One of our favorite meals in Italy. The pear ravioli was fantastic. Definitely make a reservation here. I was disappointed they didn't serve wine by the glass though (at least they didn't the night we were there -- our friends said they had it the time they were there previously.) They brought us a huge free appetizer and free prosecco at the beginning of the meal. We didn't have any room for dessert. Oh, the menu was all in Italian, and I couldn't get cell service to use my phone translator, so you'll have to ask the waiter about the food. Ours was super helpful though, so we understood exactly what we were ordering in advance. read more

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Excellent meals - one of my favorites during my trip to Florence and Rome! We had the artichoke carpaccio which was delightful - so simple but every bite was delicious. I then had a spicy seafood pasta. When it came out I was a little concerned as there seemed to be no sauce and I was wondering how it would have a spicy taste but after my first bite I was in heaven. The food and service were all spectacular. I wish I would have been in Florence longer so I could have experienced the food here more than once read more

La Giostra - Tuscan Near Me - Florence, FI

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I can't say enough wonderful things about this restaurant. If I was a local, I'd be here very often. Ambiance was intimate, food was delicious, service was excellent, and the owner is so nice and down to earth. So relaxing and they really get you to just slow down, enjoy the experience and your meal. I will definitely come back here next time in Florence and recommend this place to others. read more

So good I don't have words! We arrived for our reservation early and even though they were busy they sat us. Good service, amazing food, eating here is a must!!!! read more

I dined here this weekend after 7 years and it is still the best. Romantic, intimate environment. Attentive services. The pear ravioli is still one of the best things I've ever eaten. I love the wild boar ragu and balsamic steak as well. MUST GO read more

Not one of, but THE best restaurant I have ever been to. This place came as a recommendation and was that a godsend! We ate here two nights in a row and would have loved to have gone back a third but we were leaving florence. We had the stracciatella for an app the first night and it was superb, the complimentary apps were literally so good my boyfriend and I (play) fought over them the next night. Then we both split the handmade tagliatelle with mushrooms, which was out of this world delicious. We also split the risotto and I can say I will never ever be able to have a dish that's quite this spectacular. The most delicious dish I've ever had. The next night we dined on the tuna appetizer which to now has been on my mind and making my mouth water. So incredibly juicy and tasty. This night we shared the pecorino ravioli, which again was perfect. The other pasta we shared was the spicy spaghetti, which my boyfriend has voted as his favorite meal he's ever had. Lastly the service, holy smokes!!! These guys are so personable and professional. EACH and EVERY SERVER was wonderful, giovanna, loredana and manuel, who took care of us the second night...we love you! And even the bus girl was an absolute sweetheart taking such amazing pride in her job and self. This staff is beyond professional and goes above and beyond at their job, a huge thanks to them for everything. Dine here and you WILL NOT be disappointed! read more

Booked this restaurant after a recommendation from a co worker. I did book it 2 weeks prior. The ambiance is very beautiful in the main room with the lights hanging. We ate for nearly 3 hours, as it is busy but worth it. We started with the must have burrata. We had the pear and truffle ravioli has a second course shared. The main was a baked fish and Osso Buco. Finished off with a bottle of wine. Lemon sorbet for a light dessert! The owner is very nice and walks around to make minimal conversation unless you want photos ect. I loved seeing all the photos of him and his dad over the years , it really shows passion. Some people might find that touristy but it tells a story. Excellent place for a special occasion ! read more

Not sure why people aren't giving this place great reviews! Went with three friends and had nothing short of great service, any server that walked by made sure we had everything we needed and with complementary prosecco, small appetizer and limoncello the bill was well worth it. Three of us got the pecorino and pear ravioli of course which was amazing and one got the gnocchi with Gorgonzola and pistachio which was to die for. Great ambiance and fantastic service would definitely recommend for a great night in florence! read more

