet packed a punched. La Giostra is definitely a must see in Florence. The only thing I would say is that we heard the portions were "huge". Not sure if it's my massive Chicago appetite...but I did not find the portions to be huge. So do yourself a favor and order a few dishes if dining with a group. ;) read more

I went here for my birthday dinner while in Florence and it was the perfect birthday experience. They welcome all dinners with a glass of Prosecco and a sampler appetizer platter. I ordered an aperol spritz to drink which was more expensive than most I ordered while in Florence but it was a huge glass. I also ordered the Burrata appetizer which was served with fig jam, honey and walnut and it was incredibly delicious! The Burrata was creamy and the fig jam with it was a great combination. For my first course I had the pear and pecorino ravioli. After reading reviews I was told this was a must have and after eating it, I completely agree! It was a perfect symphony of flavors and the best part of the meal. For my second course I had a steak and roasted potatoes which was also delicious. When learning about my birthday the staff gave me several shots of their house-made limoncello and brought out a tiramisu with a candle. They truly made it a special experience. The owner was also very present and was walking around talking to guests. He was very kind when I spoke with him. read more

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Maybe the best Italian restaurant on Earth. Actually I take that back. DEFINITELY the best Italian restaurant on Earth. The Pear ravioli & Wild Boar pasta dishes are the 2 I would recommend over anything else. read more

A sublime experience. They provided complimentary Prosecco and antipasto. We did not have a reservation, but they fit us in ahead of the later dinner crowd. This is a must visit in Firenze. read more

Wonderful meal here!! Steak was amazing!! Appetizer plate was really good--they brought that out--what a surprise! Fabulous service here. I ate the steak with Parmesan & arugula, which I highly recommend. Definitely eat here in Florence!! read more

Because of all the amazing things I've heard about this restaurant, I was expecting to be somewhat disappointed because of my sky high expectations. That was absolutely not the case. This is without a doubt one of the top restaurants in Florence. The restaurant itself is beautiful, with a great history and story featured in the menu. One of the more impressive features is the wine list. The pasta was fresh and simplistic with great flavors. If you're looking for a place to try Florence's famous steak this is it. The owner could not have been a nicer and more interesting man. While it is somewhat pricey, the food quality matches up. Definitely not to be missed in Florence. read more

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The mozzarella. At first glance it appears that you are being served a bowl of milk. You're first reaction will be to to think "a cat I am not!" but one stab of the fork into the bowl and you'll come to a stunning realization: the cheese, it's so fresh that it's sweating, perspiring milk! Mother of god! It's then that the strands find your mouth. You blackout, coming-to with an empty bowl in front of you. Beef. In reality the finest piece of cow I've ingested to date. Cooked like the chef had it under a microscope, spices that will leave you confused, excited, in a flavor-induced daze. Coated in a duck mousse that makes you believe that the duck wanted it this way. The pear ravioli will haunt your dreams, leaving you waking up stabbing the air with an imaginary fork drenched in a pool of your own saliva. Go here for one of the finest meals of your life. read more

I've had the best meal of my life here - twice. I found this restaurant 6 years ago while backpacking with friends. We had an amazing meal that I've always cited as the best meal of my life. I thought that possibly it was the company, the wine, and the excitement of being in a beautiful new city. Fast forward 6 years and I made a return trip to Florence. I booked a reservation at La Giostra and was nervous that my memories wouldn't live up to the reality. But the reality is, La Giostra is a fantastic restaurant and it just doesn't get any better than this. The moment we sat down we were greeted with flutes of champagne, compliments of the chef. Next, we had an appetizer platter brought out with the chef's daily choices, also compliments of the chef. There were six or seven delicious choices of bites including two types of bruschetta, risotto balls, sliced meats, and marinated eggplant. Everything we tasted was fantastic. For entree, we followed recommendations and ordered the pear ravioli. I was a bit skeptical because I don't event really like pear, but it was phenomenal. It had a very mildly sweet taste and was light and fluffy with a ricotta type stuffing. I would order this every time. We finished the meal with tiramisu, which was so light and flavorful it put any version I've tried in America to shame. The service was fantastic and attentive - I was thoroughly impressed with the staff. The complimentary champagne and appetizer platter are just standard practice for La Giostra, but leave you feeling like you are a VIP guest. I also love the cozy feel of the restaurant and the proximity to the Duomo, so you can stroll by after your meal. Even if it's another 5 years before I make it back to Florence, I'll go to La Giostra! read more

