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Recommended Reviews - La Grotta Guelfa
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La Grotta Guelfa is a homely two story Tuscan restaurant that has a specialty in bistecca, which you'll see as soon as you walk in and see their steak fridge. We walked in at 1:30ish on a weekday without a reservation and were seated promptly. Seemed like a decent mix of locals and tourists here which was good. The bistecca here is solid. It's nice that they bring you the raw cut to take a peek at before you cook it. They don't really ask about how you like it cooked since they much prefer to cook it medium rare given the size and marbling. It was cooked well with a nice light char on the outside and good seasoning. Meat quality was decent. Service is nice and they also provide a little free starter given the time it takes to cook the steak.
Excellent! The appetizers are a must if you are getting a Bistec alla Florentine (which is also a must) .... We ordered the steak for 3 when it was really four of us and it was just perfect! We were able to enjoy coffee and desert as well. The server was helpful, amicable and knowledgeable. She took the time to explain the different types of meat. It was DELICIOUS! The meat was cooked to perfection. The ambiance is cozy, simple and elegant. They do have outside seating, although I almost always prefer inside seating (given that it is December and it's 37 degrees F out there. However, I do mention.... Because I saw people seating outside thoroughly enjoying themselves, the ambiance and the good meal. Highly recommended.
The service was so horrible that I started appreciating the tipping culture of my homeland (US, the land of the 18+% tip). They gave us bread with 1 wipe for the two of us and one plate, the wipe (lemon alcohol scented) on the plate, so we decided to use the plate for scraps. We ate our bread out of the bag. I poured olive oil down this paper bag they served us bread in like we were pouring butter into popcorn cups in the movie theaters. We got our food and they didn't take our plate away. Other tables did not have a plate with a lemon alcohol scented wipe wafting over their food. They didn't take it away until after the meal. They took like a whole 10 minutes to take our card we were the only table there left The steak, at some points was good. Like 3/5 bites would be very good but the other two... The seafood pasta could be skipped
Definitely a tourist trap but we enjoyed most of this experience so I'd say it's worth a try. Make sure to make reservations. We did a same day one on a Saturday in June so it's not too hard to make one but I would recommend doing it because we did see some people get turned away. First impressions were bad. The person seating us, "the boss" was SUPER grumpy and almost mean. I get it though, I also work in hospitality, and working with annoying tourists all day can be tiresome but yikes she's real pill. I guess I pissed her off somehow by walking up and saying we had a reservation, she made it a point to seat people behind us first, at the larger seating area in the front. When she finally deemed it was our turn, we walked through the restaurant to the strip of tables in the back. I preferred this so ha! on her. I really like the ambiance of about 5 tables and watching people walk down the quieter street. I may have been a bit passive aggressive to her while we were walking through the restaurant and asked her if she was ok. And to be quite honest, after that, she was really nice to us. The menu, even though in English, doesn't really explain the cuts of meat well so be sure to ask your server. My only issue was that he never asked us how we wanted the steak cooked. I'm sure a steak with that price point, in a traditional restaurant, gets cooked how the chef wants it but when it came to us, literally blue, I was worried. We aren't complainers, or people who send back food, so we just dug in and let me tell you, it didn't matter. This meat was gorgeous and tasted tender and lovely, even very rare. We made sure to get one with the filet still on it. That was cooked medium rare and it was the best bite I had in all of Florence. The roasted potatoes are to die for and an excellent companion to steak. The torta della nonno (not nonna, the chocolate version), I will pine over for the rest of my life. I want that again everyday. The grilled vegetables were absolutely terrible, almost inedible. And the semifreddo was not one.
We made a reservation for dinner here and I'm so glad we did because the place was rather busy. One of the best meals we had in Florence, by far. The location was perfect, outdoor dining on a quieter street. Our server was a very helpful and friendly sommelier with a great sense of humor. He helped us pick the perfect wines for our meals. We started with the Prosciutto Crudo Burrata E Pomodorini and both ordered the Spaghettini Alla Carbonara - and I'm still dreaming of both. I'd recommend this place to anyone in the area!
This place was recommended by a local. We were able to get a same day reservation for 7 people. The service was great. The food was great. I probably would pass on the citrus salmon tartare though. It wasn't as good/fresh as I thought it'd be. It was super fishy and no citrus flavor at all. I even added my own lemon and oil and I couldn't finish it. We ordered the steak that fed 3 and boy did that make up for the tartare. It was huge!! My sisters and I shared it (4 of us total) and we still had leftovers. So could've fed 5 depending how much someone eats. We ordered it medium, but they will cook a couple slices longer if you want. We also got salad and a couple orders of roasted potatoes to share. The potatoes were soooo good! Of course also had some Chianti wine to go with it. We were so stuffed there was no room for dessert, but definitely would come back and try next time.
