La Giostra is a MUST while visiting in Florence. Two people (completely unrelated) suggested this restaurant to my boyfriend and I, and it exceeded my expectations. Definitely make a reservation. They give you a complimentary appetizer and proseco. By recommendation, my boyfriend ordered the pear ravioli, which was literally the best tasting plate ever. I ordered raviolis as well and it was amazing! The wine was perfect, they take it right off the wall. the atmosphere is absolutely adorable with the lights. Everyone was so nice! Also, very reasonably priced, i don't think I could ever find an amazing meal in the states for under $100 like I did here. If visiting Florence, make sure you go to La Giostra. read more

One of my favorite restaurants in the world. Make reservations ahead of time to avoid disappointment. This is a very popular place. Make sure to order the Pear Ravioli and Burrata. The Bisteca was also amazing. read more

Man oh man I think this place takes the cake for me! From the complimentary appetizers (all very delicious) to the balsamic steak and the pear ravioli (steak is a must!) to the customer service! I plan on saving this place for when we come back. I would keep raving about this place but my tiramisu just came out. Highly recommend, you won't regret it! read more

Amazing restaurant, and perfect for a special celebration. My favorite dish was the steak with rosemary or the ravioli con fiori di zucca

Everything about this place is top notch! Excellent service, delicious food, and an all around wonderful experience. I would eat at La Giostra everyday if I could. read more

This was definitely our best meal in Florence. Outstanding dinnertime vibe and wonderfully decorated restaurant. Excellent hospitality with complimentary prosecco and friendly service. The food was delicious. read more

Excellent trattoria in Florence. Romantic ambiance, eclectic menu and an extensive wine list. ( they only offer bottles, no wine by the glass) We each had a steak dish which was perfectly cooked. We find the portions are large and the Italian restaurants present the appetizers and pasta before the "Secondi" or main dish. Then desert and coffees. If each person orders one of each, it is a lot of food. We find splitting each one of the dishes is plenty of food without overeating or wasting food.. This is a must dine place in Florence. From the pictures on the wall, every celebrity has dined here. read more

Incredible food, solid service, and an awesome atmosphere. Highly recommend anyone in town for a few nights come check this place out. Make reservations and make sure you order the burrata cheese. read more

Went here during our recent trip to Italy. We were recommended this place from Trip Advisor friends and also reviews on here but I've had a lot better. We had better food at 2-star places than this place. It was a place that I had high hopes for and it let me down. My wife ordered a pasta dish that literally had 5pcs in it and their balsamic glazed steak was not what I expected. They brought us bread to table and 5min later they took it away. Why even bring it to table? read more

The food is amazing place is very nice and the service is spectacular. Really recomend it to people who are interested in trying somehing local. read more

La Giostra - Scotattini - Tuscan Near Me - Florence, FI

The food is phenomenal!!! The service was super crappy. They are way understaffed! This is a problem for such a nice, delicious but expensive restaurant. One of the best restaurants I've ever eaten at in Italy but it was very disappointing how we were treated ( like we were a total inconvenience). Not sure I would come back due to terrible service. I've been here many times before and everything was fantastic. I don't know if a few people calked in sick or what? I use to be a big fan and referred so many people but no longer.. It really ruined the night when they rushed through what was on the menu because nothing written in English. Waitress rolled her eyes when we asked for separate dishes for the dessert, barely have us the time of day. La Giostra is not the same read more

Pretty good but NOT the best in Florence. It was our first night in Firenze and this was not our favorite meal by a long shot. Made reservations over a week in advance but it wasn't needed. We walked right in. The servers are really great but think they make the same recommendations to everyone. The Balsamic steak was weird, not good. The best dish we had was the octopus carpaccio starter which was not recommended. Order was you like and you might have a better experience. Also the owner seems like a jerk and treats his staff rudely from what I observed. Won't be back, there is tons of better options!! read more

Delicious! Each dish is created with meticulous attention to flavor even down to the oil that sat in the bottom of my pasta plate. This was my first expensive dinner in Florence and I enjoyed it very much. Albeit being a tad pricey - it's worth the money as the owner himself even peruses the area and asks patrons how their meals are. He is quiet the character but really cares about how the restaurant is doing in terms of happy and full guests! The atmosphere is reflective of a "giostra" or inside a "carnival/fair" tent. Beautiful string lights that create a dreamy and romantic aesthetic. read more