The food is amazingly delicious, and the decor is fairy like with the lights twinkling above you. The servers and owners are friendly, and you get a glass of prosecco upon greeting. Here is the reason I'm giving La Giostra one star: they ripped us off. They're known for having amazing pasta, so my friend and I were having trouble deciding what to order. They asked if we wanted to have a tasting of pasta prepared, which sounded like a perfect solution to our dilemma. They then charged us for each pasta tasting as a FULL SERVING. So we both got a single plate that had 2 pieces of ravioli here, a few strands of pasta there... and then we were charged full price for each pasta tasting. Wtf?! It was so incredibly misleading and ruined what had been a very enjoyable meal. I really liked the food at La Giostra so I do recommend coming here. But be a crass tourist and bluntly ask them what they're charging if they offer to 'help you out.' Or play it safe and just order an entree off the menu without getting fancy. Jan 12th Edit: In response to La Giostra - I'm looking at the pictures that other Yelpers have uploaded, and I can see that the pear ravioli dish comes with 6-8 pieces. I stand by my earlier position that getting the pasta sampling was a rip-off, and I think it's a great idea to have your servers only offer what on the menu. OR if they do want to be helpful and offer the pasta sample because they want to make future customers happy, you should have your servers find out the price first. Then the customers can make the decision with all the information. Thanks for reaching out to me. read more

I just paid over 80 euros for a steak that has tendons in it. This place is a complete tourist trap. Look at the matchboxes - are they in English? Is the bartender from the U.S. and tells you about how she moved to Florence to live la dolce vita? Does the owner come over to translate the menu? Run! You're better off eating at Eataly/Mecato Centrale!!! Don't make my mistake and leave a very sad and 160 euro poorer foodie. (To add insult to injury, they brought over an appetizer plate without me ordering it and charged me for it!!!!) read more

As luck would have it, during one slightly boozy night at this charmingly "royal" restaurant (frequented by the likes of Brad Pitt and George Lucas), my friend and I were invited by the owner to join him and a group of people at a large table in the back. It was after hours, the lights were dimmed, and some kindred spirit graciously filled my empty glass with a classically dirty Brunello (meant only in the earthiest sense, of course). While I waxed poetic to those nearest to me about my love for food, wine (and Florence), the men (no doubt marinated in libations) belted out opera songs as if they were some mass gathering of Pavarotti and Bocelli. I had to pinch myself to make sure the moment was real. This is what I have come to love about La Giostra (well really, about Florence in general): while the simple, well-executed ingredients awaken the taste buds, it is the experience that animates all other senses. Florence often inebriates by ambiance more than wine. When it comes to wine, La Giostra knows what they're doing: how to serve it, how to present it, how to pair it, and how to enjoy it with the proper glass (a detail I often find lacking in Italy -- I hate drinking wine out of thick-rimmed water glasses). There is no sense of pretension, however, (minus the occasional customers who may gush loudly over the cut-rimmed glassware - ahem ). So what about the food? Every dish I have experienced at La Giostra is stellar. I recommend the ravioli (handmade, fresh every morning), but the carpaccio is equally dee-lish. I love the caprese -- the tiny balls of bufala mozzarella are off the charts. My favorite dessert is the raspberry rice gelato. I can't say enough about flavor. Flavor, flavor, flavor. Every dish brims with that pure, un-bastardized essence that makes Florentine dishes so classically simple...so famously distinct. The main ingredient is the star -- all other components serve only to highlight the star's talent. Oh, and speaking of stars, the restaurant is owned and run by Prince Dimitri Kunz d'Asburgo Lorena and his twin sons. Just a minor little detail. If you haven't experienced the magic of La Giostra, do it - right now. But make sure to make a reservation. read more