Probably the most mediocre meal we had during our entire Italy trip. Maybe they were having an off day, but even if they were having an off day nothing can explain the side of vegetables I received with my meal. I felt like I had barely ate any vegetables over the past week so I ordered a side of grilled vegetables. I was expecting something rather hearty for the 8 euro price. What I got was a couple of incredibly thin slices of zucchini and eggplant, half a tomato, a small piece of bell pepper, and about a 1/32nd of a cabbage. Probably less than .25 cents worth of veggies.
This was recommended by our travel advisor and did not disappoint. The best filet mignon I've ever had - rested upon a crusty slice of bread which soaked up all its juices and paired with a delicious pâté, topped with sliced black truffles. Our entire group was impressed with their meals. Easily the most tender filet I've ever tasted - cooked a perfect rare. Worth the wait. If we ever go back we will get the large steak to feed 3 people. A table beside us ordered this and it was a sight to behold. We've been in Italy 4 days and have eaten at 10+ restaurants between Rome & Florence and this has exceeded expectations for the trip - we'll be hard pressed to find better! Thank you for your patience and helpfulness - you've really made our trip!
Came here for lunch while in our way to the Uffizi Gallery. The staff was very friendly, spoke English, and was very accommodating. We were seated right away inside. The restaurant is very unique, almost like a small house with an upstairs dining area with a narrow staircase. We ordered the Regina pizza and the wild boar ravioli. Both were very good! I wish the wild boar ravioli has more large chunks of braised meat, but otherwise it was very flavorful and I enjoyed it thoroughly. Good spot among locals and for tourists as well!
9 months ago
26 days ago
If you want to enjoy the best Steak Florentine of your life you need to eat here! Yes, lots of tourists go here. Yes, it's expensive. But, the quality of aged beef required to call this an authentic steak Florentine does not disappoint! Service was great, the staff spoke English, and we left full and happy! read more
La Grotta Guelfa is a homely two story Tuscan restaurant that has a specialty in bistecca, which you'll see as soon as you walk in and see their steak fridge. We walked in at 1:30ish on a weekday without a reservation and were seated promptly. Seemed like a decent mix of locals and tourists here which was good. The bistecca here is solid. It's nice that they bring you the raw cut to take a peek at before you cook it. They don't really ask about how you like it cooked since they much prefer to cook it medium rare given the size and marbling. It was cooked well with a nice light char on the outside and good seasoning. Meat quality was decent. Service is nice and they also provide a little free starter given the time it takes to cook the steak. read more
Located near the beautiful Via Tornabuoni shopping area of Florence. One of the must have meals in Tuscany is a Florentine Steak. Five of a party of six partook, and all were amazed at the deliciousness. Service was attentive and friendly. read more
Excellent! The appetizers are a must if you are getting a Bistec alla Florentine (which is also a must) .... We ordered the steak for 3 when it was really four of us and it was just perfect! We were able to enjoy coffee and desert as well. The server was helpful, amicable and knowledgeable. She took the time to explain the different types of meat. It was DELICIOUS! The meat was cooked to perfection. The ambiance is cozy, simple and elegant. They do have outside seating, although I almost always prefer inside seating (given that it is December and it's 37 degrees F out there. However, I do mention.... Because I saw people seating outside thoroughly enjoying themselves, the ambiance and the good meal. Highly recommended. read more
7 months ago
Our family of 4 enjoyed a Christmas Eve meal that was just perfect! The food was excellent, a helpful English menu so we could choose wisely. The service was so helpful, friendly and timely. We were seated upstairs which was cozy and inviting. Definitely recommend! read more
7 months ago
The service was so horrible that I started appreciating the tipping culture of my homeland (US, the land of the 18+% tip). They gave us bread with 1 wipe for the two of us and one plate, the wipe (lemon alcohol scented) on the plate, so we decided to use the plate for scraps. We ate our bread out of the bag. I poured olive oil down this paper bag they served us bread in like we were pouring butter into popcorn cups in the movie theaters. We got our food and they didn't take our plate away. Other tables did not have a plate with a lemon alcohol scented wipe wafting over their food. They didn't take it away until after the meal. They took like a whole 10 minutes to take our card we were the only table there left The steak, at some points was good. Like 3/5 bites would be very good but the other two... The seafood pasta could be skipped read more
2 years ago
