NOTE: This is a review from 8 years ago. I posted photos then and got an alert that people are…read morestill checking it out. I tried to see if i did a review back then but only found below: Upside : Very polite/super friendly staff Fancy ambience Free wifi Downside: Ragu Pici was a tadtoo salty Steak too rare Risotto serving was heavy Cortona is amazing tho! I'm sure they are 5 stars on other days! Also the creepy bathroom is epic!

We stopped into Osteria del Teatro the day of and asked if they happened to have any availability,…read morefully expecting the answer to be no. As luck would have it, they were hosting a special tasting menu featuring wines from Montepulciano, which was perfect since we had spent the day exploring the region itself. They graciously found us a table on the patio, and it ended up being one of our favorite meals of the entire trip. The evening began with a fried zucchini blossom stuffed with ricotta and basil, which was delicate, light, and absolutely delicious. The beef carpaccio was outstanding. We also loved trying gigli pasta for the first time, served with a rich wild boar ragù that felt quintessentially Tuscan. The duck breast with wild fennel was cooked beautifully and paired wonderfully with the wine selection. Dessert beautiful and phenomenal. What really stood out was how generous the portions were despite it being a tasting menu, along with the exceptional wine pairings throughout the evening. Between the hospitality, the patio setting, the regional wines, and the celebration of local Tuscan cuisine, this was easily one of the most memorable dining experiences of our time in Italy. Thank you to the sweet lady owner!!

Food is fabulous, centrally located in Siena Italy. Very reasonable and with several vegetarian…read moreoptions.

Outstanding food and service. Friendly staff. I highly recommend! Make reservationsread more

So behind on my reviews...having to much fun and phone service was out for a few days…read more Dining at La Taverna di San Giuseppe is was one of the coolest dining experiences ever. Our server told us that this previously a cave. How often do you get to dine in a cave? The inside of the restaurant is of this stone like space. We were immediately captivated. While it does not currently have a Michelin rating, we were told it previously had a Micheline rating. The atmosphere is that of a cave...cool, a little damp, and intimate. San Guiseppe has wine cellar, according to staff, date back. We felt totally and complete immersed in history and that was only the building. centuries of Sienese life. The cuisine honors Tuscan tradition while elevating it through precision and care. Each dish showcases excellent ingredients and confident execution, embracing regional flavors rather than reinventing them. San Guissppe feature traditional dishes such as handmade pasta, rich sauces, and tenders meats showcasing distinct flavors with bold seasoning. We order lasaguna and cheese salad...absolutely superb! Our servers were superior...waiting on you hand and foot. You did not ask for anything as it was already there. Our server, Marco, was kind, humorous and knowledgeable. Since it was our first time to the restaurant he was super patient and informative regarding menu items. La Taverna di San Giuseppe has s long-term Michelin recognition for a reason...superior food and excellent service in a very unique space. We savored every bite and sip we consumed in San Giuseppe. When we are in Tuscany again, we will make a beeline for this restaurant.

Taverna di San Giuseppe was a disappointing meal for us, especially in a city with so many great…read moredining options. We ended up here by mistake (confused it with another spot), and unfortunately it didn't live up to expectations. The restaurant fills up with reservations for two seatings, and from the moment we sat down the pace felt rushed. We ordered drinks and a starter while deciding on the rest, but multiple staff members kept coming by trying to take our full order. It felt like they were pushing to move things along quickly. There were a couple positives. The chicken livers to start were quite tasty and something we didn't see often on other menus. The primi were underwhelming. The pasta didn't taste fresh like many other trattorias in Siena, and the dishes overall were just average. The lasagna in particular was mushy, and the sauces didn't stand out. The secondi were slightly better -- pork ribs, Barolo-braised beef, and a "small chicken" -- but still nothing that justified the higher prices. They do have an underground wine cellar built into a cave, which is interesting to see, but there are other places in Siena with much larger and more impressive cellar spaces. Also worth noting, they add a "10% tax" charge rather than the typical €2 coperto per person. Overall, a rushed and fairly mediocre meal at a higher price point. With so many better places to eat in Siena, this is one I'd skip.

This Michelin Restaurant in Cortona Italy is worth the climb! Located on a hillside cobblestone…read moreroad in the heart of Cortona. Beef Florentine was the focus of the visit and they did not disappoint! Perfectly cooked to my temperature. Delicious and savory.