As I think about where to even begin this review, I start drooling and my eyes get a little misty reminiscing on the meal of a lifetime I had at La Giostra. I studied abroad in Florence in 2008. I had my fair share of incredible pizzas, mouthwatering pasta dishes and refreshing gelato, but nothing comes even close to the meal I had at La Giostra. I didn't realize until I came back to the states (with about 15 pounds around my waist as a lovely souvenir.. sorry I'm not sorry) that La Giostra is somewhat of an anomaly amongst visiting celebrities and the like. However, that doesn't mean much to me, so onto the food we go... First of all, you walk in and you're immediately greeted by the friendly maître d' and servers. You know how at Olive Garden it's "when you're here, you're family"? Well I assure you this is no Olive Garden, but you definitely feel that way. I was with 6 girlfriends and one of their parents (who graciously paid for this dining experience) and we were seated at a giant round table towards the back of the dimly lit and elegant interior. Upon arrival, you are presented with a glass of prosecco and massive complimentary appetizer trays for the table. Fabulous. We of course ordered a couple of burrata cheeses for the table (Never met a cheese I didn't like, hence the 15lbs) To start, my friend and I ordered the pear ravioli. It was... amazing. We then split another pappardelle dish, as well as the BALSAMIC GLAZED STEAK. Sorry for the all-caps. Taste explosion. This was of course, all paired perfectly with fabulous chianti, as were most of my meals in Italy. We capped off the evening with tiramisu and dessert wine (naturally) and then stumbled home in a food/wine coma splendor. Also, for all 8 people, all the wine (there was a LOT) and roughly 3 courses each, i think the total bill was around 900/1000 euro. Pricey, but worth every cent. Ti amo, La Giostra! read more

If I had to eat at one restaurant for the rest of my life, this would be it. I have had good meals, and great meals, and incredible meals; but La Giostra tops them all, in a class of its own. I have been fortunate enough to go to La Giostra 3 times so far, and I do not doubt I will be there many more. The overall dining experience is flawless - do not be afraid to talk to your waiter or waitress, as well as the prince that walks around (you'll know him when you see him). Everyone is incredibly friendly, and every person there has a fantastic story to tell. Also, when you walk in, take notice of all the celebrity pics on the walls, as you are likely standing in the same spot that one of your favorite actors or musicians has been. You can read the other reviews for more details on the place, but if you are traveling to Florence, it would be an abomination to pass up a night at La Giostra. And if you are looking for entree ideas, you really cannot go wrong with anything on the menu. FYI, the Pear Ravioli happens to be my piatto preferito, of all time, from now until I die. The filet is incredible as well, and the complementary appetizers that are always brought out before the meal are always fantastic and very fun to eat. read more

OK... Let's get a couple things right out front here before I go five stars on this review. Firenze is one of the most touristy places on the face of the entire planet! Maybe a tad behind New York City or Paris, but even in early October, the streets are teeming with tour groups lining up around the block for a glance a David's genitalia! So when Yelpers start ranting that this little restaurant, two blocks from the Duomo, is crowded with tourists and there are hardly any locals eating there, with all due respect... I just don't get it! If I were a local, I would do everything I possibly could to stay away from this part of Firenze, well documented in the facial expressions of people trying to ride their bikes to work or to the market, but saddled in despair because they keep running into camera toting tour groups! But this is about La Giostra, right? I have to concur with the people who say things like, "amazing; best meal in Europe; thanks for the free Prosecco and appetizers; OMG - the eggplant was life-changing and I don't even LIKE eggplant!" This is truly foodie Nirvana! We came for a late lunch on a Tuesday afternoon, WITHOUT a reservation, and we were seated right away. We had a leisurely lunch, unhurried by the wait staff, and every course was original and incredibly tasty! The pasta with pear. The mozzarella with pine-nuts. The prosciutto antipasti. Our server was patient and entertaining, including the whole schtick with aerating the wine in a circus act sort of way. And yes, the place is pricey!!! (And they expect you to buy a bottle of wine!) But here's the thing: THE FOOD WAS ORIGINAL AND EXCELLENT, served in generous but reasonable portions, so by the end of the meal we still had room to split the ricotta cheesecake (four ways), which by itself was a religious experience. NEVER had anything like that before - Rich like a cheesecake, but light as air, like a chocolate mousse. Is it all a bit showy and catering to people who are willing to pay a few bucks for a really nice Italian meal? YOU BET. Was it worth it? ABSOLUTELY. We found the place on Yelp as we were wandering out of the train station, and it totally made our day in Firenze. We could have walked past this place a dozen times and never even noticed had we not read the reviews here. Would go back in a heartbeat, and savor every morsel, all over again! GO! read more