Definitely a tourist trap but we enjoyed most of this experience so I'd say it's worth a try. Make sure to make reservations. We did a same day one on a Saturday in June so it's not too hard to make one but I would recommend doing it because we did see some people get turned away. First impressions were bad. The person seating us, "the boss" was SUPER grumpy and almost mean. I get it though, I also work in hospitality, and working with annoying tourists all day can be tiresome but yikes she's real pill. I guess I pissed her off somehow by walking up and saying we had a reservation, she made it a point to seat people behind us first, at the larger seating area in the front. When she finally deemed it was our turn, we walked through the restaurant to the strip of tables in the back. I preferred this so ha! on her. I really like the ambiance of about 5 tables and watching people walk down the quieter street. I may have been a bit passive aggressive to her while we were walking through the restaurant and asked her if she was ok. And to be quite honest, after that, she was really nice to us. The menu, even though in English, doesn't really explain the cuts of meat well so be sure to ask your server. My only issue was that he never asked us how we wanted the steak cooked. I'm sure a steak with that price point, in a traditional restaurant, gets cooked how the chef wants it but when it came to us, literally blue, I was worried. We aren't complainers, or people who send back food, so we just dug in and let me tell you, it didn't matter. This meat was gorgeous and tasted tender and lovely, even very rare. We made sure to get one with the filet still on it. That was cooked medium rare and it was the best bite I had in all of Florence. The roasted potatoes are to die for and an excellent companion to steak. The torta della nonno (not nonna, the chocolate version), I will pine over for the rest of my life. I want that again everyday. The grilled vegetables were absolutely terrible, almost inedible. And the semifreddo was not one. read more
1 year ago
We made a reservation for dinner here and I'm so glad we did because the place was rather busy. One of the best meals we had in Florence, by far. The location was perfect, outdoor dining on a quieter street. Our server was a very helpful and friendly sommelier with a great sense of humor. He helped us pick the perfect wines for our meals. We started with the Prosciutto Crudo Burrata E Pomodorini and both ordered the Spaghettini Alla Carbonara - and I'm still dreaming of both. I'd recommend this place to anyone in the area! read more
9 months ago
Love the location, the menu was extensive, great atmosphere. We didn't have anything we didn't like. Would recommend. I would say service was standard. read more
10 months ago
1 year ago
2 years ago
Food was delicious! My husband had the ribeye which he says was perfectly cooked to medium rare to rare with light salt and Smokey airomatic and the fat was rendered to a chicharrón. read more
2 years ago
3 years ago
This place was recommended by a local. We were able to get a same day reservation for 7 people. The service was great. The food was great. I probably would pass on the citrus salmon tartare though. It wasn't as good/fresh as I thought it'd be. It was super fishy and no citrus flavor at all. I even added my own lemon and oil and I couldn't finish it. We ordered the steak that fed 3 and boy did that make up for the tartare. It was huge!! My sisters and I shared it (4 of us total) and we still had leftovers. So could've fed 5 depending how much someone eats. We ordered it medium, but they will cook a couple slices longer if you want. We also got salad and a couple orders of roasted potatoes to share. The potatoes were soooo good! Of course also had some Chianti wine to go with it. We were so stuffed there was no room for dessert, but definitely would come back and try next time. read more
3 years ago
Probably the most mediocre meal we had during our entire Italy trip. Maybe they were having an off day, but even if they were having an off day nothing can explain the side of vegetables I received with my meal. I felt like I had barely ate any vegetables over the past week so I ordered a side of grilled vegetables. I was expecting something rather hearty for the 8 euro price. What I got was a couple of incredibly thin slices of zucchini and eggplant, half a tomato, a small piece of bell pepper, and about a 1/32nd of a cabbage. Probably less than .25 cents worth of veggies. read more
4 years ago
This was recommended by our travel advisor and did not disappoint. The best filet mignon I've ever had - rested upon a crusty slice of bread which soaked up all its juices and paired with a delicious pâté, topped with sliced black truffles. Our entire group was impressed with their meals. Easily the most tender filet I've ever tasted - cooked a perfect rare. Worth the wait. If we ever go back we will get the large steak to feed 3 people. A table beside us ordered this and it was a sight to behold. We've been in Italy 4 days and have eaten at 10+ restaurants between Rome & Florence and this has exceeded expectations for the trip - we'll be hard pressed to find better! Thank you for your patience and helpfulness - you've really made our trip! read more
9 years ago
Came here for lunch while in our way to the Uffizi Gallery. The staff was very friendly, spoke English, and was very accommodating. We were seated right away inside. The restaurant is very unique, almost like a small house with an upstairs dining area with a narrow staircase. We ordered the Regina pizza and the wild boar ravioli. Both were very good! I wish the wild boar ravioli has more large chunks of braised meat, but otherwise it was very flavorful and I enjoyed it thoroughly. Good spot among locals and for tourists as well! read more