I wish people would see through the BS "authenticity" and realize this is a tourist trap of a restaurant. If you take a look around, you're lucky to see even 1 actual Italian. I was there with a group of girlfriends for my birthday and we chose La Giostra because of the rave reviews we had heard. We should have taken into consideration who they were coming from I guess becaues the experience was 100% sub-par. I'm sad I wasted a night of eating in Italy on this place. It was loud, and crowded with tourists. The watier was pushy and annoyed we didn't order (overpriced) wine, and then preceded to ignore us for half-hour intervals. My friends had told the waitstaff ahead of time it was my birthday. After bringing out a huge chocolate cake with candles, which looked delicious, then preceded to take it away and offer it to another birthday table! I was appalled. There are a million places that offer 100% better food and service than La Giostra. Don't waste a beautiful night in Italy here. read more

The wife and I have adored this trip to Italy so far. Good food, good wine, and happy people. Even the worst of restaurants we've been to was excellent by most standards. La Giostra started off as exactly what we had hoped for, two glasses of prosecco, and a nice sampler plate on the house makes whatever you order immediately worth it. My wife and I had never had chicken liver before, and were pleasantly surprised to have enjoyed it. The waiter came by and seemed to be rushed, so we asked him for some recommendations on his Tuscan favorites and he told us the florentine steak is a staple. At €55/kg and 1.5kg minimum, we decided to split it and he recommended the boar pappardelle so we aren't just eating meat. We got two glasses of the house Chianti which we both really enjoyed, and bunkered down for the experience both of us were about to have. The pappardelle is divine, and reminiscent of a sauce my grandmother used to make which sprinkled in some nostalgia. If this was the first course, I'd think the steak was about to make me cry. Well 30 min later, there it was, perfectly cooked and gloriously plated. It's huge and the photos don't do it justice. So why did I only rate this meal 2 stars? The steak was terrible. First bite my wife and I looked at each other and asked if there was any flavor at all in the others piece. "Maybe it was just a bad piece", we thought, and left it for another, which also was bland and flavorless. I caught the attention of the waiter immediately and asked if the steak was seasoned because it had no flavor. He looked at me and said yes, but he likes to add olive oil, and the immediately walked away. I hunkered down and added some salt, pepper, and olive oil so that I could just enjoy what was in front of us. Unfortunately, it did nothing to the cut of meat. The T Bone had almost no marbling and the lack of fat just left the meat tasteless. Another waiter stops by and asks how our meal is, and I say that the steak is not good, he sways his hand as if to say "so-so", then walks away. I look at my wife and say, "I don't think they get it", I want another guest to try this steak and tell me I'm not crazy so that the waiters and waitresses will take notice. We sit there with an uneaten 3lb steak in front of us when a waitress stops over and asks if we are done, to which I say yes, we don't want anymore of this because we are not enjoying it, and then she asks if we want it wrapped. Ugh, this is uncomfortable. "Sure". Finally the waiter comes by and asks if we want dessert, and I have given up at this point and just ask for a second glass of wine and the check. They drop off our heavy to go box in a nice bag, and my wife says that maybe I'm not being forward enough in explaining I don't like or want the steak because of the language barrier. So last waitress comes by and offers us lemoncello on the house. We politely decline and I ask for the check then tell her "I don't want this steak (pointing at the bag), we did not like it, it was not good". The response was "ok perfect". So, not a wonderful experience, but not the worst of places. We even got a glimpse of the owner who is featured in all the photographs on the walls late in the evening. We enjoyed ourselves and almost everything was absolutely delicious, but I BEG OF YOU, do not order the steak. read more

La Giostra - The 3.5lb steak - DO NOT ORDER - Tuscan Near Me - Florence, FI

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This place came highly recommended. We booked online but it dod not go through apparently, when we arrived it wasn't on their list but they were able to make accommodations. They have us free Champagne and a platter of appetizers. I got the pear ravioli and it was to die for! Every waiter and waitress there was very friendly and came to make sure we had everything we needed. The price wasn't bad at all for the quality of service and food. If I'm back in Florence I plan to visit! read more