This is my favorite restaurant in the entire universe. I still remember everything I've eaten there. Please, for the love of all that is right and good in this world, do yourself a favor and order the Burrata as an appetizer. It will blow your mind. All of their pasta is fantastic as well. I enjoy that this place doesn't have a sign. You may get lost finding it. But it doesn't matter because the food is definitely worth roaming the dark and windy streets of Firenze. Not to mention the addition of the local Medici Prince who really knows his vino. If you are lucky and blessed enough to find yourself in this beautiful city, please make a stop at La Giostra. You will not regret it. read more

I was at La Giostra for New Years Eve. I went to great lengths to get a reservation for the occasion, and was comfortable knowing it was very touristy, but a place that was not to be missed. I asked ahead of time if there was a pre fixe for the holiday (most places offer one) and was told there was both pre fixe and ala carte. That was not really accurate, but... nevertheless. I had an early reservation:7pm, and the place never reached full capacity. I was sat next to the bathroom, but its a small restaurant that I dine alone, so it was fine. Everyone was treated to a glass of persecco (or so I thought). We were all served the glass without asking, but it appeared on our bill. Nevertheless, even if I'd known ahead of time I'd have likely asked for it. I left it up to the server to recommend items for me, and received three dishes: a carpaccio, a pasta with truffles and a duck dish. The carpaccio was very cold when it came out... too cold. It was clear the meat was still mildly frozen. I let it sit for a bit to come to room temperature, and despite a mayonaisse with it that certainly wasn't bad, it wasn't a knock it out of the park dish. It was served with some simple sliced tomatoes. I've had carpaccio at any number of places with far more consideration given to it. The pasta was, if I remember, the highlight of the night. Served simply with a lot of sliced truffles, and the truffles really added to the overall taste. It was simple and lovely. The final dish was a duck, and while certainly lovely and I have no complaints about it, again, it wasn't a stand out dish. It was treated simply. Over the course of dinner I had another glass of prosecco. Dinner was certainly not bad. On any other night I'd have had no complaints until the bill. But having previously dined at Santo Bevitore, I felt New Years there BURIED La Giostra, and about half the price. It wasn't until after dinner that I realized, it was a $180 meal including an appropriate tip. For three dishes and 2 glasses of prosecco, one of which I didn't ask for, and an espresso at the end of the meal. At 90$, 100$, even 120$, I likely wouldn't complain, nor would I have a problem paying $180 for a meal, I've certainly paid more. However, I have an expectation at that amount and to say this fell flat is an understatement. I wouldn't be back. read more

This is only my third restaurant in Florence, so it's alright if you judge me by that pedigree. I had a fantastic dinner here, with extraordinary ravioli (goat cheese with a hint of apple), pork, wine, and champagne on the house. The owner was conversational and welcoming, and he spoke Italian, French, Spanish, and English. The only negative review anyone has posted has been about the cliental. I would like to suggest that perhaps the restaurant is popular with tourists for the same reasons it was popular with florentines the night I went; it's Good. That's all it needs to be. The internet does the rest. read more