5 years ago
Great outdoor seating options. Their menu isn't huge, but everything on it is delicious. The service is great and very accommodating. Their prawns are a must try!!! Tasted just like the shrimp sauce my nana used to make. read more
4 years ago
This restaurant is located near the Uffizi Gallery, so a great option for lunch before or after visiting the museum. I ordered the pesto with homemade pasta and it is among the top of my favorite pastas I've eaten in Florence. The pesto was light and fresh and the pasta was perfectly cooked. Many locals around us ordered the potato frittata. Just ask for an English menu (if you need) and they will easily accommodate. We sat outside and it was lovely to people watch. In March, it's been a bit chilly, but they provided heat lamps and we felt plenty warm. read more
4 years ago
Had a wonderful experience at this restaurant. Our server Luigi and food was great. Fresh ingredients combined with great Chianti, how can I go wrong. read more
4 years ago
My daughter and I had the best meal of our entire trip to Italy at this restaurant! The food was very fresh and melt-in-your mouth delicious! The service was also top-notch. Don't skip the cheesecake! It was unlike anything you can get in the U.S.A. - light, creamy, and loaded with fresh fruit topping. read more
5 years ago
4 years ago
Staff was very nice and attentive. However the food was sub par. I ordered an appetizer and it was not flavorful. Then I wanted to order the Florentine steak, but the waiter said it would be too big for just me. He recommended the rib eye. He brings out a beautiful looking piece of meat...that looked like a t-bone, but I figured it was a rib eye on the bone. I started to cut into it and the knife would go through. I thought that was odd, so I asked for a sharper knife. Now I've had steaks from top restaurants around the US and have never had an issue...but thought let me give the Italians a chance and experience their food the way they do. The second knife comes...and it cute better but barely. So ai saw away at the steak and take a bite. It was not seasoned...which I've heard Europeans don't season like folks in the US. So I add some salt and pepper. Then it was just chewy. Even the fat could not be eaten. To not cause a disturbance in foreign country I just paid for the meal and went else where to eat. It was a total of 38EU totally wasted. The waiter said..."oh you must not be hungry." I responded and said I'm starving, the food was just not good. I literally paid for two meals that day as I had to get dinner someplace else. read more
A great place to get a tasty and inexpensive bite to eat. Our driver recommended this restaurant for pizza and we were not disappointed. At 7€ for a pizza margherita that was large enough for two to share, we were all surprised at how affordable and delicious the food was at this restaurant. Service was ok. I wouldn't say they were friendly but they got the job done. As Florence was 99 degrees on the day we visited, sitting in the outdoor area full of cooling misters was greatly appreciated. Plus it was a great spot for people watching. read more
Nice place, with decent food. I was expecting a little better though. I had the Spaghetti Frutti di Mare, which was spaghetti with different seafood. Thought it was good, but could've been better. Also had the Cream Caramel (flan) for dessert, and I didn't care for it. I was expecting better service since this was a nice restaurant. They also have a bar/club next door, and the music was super loud next to where we were seating. read more
2 years ago
5 years ago
The steak for one person was absolutely delicious, and is pretty large. Low price too, and the staff is nice. Definitely will be coming back! read more
8 years ago
This was probably one of the best meals we've had on our trip to Italy. We went here because I was looking for a place that had soup. They then surpassed that and had Ribollita! My new fav. We also ordered a Caesar salad which is so nice to have greens when you've been eating paninis for a week. My husband ordered the green lasagna. It was good, but had no meat and was more like a pasta dish with pesto. I would still eat it again. The house wine was sweet, but tasty. The servers were wonderful, friendly, and charming. They also spoke English which was helpful. The only reason they are getting four stars instead of 5 is because the bread basket was not tasty. Would get better bread if I was them. Everything else was amazing. read more
4 years ago
My friends and I had a fantastic meal here our last night in Florence. I waited until the last day to try the Florentine Steak and I was not disappointed here. The price here was lower than I had seen for the steak at other restaurants. Instead of selling by the weight as other restaurants do, this one has a set price. I was happy with the size of my portion and the price! The steak did not come with any sides. I ordered steamed spinach and loved it. read more
6 years ago
Amazing...Tried truffle mushroom risotto and Florence steak. Friday staff and great service. The best steak I've ever had read more
3 years ago
7 years ago
7 years ago
Stopped in while in Florence.. I had the steak Florentine and it was delicious . Glad we made the stop. If you're visiting and have an appetite, this restaurant will not disappoint you! read more
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