Having read very favourable reviews of this restaurant, I went with high expectations... a little curious as to why so many people raved about it. I reserved a table for one online via their website for 7.30pm, but arrived half an hour early. The waiters seated me soon enough, and were very attentive. I was offered a glass of welcome drink - a prosecco, followed by some antipasti for starters. All of them were "a present" from the restaurant, as my young and very cute waiter put it. ;) These generous gestures opened my heart to a favourable start before my main course was even served to me. The selection of antipasti was excellent - I especially loved the grilled egg plant in balsamico and would not hesitate to order it as a starter in the future. The freshly baked bread went very well with their olio and balsamic vinegar... in fact, I was so impressed with the balsamic vinegar, I asked if they sold it, seeing that it had the La Giostra brand stamped on it. Yes, they do... at a hefty Eur 30,00 if you should be tempted to get some. Alas, I'm very well stocked up with good grade balsamic vinegar and balsamic glaze, so I didn't order any even though I was tempted to. The waiter had recommended the ravioli for my pasta - and it was a truly unusual choice of pear stuffing and cheese sauce. PEAR?!! Yes.. you heard that right. Portions were rather small, but it was filling enough because I did drown myself in a glass of prosecco and some antipasti, as well as one slice of bread... Hence, my bill was a modest Eur 21, even though I was tempted to go for a round of dessert. However, I had plans to go salsa dancing (and belching in the middle of the dance floor is bad form) and didn't think it would be wise to be overly full. Moreover, I always eat at least one gelato a day when in Italy, which no doubt will expand my already rather generous waistline! Well, I enjoyed my meal tremendously - so much so that I promptly asked the waiter to reserve table for me the next evening since it would be my last night in Florence and no doubt, I want to indulge myself and dine well (AGAIN). If you only have the time for ONE meal in Florence, I'd recommend La Giostra. The ambience is romantic... and if you think for one instance I felt sorry for myself to be dining alone, think again.. I felt like a princess treating myself to a fabulous meal. Hey, a girl's gotta enjoy her travels! In terms of value, La Giostra felt like a treat... but (while the food is decent) like most treats, it is a once-in-a-while sort of meal. I've had robust, delicious meals in Florence that cost me only Eur 14, including wine, pasta and tiramisu - now, THAT is a good deal (Fratelli Briganti). La Giostra, in comparison is "fine dining" style... and the attentive service by the staff reflects that. Don't expect value in terms of portions... instead, treat it as a lovely experience if you want to pamper yourself to a good meal at the end of the day. After all, you're on vacation! read more

For the price, this was not so good. The service was spot on and wonderful, don't get me wrong, but the food was only so-so and the whole place smelled a little bit funky (I have read this in other reviews too). I had the trabaccolara and it was far too salty. I am in training here in Florence to become a professional chef and have done this dish several times. The overwhelming flavor should not be salt. My boyfriend had the pear ravioli and they were quite good, but there were very few of them on the plate (I think that a lot of people come here intrigued by this dish...it is a lovely dish but you can find it in several restaurants in and around Florence where it is done better and served in larger quantities...not to mention at a lower price). My cousin had the spinach ravioli...again they tasted fine, but their were not enough of them. I has very please at the fact that they brought us a complementary plate of mixed antipasti as well as a welcome glass of proseco. This made up for the higher prices to some extent. The burata and the steak that we ordered for our secondi were fine. The burata was unique in its presentation and it is hard to go wrong with honey and cheese, but the steak was only so-so...again, not worth the extra money. The atmosphere (if it weren't for the funky smell) was something to write home about. It was gorgeous and very romantic. If you have a date, bring them here, but try to sit in the main dining room, as I think that the smell previously discussed is not present there. Also, I have been living in Florence for a while now and have been constantly exploring restaurants. I think that this place would very much impress someone who was only passing through on a romantic holiday. read more