Thank you for the most superb dining experience. The pear ravioli was excellent and the cheesecake was out of control!! I love this place. I went twice in one week and wish I lived closer. So I could be a regular customer! Don't suppose you could open another restaurant in the SanFrancisco area USA read more

La Giostra - Tuscan Near Me - Florence, FI

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This place is sublime: a perfect truffled pasta, tomato basil spagetti and tiramisu The wine list is great, service is charming, very very Vegetarian friendly and quite a Michelin star restuarant! :) This review is from when my husband and I were on vacation to Italy way back in Sep 2012. This place came highly recommended by friends. It was our last night @ Florence and we were able to get a last minute online reservation @ 7pm. Though it was a little early for us to have dinner, we still decided to go for it. La Giostra has 2 restuarants next to each other. On reaching, they couldnt find our reservation!! :( BUMMER!!! But the owner was super nice when we informed him that we only reserved it 30 mins before through internet. He took us to the restuarant next door. The place was packed. It's slightly eccentric but we got a warm welcome from the staff We sat down and informed the staff that we are vegetarians! We were given a full course veg menu and we started looking. Within a few mins, we were served 2 glasses of Presecco and it was complimentary! WOHOOOOOOOOO.... I love sparkling wine and Presecco is my all time fav ;) :) We could see all our nearby tables getting some sort complimentary appetizers plates. We thought since we are vegetarians, we might not get any! SAD :( We were ready to order when the staff brought out the complimentary appetizer and told us that it's vegetarian!!! YAY!!! YAY!!!! :) :) We ordered the basil spagetti with tomato sauce and the truffled pasta. Food portions were generous.Truffled Pasta was one one of the most unique dishes I have ever tasted. Both the main course dishes were delicious! We asked for suggestions for the desert and got Tiramisu. It was so tasty & decadent that I wanted to have more! :) The wines are only sold by the bottle and not by the glass. Slightly expensive This was one of my best meals in Florence and I have recommended this place to a lot of my family & friends! If I visit florence again, I will definetly be dining @ La Giostra.. CHEERS! :) read more

Very disappointing. The food was at best mediocre but the prices were high and the pour of wine was very small. There are two sides to the restaurant, and we actually suspect the right side is for locals and the left side is for tourists (where we sat). One of our meals was not eatable, 2 meals were completely wrong. In all honestly it tasted like frozen pasta with little to no effort put in. A major tourist trap! Do not recommend! ....update... I understand they say they don't have two separate establishments so perhaps we were giving it the benefit of the doubt assuming there was any portion of the restaurant that was good. We witnessed locals enter our side and be escorted to the back, and be seated on the other side. Not authentic, not fresh, not good. They seem to make a great effort to look for bad reviews and comment on it, which only feeds our suspicions. read more

A good friend of mine that knows high class recommended La Giostra to me. He assured me that the food and atmosphere would make for a wonderful dining experience. I must say, he did not steer me wrong. The owner is very interesting. He wears some very interesting jewelry but is always out and about in the restaurant making sure everyone is happy. You can see from all the pictures on the walls of him and celebrities that this is a great place that many people seek out. We didn't order from the menu. I asked the owner to just hook us up and hook us up he did. We had an amazing steak that was sautéed and covered in duck liver. AMAZING! The pasta dish was to die for and the dessert was mouth watering. Put this restaurant on your "Must Do" list when visiting Florence. read more

Amazing place! The food and the service were spectacular. Make reservations as it is almost impossible to walk in. We had the carpaccio which was delicious. The boar pasta and filet with foie gras and both were perfect. The ambiance is really nice as well. read more