Ristorante La Giostra provided me with the best meal of my life! I went there twice while studying abroad about 4 years ago. What an experience! Many friends had told me about this place, and how they had plans to travel to Florence just to eat here. I can tell you, without a doubt, it is worth the trip! I can still picture the restaurant, our server, and my meal! I literally went back to Florence a second time just to eat here. The meal starts out with an antipasto platter that everyone who comes in gets, complimentary. It comes with various meats, cheeses, and vegetables. The bruschetta is amazing! I think it is because of the delicious tomatoes that they get from Sicily. I remember specifically asking the chef/owner where he got his tomatoes because I have never had anything like them. I remember that he then, went into the kitchen and brought me out a few tiny beautifully red tomatoes still on the vine to snack on. Wow! I don't even like tomatoes at all really. Only when they are chopped up with other things, but these I could eat all day! If you are lucky enough to be there on a day that the chef/owner is coming around to the tables and decanting your wine, you are lucky! Thankfully, when I came with my family he was doing so. What a personality! He was so friendly and wonderful. It really made our experience that much more amazing. The chef (who's name escapes me) is a prince apparently. His two sons work as servers. They are both very cute too! I remember taking a picture with one of them just so I could remember how cute he was! Ok, now to the food! My mom and I split the pear ravioli and the brie and artichoke ravioli. OMG! Seriously unlike any ravioli I've ever had. ever. Both were unbelievable. You must try one of these for sure. The second time I went I had branzino (mediteranean sea bass) cooked whole in some type of tomato sauce. That was wonderful as well. I also remember that my dad had some type of wild boar ragu. Although I do not remember what it tasted like. My memory of the ravioli overpowers it all! We did have some delicious dessert as well, something involving strawberries. All you really need to know is if you are ever planning a trip to Italy, you must MUST stop in Firenze and go to La Giostra. You will not regret it! I do recommend making reservations well ahead of time. I remember making mine a month or two ahead. They get very busy. I can promise that a visit to this restaurant will make your vacation! Oh, how I just wish I could go back right now...a girl can dream! read more

Where the famous come to eat in Florence. The meal was very good and a little fancier than other restaurants we visited. Moderately expensive, business casual, make a reservation. read more

So disappointing. Wonderfully charming appearance, and dreadfully poor food. In Italy!?!?! It must be surviving off of its reputation. I barely ate my meal (appetizer and entree were both sub-par) and we declined dessert.That NEVER happens. We made reservations far in advance and this was on my "must-try" list, but I wouldn't recommend it. And the price was fine, not very expensive, the food just wasn't good. Again - in Italy?!?! Too many other wonderful places to try. Don't get sucked into the marketing/name. read more

We were craving a real Italian restaurant instead of all the fancy places we kept ending up at. Was perfect food, atmosphere and exactly what we needed to end our vacation. Super yummy! read more

One of my favorite meals during my four months in Florence. Order the Pear Ravioli, if you don't absolutely love it, you probably don't have a soul. If I ever go back to Florence, this will certainly be one of my stops. read more

La Giostra's cozy atmosphere, attentive service, and authentic Florentine dishes won us over. Wary of "must-try" spots in the Centro Storico, we hedged our bets and shared an app (prosciutto and melon) and a pasta (pear ravioli) with a cheaper bottle of chianti. Thanks to the complimentary champagne and starters (including about five or six little nuggets of goodness, ranging from roasted eggplant to pate), we left absolutely stuffed (for only 40 euros each), not to mention working on a nice buzz...almost enough to ask the ponytailed gentleman with all the goth silver bracelets up his arms if he really was a Hapsburg Prince. read more

Great wine list and great food. Definitely try the ravioli with pears -- enough for an entree. Decorated with Christmas lights all year long. You will find lots of tourists here, but very authentic food and pleasant staff. We will definitely return! read more

A terrific romantic restaurant in Florence. Excellent service- although the food was slow to arrive, they more than made up for it by bringing an antipasta plate on the house. Food was terrific-- I enjoyed the asparagus risotto and the veal marsala. They also gave us lemoncello, again on the house. It was great to be treated so warmly there. I'd definitely go back. read more

Okay, okay, La Giostra may be a bit of a tourist trap, but the food is outstanding. I think I heard angels singing after my first bit of white truffle pasta carbonara. And that was in spite of the jangling bracelets on you know who... read more