We decided to make reservations at this restaurant to celebrate Valentine's day during our honeymoon trip. I had found out about this place not only through yelp and trip advisor but also referred to it by a really great honeymoon planner in Florence. Also I was hoping to see George Clooney since he frequents this place often when in Italy haha (I know, too optimistic). This was the best restaurant we visited in Italy on ALL counts. The ambiance was very romantic and cozy - just perfect for the occasion. The servers were very professional and attentive. The restaurant even sent complimentary drinks and an appetizer which was a very pleasant surprise. Their pear ravioli was sometime I had never tried before and their oso bucco was on point to say the least. I am so glad we found this place and will be recommending it to others as well. read more

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Greetings Italian Yelpers, this was our favorite restaurant in Florence. We spent our day walking the city in search of a great bottle of wine, atmosphere, and a great plate of Italian cuisine--La Giostra did not disappoint! We arrived 30 minutes after it opened and tables were filling up quick. When you sit down, they give you a glass of Prosecco on the house. The staff is very helpful with the all Italian menu and makes great recommendations based on your preferences. We started with the gnocchi (awesome), then had the Osso Bucco and the stuffed chicken breast with vegetables (double awesome). For dessert, we had the tiramisu (triple f-ing awesome). The food, the staff, and the atmosphere at La Giostra is 5 star--we will be back! read more

I got to work with Miri, who handles the reservations for the restaurant, and was able to plan a great birthday surprise for my friend who was dining here for her birthday. She kindly helped me in ordering a few bottles of wine, and even printed out a birthday note PDF that I had sent her earlier through our email correspondences. She was very attentive to the detail, from being very responsive to my emails, and special inquiries, to keeping the secret for my friend's birthday for the dinner. They even added a complimentary glass of dessert wine to accomodate her birthday dessert! It was a pleasure to work with them, and had a very great customer experience, even though it was all done over email correspondence from the US! read more

The best overall dining experience we had on our trip. Recommended by a friend, it didn't disappoint. From our charming waiter who went above and beyond, to the extra treats and delicious food, we WILL be back! read more

Such great food and service!! Such a cute place with adorable fur raps on the chairs. Get the sea bass!

Terrible service. They forgot that we ordered an entree and were argumentative when we asked them if our steaks were coming after they tried to bring us our check (after only having an appetizer). We had to remind the waiter what we ordered and sat without water or any follow up for 30 minutes while other tables seated after us finished their meals. When the entrees finally came they got the order wrong. We overheard two other tables voice similar concerns throughout the night. Really disappointed after seeing so many positive reviews. Won't be back and would not recommend. Spend your hard earned money elsewhere. read more

Ay caramba! Based on the reviews, I was expecting a superlative experience, but regret that my family's visit to La Giostra was honestly terrible. Everything from the overpriced food to the poor service was indicative of a tourist trap designed to prey on vacationing Americans. To add insult to injury, the waitress knocked over and shattered a nearly full glass of good wine (Fontodi Flaccianello at 95€ per bottle) but did nothing to compensate us for her error. Do yourself a favor and don't fall for the many glowing reviews of this place. It is cramped, dirty, and not worth the rip-off prices. read more

This place may have been great once upon a time but now it is clearly running on the fumes of its reputation. The service is terrible and so it the food. We waited 30 minutes before we had to finally beg someone to take our drink order. The bread was the worst I've ever had in Italy. It tasted like bland cornmeal. Who messes up bread in Italy? Most of the food was only mediocre but the schnitzel was flavorless and just plain bad. The waiter asked why we didn't eat the schnitzel and we were honest about the subpar taste of the dish. Not sure why he asked though because he didn't take the 28euro charge off of our bill. There are soooo many amazing restaurants in Florence, don't waste your time or money on this place. read more

I was told by not one, not two, but three separate people that they had the best meal of their life here. I was worried the bar would be set too high but my goodness, did this place meet expectations. We were greeted by glasses of champagne and apertivos on the house. Fresh Stracciatella di burrata so creamy I couldn't believe it, with pinenuts, honey, grapefruit, and jam was an amazing way to start. Pecorino ravioli and impeccable branzino with mixed seafood made for amazing main courses, and tiramisu just put it over the top. If and when I come back to Florence, I will absolutely be returning. read more