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We found all these amazing reviews on yelp and had to try. We made reservations for 8:30 and had a bit of a hard time finding it and was a few minutes late and had to wait 20 mins to sit. I was not thrilled about this seeing as how we made a reservation and people walked in after us and sat right away. Also had to listen to some rich study abroad girl talk about her "like" amazing time and how she will only have "real" art in her house. Ug. After all of this I was a bit concerned that the restaurant was going to be over run by tourists (even though I was one)...and it was. However once the prosecco was poured and the complimentary plate was brought out the evening was on a fast rise up. We ordered both the rigatoni and pear and ricotta ravioli and they were both just amazing! I then ordered the filet with balsamic and this was MIND BLOWING! best steak I have ever had and I've had some amazing steaks! My wife is much more of a foodie and she agreed! We finished the night off with warm cheese cake with fruit topping and was brought over a free shot limoncello. Perfect end to an amazing meal. Go here, eat the food, put up with the tourists, and enjoy an amazing meal. :) read more

It's been years but I still remember the warm service and truffles everywhere at Christmas dinner. Gotta do this place.

This restaurant lives up to it's reputation as one of the must go to restaurants in Florence. Beautiful, quaint atmosphere. Original ceilings from 1600s covered with tiny lights. Candle light on all tables, wine bottles and books. We arrived a bit early and were given glasses of prosecco while we waited. The staff was professional, courteous, friendly, knowledgeable and enthusiastic about their food. The food itself was excellent. We had pasta with wild boar sauce, pear ravioli, pasta with shrimp. No review of LaGiostra would be complete without mentioning the owner. We didn't have the chance to talk to him, he was preoccupied with a table full of what looked like his friends or vips (probably one in the same , haha). He is impossible to miss. This night he was wearing fur boots to his knees, bracelets from wrist to elbows and what looked to be 15-20 necklaces. He appeared friendly and hardworking. A can't miss spot. read more

La Giostra - Tuscan Near Me - Florence, FI

Superb food. We had a fantastic steak cooked with garlic and rosemary, veal cooked with lemon and marsala and some delicate cheese and pear tortellini. Yes they give you a free glass of prosecco. And yes they gave us a tasty free plate of bruschetta which was all very nice and very welcoming. However, the owner of the restaurant (who looked a little bit like a pirate) was a bit too pushy for us. Basically recommending some pretty expensive dishes and showing his dissatisfaction when we didn't want to order an expensive bottle of wine. I was a little bit annoyed that I couldn't order a glass of wine to be honest. Having said all that, the food was really really excellent. Lots of tourists yes. But well worth four stars. All in all a nice place. Satisfying. read more

Hands down the best meal I had during my entire 6 weeks in Europe (east and west). My group of friends made a reservation here based on the fact that every single study abroad friend of ours had been here and Loved it. We were no exception. This place is amazing. We made a reservation a few days in advance (definitely suggested because the place is always packed) and were seated in about 15ish minutes when we got there. Our server was a little short with us at first but definitely on top of his game when reviewing the highlights on the menu. We started with the pear ravioli to share - must get, please tell me you will. The pasta is homemade and the mixture of pear and cheese in the ravioli with a creamy, light sauce is awesome. I could've eaten like 3 bowls on my own. I had the boar Ragu for my entree. I tried to stop eating so I could save it for later and have an orgasm in my mouth again from the moist meat and perfectly cooked pasta but I couldn't bear to stop myself from clearing my bowl. It's really that good. To top off this awesome meal, we received a complimentary sampler board to start, a glass of prosecco, lemoncello (by the bottle) at the end of the meal, and the company of the fabulous owner during the last half of our meal. Amazing place! I can't wait to come back for more when I visit Italy again! read more

Tried this restaurant on our last day in Florence based on popularity and Yelp reviews. Atmosphere and ambiance was excellent, good for families and a romantic dinner alike. Service was friendly and informative, waiters speak very good English and are very willing to help translate the Italian menu. We ordered the iberico ham antipasti which was excellent, all credit goes to the ham. The gnocchi entree was average in flavour but the gnocchi was very soft. The seafood pasta entree was good, steak was also above average. Although this was a good choice to dine tonight, I am not sure it was better than other places I have tried outside Italy. Also a little overpriced but they try to make up for it by provided free appetizer and a glass of proseco. read more