With so many Michelin star choices in Cortona we chose this as our last meal in Cortona. You walk…read moreinto an old cozy intimate space and are greeted by all the smiling servers. My husband and I got the chefs menu. Each dish was delicious. Pasta, meat, and veggies; we got it all. The platings were big and not what I expected from usual Michelin places! Two big servings of fresh pasta! By the meat plate I was actually too full to finish. The pistachio drizzle over panna cotta was one of the best desserts we had in our whole Italy trip. Never had it before and it was a perfect ending. Great staff. Our kids had plenty of choices of food as well. Staff very patient with them. Amazing last dinner

We have been in Italy for 3 days and this place really stood out for us! The bruschetta was a great…read morestart. I ordered the pork chop and wife ordered the gnocchi. Both were over the top good. We loved the bottle of wine and finished with the house cake. Place is kind of cramped inside being on top of people. Everything was very clean! We enjoyed everything here! The after flavor in your mouth is so good!

This little restaurant is a gem! They have both an upstairs and downstairs section. The food was…read moredelivered quickly and everyone was very attentive. For antipasti we ordered the cheese with the radicchio , walnuts, and apples. This was really yummy. For our primi we ordered the local pasta with tomato and garlic. For secondi we ordered the grilled lamb and the rabbit. Both were good but the rabbit was definitely different and what I'd order again. Of course we ordered the house wine, which I recommend.

This is just a short walk from the piazza del campo and was obviously a spot that the locals enjoy!…read moreWe sat inside and the owner was our server. He had us place each course individually, which was different than what we were used to, but honestly I appreciated it. The house wine was very good and served by the bottle. For primi I ordered the Pici with tomato sauce, which was perfect. For secondi I ordered the grilled veal which was huge and really good. I ordered the artichoke side but this wasn't my favorite. For dessert we had the torta della nonna which was really good! We loved our time here and highly recommend it!

Siena wins as far as food goes. Papei wins as far as food goes. Ossibuchi king of the world…read more Arribbiata of the gods. Do this if you want to truly exist in this realm. We went to the duomo. We went to museums. You can skip all that. Come here. Do us all a favor. Perfect service. Exactly what the world needs is consistent settings like this. When I say perfect I mean this restaurant.

5 stars for service and ambiance. 4 stars for food. We were in town for the day and looking for a…read morelunch spot. Many restaurants were booked or told us that there'd be a long wait. This restaurant was full outside, but we were told a table would be available in 10 minutes. Another couple arrived and tried to take our table, but staff informed them we were next. Our server spoke English well and was professional and helpful. The house wine was good. The pear/cheese souffle didn't have much of a pear flavor, but it was cheesy and delicious. The pork with pistachio pesto was also delicious and came with tasty rice, but seemed a little overcooked. My partner enjoyed the grilled shrimp salad. I thought it was a little fishy. Note: they claimed their credit card machine was down and we had to pay in cash. FYI there just happens to be an ATM next to the seating atea.

We had such a great time at this restaurant that we ate here twice. My husband had the steak both…read moretimes because it was so good and inexpensive. My favorite dish was the gnocchi with shrimp and artichoke. The wait staff was very friendly and fun. All together a great experience.

The best meal we had while in Italy! This charming restaurant was recommended to us by an Airbnb…read moreowner that we stayed with just down the road. We arrived in Siena that day and read the reviews online. We were not optimistic that we would get in, as the need for a reservation is imperative. We happened to show up right at 7 PM when the restaurant opened. There were no tables available for the evening, but as we walked away, there was a cancellation and one of the servers ran down the road to grab us. I am so glad that he did, as it was an absolutely wonderful experience. The food was fantastic (beef filet... and my son had the chicken tenders, which were the best we have ever had anywhere!)! Our server, a young woman who had grown up in the Dolomites, was absolutely wonderful. She was attentive without being overbearing and a very pleasant conversationalist. We recommend this restaurant to anyone we know traveling to Siena.

We really enjoyed our food here. It wasn't the best we had in Italy, but regardless it was still…read morevery good. The pastas were covered in creams, sauces, etc., and after eating them we felt very heavy and full.