Best pear ravioli I've ever had. This place is incredible, the food & atmosphere are just what I wanted out of a dinner in Florence. I paid quite a lot, but it's one of those places you maybe go once in a blue moon. Definitely worth the money for this authentic food. A place where you want to drink before and after because the wine prices will multiply your meal cost. A special occasion place. Go with small groups. I dream about the pear ravioli I had here, and doubt I'll ever be able to find anything as good. read more

AMAZING. Will be back. Food was delicious, staff was great. Manager comes around and is willing to speak with all customers and discuss the menu. Romantic and cozy. Busy and festive decor. Mix of locals and tourists, which is a good sign. read more

Literally can't say enough good things. This restaurant was right around the corner from where we were staying, and after hearing such good things we had to stop in. Immediately we were taken to our table due to having a reservation, and were provided with champagne and a menu. We started with an appetizer of prosciutto and mozzarella, and boy were we amazed. How such a simple dish could steal the show, I have no idea, but it most certainly did and was one of the best appetizers I've ever had in Florence. We each ordered a fantastic pasta dish, and were equally delighted by the quality of the meal. In addition the service was prompt, and since the menu was in Italian the waiter took us through each item on the menu explaining every little detail which we greatly appreciated. Great staff and service. Also the lighting and ambiance couldn't have been better. Overall this is the kind of place you want to go when you visit Florence....great food, good service, and a warm atmosphere. Cheers. read more

4 stars for atmosphere. Food was delicious. Complementary antipasto excellent. Great photos of "who's who" like Neil Young, Bruce Springsteen and Brad Pitt. The young chef has great guns and tons of silver bracelets. Quite a spectacle. read more

La Giostra - Tuscan Near Me - Florence, FI

Amazing amazing amazing steak. And the wine. And the complimentary prosecco. :) We also started with the Italian appetizer board which was really good size. Plus the restaurant itself is just so beautiful. ....did I mention the steak??!! read more

Don't try to walk in. We walked in for dinner around 7pm on a Monday evening. Hostess was friendly however after checking with her manager informed us they could not accommodate us. The place was empty with only 1 or 2 tables seated. Told us we could be seated at 10pm or make reservations for another night. Can't comment on the food. Note that in the app requires 2 hour notice. We ate around the corner for a more inviting experience at I Ghibellini. read more

The food was good. My wife and I ordered steak, but neither one of us got it the way we ordered it. It was still enjoyable however. The pasta was very good. The service was very slow. read more

For a long time this was my favorite restaurant in the world. It still is number two for me. when I read the reviews I am stunned when I see any negative reviews. I literally have referred over 100 guests there, and everyone has found it to be a highlight of their trip. The food is fantastic! The ambience is a delight. The pear ravioli is exceptional if they have it. And if there is anything on the menu with white truffle, get it! Some of the negative reviews call it a tourist trap. When you are there, it does not feel like that. It truly is an exceptional experience! read more

Hate to be a downer but mediocre food at best with an outrageously overpriced wine list. Has a feel of a cash generating tourist trap. Excellent attentive service though read more

A great meal at La Giostra from start to finish. The food -fantastic. One tip - as others have mentioned, the menu is completely in Italian.. and the lighting, at least where we were sitting, is very dim so it helps to look at the English translation online before you go. And make sure to get a reservation- you won't walk into this place - too crowded. The only reason I give La Giostra four stars rather than five is that you do feel a little rushed to get in and get out here unlike other restaurants in Italy. Still, a real treat when you go to Florence. read more

This was one of my favorite meals in Italy. The place is so cute and romantic inside. The complimentary antipasto and prosecco to start the meal were a really nice touch. Wine list had some great selections at reasonable prices. The food was excellent. The service was also attentive. If you are in Florence, you should definitely check this place out. It gets busy, so reservations are a must. read more

My favorite meal of the year. Jamon iberico and pear ravioli were made to perfection!