Amazing food. One of the best meals I've ever had, and the hospitality to match it! The balance of taste, of each dish, will unfold on your tongue like a blooming flower. Ask for the spicy seafood risotto. It's not on the menu, but they will happily make it for you. read more

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After reading amazing reviews on yelp we decided to see what was going on in this place. So we called an made a reservation for 10:30 pm. Place is very nice, they gave is a plate with free appetizers consisting of bruschetas and other italian stuff and a prosecco glass. We ordered a brie cheese ravioli with artichoke, a risotto and a bransino with brunello sauce. Let me tell you this was the best meal we had in italy and we had been here for 12 days. We are going to visit this place every time in Florence. read more

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Here's the rundown: Pleasant, accommodating & courteous service Gratis prosecco to prepare your palate for your wonderful meal Creative & interesting complimentary appetizer plate Appropriate portions unless you eat a LOT "Ravioli di pecorino & pera williams" is a popular dish, but I found it to be average The ossobuco is fantastic and the tiramisu is wonderful Ample wine list The menu is in Italian only, so if you don't know Italian well or don't have an auto-translate app on your phone you may have a difficult time Romantic but fun atmosphere Easy walk from the Duomo read more

Hapsburgs, beware! Your empire is once again resting precariously on its past glories. Ouch! A usually reliable friend pointed us here citing a meal that he described at "all-time." Unfortunately I fear that the intervening years have seen a downhill run here. That is the only explanation I can find. Our meal tonight was an almost unmitigated fail. The mitigation: the "free" crostini were pretty great, especially the chicken liver and the peppers in balsamic. And the pear-pecorino ravioli were pretty good, though a little more tooth to the pear inside would have made them excellent. We should have stopped there. The octopus carpaccio came out as an underseasoned mush, virtually indistinguishable from the bed of potatoes it rested uneasily upon. The risotto con funghi was again underseasoned -- worse, it was poorly prepared; a watery grave for some very lovely mushrooms. The veal chop was not overdone, but that's about the only nice thing I can say about a piece of meat that was smothered and stewing in a sea of artichoke hearts and a wan sauce, overhwhelming whatever sear and charm it might have had. Speaking of drowned, I didn't know fish could drown, but my wife's branzino, oversauced like the veal chop, gasped for life in a sea of neither fresh nor cooked cherry tomatoes and an oversweet wine reduction. Nowhere in the meal was there a breath of a fresh herb, a touch of caramelization, a grain of lovely salt or any touch of pride. Had this meal been served to me at an airport in 1986, my still untrained palate might have been satisfied. But not in Florence in 2014. It's possible that my wife and I were sized up as tourist rubes. But be careful, Hapsburgs, underestimating people caused your empire a whole ton of hurt! read more

1. Tourist trap for English-speaking people. 2. No English-language menus. 3. Only full bottles of wine available, all expensively priced. 4. Packed with little elbow room. 5. Horrlble tasting food. 6. Server negligence, even when taking a nearly full plate of food away (no concern that the customer's meal might have been really, really bad). 7. Belated gesture by the lead server to get me "anything on the menu for free." I said, I'm sorry but I'm not sure anything else would be any better." As a main dish, I ordered veal with artichokes. The veal was so over-salted that I could not taste the veal (which was, however a true scallopini). The veal was covered in a bland gravy of sorts, thickened with cornstarch. The artichoke hearts were sliced thinly and had no flavor at all. This dish came with 2 ounces of potatoes ( serving is 5.5 ounces, the size of one medium red potato in the U.S.), also too salty to eat. And the final part of the dish was julienned carrots, cooked to the point of mush. And also without flavor. I had to guess they were carrots by the color. There was no sign that any herb or spice had been used in the preparation of this plate of food. Perhaps the over-salting was a kitchen mistake, but the recipes for the dishes were probably not grossly mis-executed. In other places, it's possible to order a small bottle of wine-- .33 l or .50 l ( a full bottle is .75 l). Here, you either buy a .75 l bottle of wine (30-150 euros) or you drink water. They do have a bar with hard liquor. I heard the Americans at the next table talk about their recent trip to Applebee's, so that must be the target market for this restaurant's food. The people at another nearby table were looking for spaghetti and meatballs. They did not realize they were in Tuscany, apparently. The server seemed to recognize this kind of patron and suggested a spaghetti with a tomato and ground beef sauce. My guess is that because patrons have to buy a full bottle of wine, they are less discriminating by the time they've finished their dinner and the wine. I had a truly superlative couple of dinners in Avignon (entree, main course, dessert of culinary distinction) for the same price as La Giostra's disgusting plate of food. Same kind of high-quality dinners in Seville, Spain. read more