My boyfriend and I went to dinner here late on a Friday night. We were celebrating being back in Florence after 6 years, we met here studying abroad so we were really excited to have a night out. We didn't have a reservation but walked over to see if there would be a long wait. The hostess/waitress said it would be no problem and we waited about 10 minutes for a table. We were served water and prosecco immediately upon sitting down. We weren't starving and I remembered that they give you a complimentary plate of appetizers so we didn't order too much (read, we ordered too much anyways). The food here is just incredible, I absolutely stuffed myself and still couldn't finish my risotto. The owner must have come by 3 times asking if everything was okay and if he needed to change anything to make it better. I felt so bad that I was insulting them by not finishing, I just couldn't eat any more. It was all so rich and delicious. You cannot order wrong here. They are genuine in their desire to create the best food and experience for you. The owner opens your wine at the table and does a beautiful presentation of aerating and pouring it for you. His father had done the same for me when I had dined there previously but he passed away a few years back. I mentioned it to the owner and he seemed sincerely touched that I remembered it with such fondness. He called me Princess for the rest of the night. He speaks several languages fluently and his love for what he does is ever apparent. Everyone should dine here when they visit Florence. It is quintessentially Italian with amazing food and service. It will always have a very special place in my heart. read more

One of the BEST meals I've ever had in my entire life! WOW! We were invited here by my boss after some friends bailed on him, so lucky for us we got the call and it's been the best thing that my boss has called me for! Ambiance, Food, Staff...everything was amazing! Including the 4 bottles of Paleo we had with dinner! A MUST visit if you're ever in Florence, Italy! read more

This is the best meal I've ever had. No explanation needed. If you're a tourist, they won't try to rip you off. Just make sure you have a great meal. Just go and see..... read more

Find this little place! Tucked away on a little street, we had a bit of trouble finding this spot. A neighborhood lady walking her dog told us there are two restaurants with this name, but one of them (the one with the address on my listing) was closed. Two doors away was the open place. It's charm begins with the strings of white lights and a very cozy dining room. Our server brought us each a glass of prosecco as a welcome, and then a platter of appetizers once we had ordered: celery root salad, chunky liver in rich sauce on crostinis, peppers and eggplant and little cheese and herb puffs. This is a welcome I can get used to! Wine is by the bottle only, and being no great connoisseurs about it we scoured the bottom end of the price list and got a really fine montepulciano for 28 euros. The server did a total job of sniffing the cork, swirling the wine and smelling it, then decanting it before we got near it. Though we're not vegetarians, my daughter and I were mostly tempted by their soups and pastas. Ravioli of ricotta with sage and rosemary came with just a good sprinkling of cheese as sauce, and that was all that was needed for a heavenly flavor. My daughter's minestrone soup was so rich she didn't ask for cheese to add to it. Giant asparagus au gratin and a tomato and arugula salad rounded out the dinner. Too full for dessert, sorry to say, but we had room for limoncello. Service was a bit too relaxed -- we would have liked to someone to have asked us if we needed additional water from time to time. This is what keeps me from giving the place the 5th star -- but wouldn't be enough to keep me from eating there if I ever get back to Florence. In fact, I'd be sure to go there. read more

Great service and superb food. Try the pasta with wild board, a delicacy! read more

La Giostra - Tuscan Near Me - Florence, FI

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The BEST meal we have had in our entire lives. I would contemplate chartering a jet to fly from NYC to Florence just for a meal at giostra. Fantastic food, impeccable service, and an easy going atmosphere made for the perfect dinner. The restaurant gave us each a glass of champagne while waiting for our table and then gave us more champagne when we sat down. Giostra starts you off with a HUGE appetizer platter - bruschetta, pate on crostini, eggplant, spinach cake, fish and meats. So good. We then got gnocchi with pear, gorgonzola and pistachio, wild boar ragu pasta, and balsamic steak. We also had a bottle of Antinori Badia a Passignano Chianti (A fantastic, complex Chianti). If you are in Florence, it isn't an option to not come here. read more

Found this place online a few months before my trip. Wasn't sure what to expect, but based on reviews and the menu, it looked good, so I booked a reservation. Needless to say, I was BLOWN AWAY! Best meal I had in Italy overall, if not one of the best meals I've ever had, period! A romantic atmosphere (twinkly lights, candles on tables, etc) and a staff that is extremely helpful with translating the menu! I am a very picky eater, I don't eat red meat and don't like to go heavy on the cheese, and had no problem finding the perfect meal for me (it was hard for me to choose meals in most places around Italy). We were served a free appetizer that consisted of bite sized bruschetta, celery root with a homemade sauce, and other delicious treats. I ordered the vegetable risotto to share, and then the chicken with artichoke sauce as my meal. Paired with a glass of wine and I was in absolutely bliss! Thank you La Giostra for this memorable experience that really made my time in Italy that much better! Highly recommend. read more