Don't waste your money on a hyped up restaurant with average food. I went with my girlfriend who got really excited based on things she read about this place but the experience couldn't have been more underwhelming. The waiters were rude, slamming our dishes on our tables and the wine expensive but not good. Just like some other reviewers noted, the waiters took away the food and drinks before we were done which gave us the feeling of being pushed out of the restaurant. The food was the greatest disappointment: the pear ravioli don't actually taste like pear but are heavy from cream and cheese. The Balsamico steak is good meat but the large amounts of sauce kill its delicate flavor. I truly think that you can get a better meal in an average trattoria for half the price. read more

We received multiple recommendations to visit this place before our trip so we knew we had to go! This was one of the best meals we had in Florence. Server was very helpful, food was of course amazing, ambiance was just what we envisioned Florence to look like. The gregarious owner was there (drenched in jewelry and wearing sweatpants with fur boots), busing tables and helping staff, which is always great to see. Carbonara was dreamy, steak with balsamic was drool-worthy, and the wine was of course decadent. A real MUST spot! read more

My husband and I had a wonderful dinner and highly recommend this quaint little place! The service was great, the food fantastic, and the ambiance is so fun for a date night or family meal. We made a reservation and were glad because it was pretty busy when we got there. Definitely eat here if you are in the area! read more

La Giostra - Tuscan Near Me - Florence, FI

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My wife and I had an amazing experience. The burrata was fantastic, nothing like in the U.S. the Prince was in when we were and he came up and introduced himself and made sure we were enjoying ourselves. I got the oso bucco and my wife got the filet which were both phenomenal. Can't go wrong with the tiramisu. read more

I've been to this place twice, once two years ago and a few days ago! The food is decent and their ravioli is delicious but the service is iffy. When you are in florence and you have so many other options - the experience must be great, this is not quite there 3.5 stars read more

La Giostra is on another level. Having stayed in Florence for 4 weeks, Giostra was recommended to us several times and we finally made reservations (a must!!) and went. Once you are seated, they welcome you with a free glass of champagne followed by a delicious appetizer platter. The chicken liver was a stand out. I ordered a caprese salad to start which was fantastic: the ripest tomatoes and the freshest cheese. I shared two pasta dishes with a friend: the buratta ravioli and the pear ravioli. Both incredible, but the pear ravioli was possibly the best pasta I have eaten in my life. Dessert was too tempting to pass up so I had the cheesecake which was smooth, creemy and delicious. Giostra is an Italian experience like no other... Don't miss out!! read more

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MUST GO. Best restaurant in Florence. I have many friends that recommended this place for dinner. I trusted their advise and it was the BEST decision I could of made. I had the pecorino and pear ravioli and the balsamic vinegar steak. The ravioli was homemade and so fresh. Al dente pasta with a light buttery sauce. Best pasta I have ever had. I do not eat steak, however my family ordered it and I could resist. Nine years of no red meat went out the window due to the incredible smell. The meat was so tender and the balsamic glaze is out of this world. We ended with the cheesecake for dessert. A MUST. read more

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My fiance and I had the best experience at La Giostra on Valentine's Day. The food was amazing and the staff was wonderful. We arrived in Florence on Valentine's Day and did not have a reservation, but they sat us right away at the last table they had. I dream about the truffle dish I had and wish we had a restaurant in the US with La Giostra's romantic atmosphere and delicious EVERYTHING. I hope to make it back there in my lifetime. read more

I went to La Giostra with my parents. It's more pricey, but the atmosphere, food, and service were all great. The balsamic steak is unbelievable and the pastas are all made from scratch. Many celebrities have visited too. The manager is a very down-to-earth guy. If your looking for a great dinner, I would highly suggest La Giostra read more