This place is for tourists.....plain & simple. Every table in there was Americans, no locals what.so.ever. It was the worst restaurant experience of our trip. They make a big deal about telling a story about the owners, etc., in English in the front of the menu, but then print the menu entirely in Italian, and are too impatient to answer questions when they come to take your order. Our waiter pushed us to order an antipasti before our dinner, so we ordered a prosciutto plate...but he never told us there was a complimentary appetizer plate that comes before everyone's dinner. We didn't need to order the antipasti! Then our bill came and that prosciutto plate was 40 euro! The whole experience was bad, and we should have followed our gut and left before we ordered. The food was so so, certainly much better can be found without the Disneyland production of this place. read more

This was a wonderful place. A nice walk through Florence. A welcome drink of bubbly and an appetizer that was an assortment of new flavors. The wine menu was extensive. The menu was in Italian and it was dark and hard to read. We took our waiters recommendations and they were wonderful. I loved the pasta dish w pumpkin flower and stuffed w spinach. We also had the steak w porcini mushrooms. So good! Service was good. They were. It super friendly but we would go back. Business casual attire. Great for a romantic night out. Reservations! read more

Service is fantastic and food is incredible. Had a great time at La Giostra. ALL the servers were super upbeat and friendly. Michelin star level service without the pomp. As good as the service was, the food is the star. Every dish was perfection. I would give this restaurant 10 stars! read more

I wanted to love this place, but it was our least favorite meal in Florence. The steak was okay, but a little tough, and way too much food (and slightly more expensive per kg than other places). We only ordered the large size because the waiter told us there was nothing smaller. The ambience is very nice, but the very groups took away a bit of romance for us (I think they had a great time though!) The house wine was unremarkable. The complimentary appetizers and bubbly were very much appreciated - a nice touch. The place was busy, and the waitstaff seemed rushed and annoyed. Overall, no major complaints, but I'd tamper down your expectations. For us, Zeb's was more our style. read more

Best meal i had in Italy. Service was amazing, great decor and food was outstanding!. We had antipasti, primi, secondi, dessert.EVERYTHING was amazing!! We were served complimentary appetizer and a glass of prosecco to start. Pleace is quality so expect to pay for it $. Owner walks around the restaurant making sure every one is looked after. Both my husband and i loved every single item we ate, and we did eat quite a lot!. The papardelle al tartufo, pear ravioli,tiramisu was the best i have ever had!. Wine list is extensive and we had an amazing bottle of wine, so good i can't recall what else we had for dinner. All was amazing though! read more

Great atmosphere, great place! The pear ravioli is a real home run -- all you hear about is the pear ravioli at Four Lions, but La Giostra's is better, in my opinion. The service was fantastic and the waitress patiently translated the italian menu into English. You get a plate of appetizers and prosecco for free, which was great. I had never had chicken liver before, but liver on bread was incredible. Overall, the price was way too high by a good 30 euros or so, which was the only drawback. Of all the places we ate at in Florence, I'll remember this one the best. read more

The meal was delicious from start to finish. Best of all was the service. I think I preferred my husband's pear ravioli to my mushroom tagliatelle. My bronzino was rich and amazing but again, I envied my husband's balsamic filet. read more