Make a reservation or make other plans. We were there on a Wednesday night and it was crowded. The place is long and skinny with barely enough space to walk once everyone is seated. The gals who sat next to us ordered the steak with balsamic sauce and the pungent balsamic smell reached us. The food was actually slightly disappointing. I don't think I was due to the high Yelp reviews themselves but the over all favors were not the best. I'm also from LA the food Mecca. Ordered the pear ravioli, it has a very sudden pear taste and is made by the restaurant but it was just ok. Came with about 6 raviolis. We then ordered the scampi which was described as shrimp but is some sort of mini lobster and most of the meat was in its 2 in tail. The smell was very strong, the taste was mediocre and I didn't bother to try to take it apart to bet tiny bits of meat. This comes with no side so I ordered the asparagus which was bland and like 12.... Meh. My husband ordered the sliced rosemary, olive oil and garlic steak that was done medium rare and tasted mostly like Rosemary. It came with potatoes and carrots that were nothing special either. Free bread basket and apetizers that were mediocre. If your going to eat here stick with the pastas. The gals who ordered the steak said it was cooked well but the balsamic sauce was overwhelming. Wine was €50 or so. Not worth the €155 meal. They charged a sit down fee. read more

The best meal of our honeymoon trip, perfect for my wife's birthday. From the sampler appetizer plate (chopped chicken liver!) to the salad through pasta with wild boar and dessert, everything was cooked perfectly and the staff is far more friendly and attentive than most restaurants in Italy without rushing you. read more

A beautiful restaurant set in a 400 year old mystical place. The ambience and the decor is completely magical and out of this world. Without even the order, we were welcomed by vegetarian appetizer platter and champagne on the house. That setting the tone, everything else was simply delicious. read more

The street this is one at first appears deserted with a small tree in a plantar several yards down. We almost turned around but past the tree was the door to the place. Tiny waiting area and crowded. Several times we were asked if we could be helped and told them we had a reservation. Being patient paid off We sat down finally and were rewarded with a chilled drink of Prosecco. Our waiter was passionate about the food and wine pairing. We went big and got a bottle of Ornello. The decanting was a show!We had the pear ravioli as is so popular and I see why. Light pear flavor but with a filling effect but not as heavy as say potato. We also had the mushroom tagalini i and wow was that awesome as the shrubs were in season. The wine pairing was fantastic! We then shared a small steak, and again what a taste. We ordered dessert. The cheese cake was perfect. We ran out of wine and were going to order just a glass more but our waiter stripongly advised against it as nothing by glass could match our bottle. So we went to the next level of Lemon Chello. He brought us a large bottle with two glasses. The owner came by. He was buried in rings of metal on both wrists and neck...a bit scary looking. He accepted our compliments, the main chef as well came by and he was very cordual. This place IS a must. The price good for the quality ours was very high dispute to the wine we ordered but I would not change a thing if I had to repeat it. read more

Unbelievable food and hospitality. Miri was our server and treated us like royalty. 5 stars!

Late night meal. They were hardworking to fit our party in at last notice. Excellent food. Excellent atmosphere.

Insanely good! OMG, some of the best food I've had in Italy so far! We got free prosecco (normal) and appetizers when walking in. It was a Wed evening, reservations needed and recommended. The service was very friendly, even in English, and the food was incredibly good! The beef infused with herbs, the risotto and mushrooms, the rice, carrots, veal... everything. We got several dishes and shared and it was phenomenal. Highly recommended!! read more

After hearing rave reviews from friends and family we have to try La Giostra. We found it to be a lovely cozy, beautifully decorated restaurant for the holidays. we found the wait staff to be very attentive. For your 3 euro each (which is added to most restraunts we have been to) you get an appetizer plate, free glass of Prosecco and some bread with olive oil and vinegar. For a total of 55 euro we had a salad which we shared and two pasta dishes which were the best we've had in Italy thus far! Only draw back is it took forever to get our bill. We will recommend to our family and friends for sure! read more