November 7, 2024 7:30PM…read more The Osteria was really close to the duomo and the ambiance looked so cozy from the outside. We decided to stop in for some seafood items and white wine. This is the place where I ordered my first vermentino of my life and have forever changed since. I thought I was just a sauvignon blanc girlie but I think I love vermentino more. I didn't get a chance to take a photo of the mussels we ordered but both the mussels and the spaghetti alle vongole (Spaghetti with Clams) were so tasty. Met some new friends from England while were were here that's from similar area as my partner's ancestors... The service was amazing, the restrooms were clean. Definitely a nice pitstop before moving on to sightseeing near the Duomo for the evening. Really love their seafood dishes that we tried. I thought they were very reasonably priced but maybe it's because I'm from a landlocked state. :)

We decided to stop at this restaurant on a whim. Wow! We were blown away by the food and service…read more We started with the bruschetta, which was served with fresh tomatoes, olives and arugula. It was delicious and so light! We also ordered wine. We got the Rosso di Montalcino 2024 and it was definitely one of the best glasses of wine I ever had. The steak we had was also amazing. It was tender and so flavorful. The potatoes were also fantastic! At the end of the meal, we had Vin Santo (dessert wine that you dip biscotti in). Very delicious, but very strong. Lastly, the server (maybe manager or owner) brought us out complimentary limoncello. It was also delicious. We definitely had to walk (or try to walk) it off after all that! I can't say enough about the food and service. We went to another steak place a few days before at Trattoria Dalloste. It was a couple of doors away from this place. The service and food didn't even compare to this place. We spent a lot more money for rubbery and fatty steak. They also tried to overcharge us. So, do yourself a favor and try La Cantinetta Osteria con Cucina. You won't be disappointed! If we ever go back to Firenze, we would go back to this restaurant in a heartbeat.

You name it... They had it and not only did they have it but they had the freshest around! It's a…read moremust visit!!

Located in the San Lorenzo district, just a few minutes' walk from the main train station of Santa…read moreMaria Novella), Mercato Centrale is a vibrant food hall experience housed in a historic market building (very similar to the Time Out Market franchise across Europe). From the outside, it looks like a grand, iron-and-glass structure typical of European markets; inside, it opens into a bustling, multi-level space filled with food vendors, communal tables, and constant movement. The vibe is energetic, social, and slightly chaotic in a fun way - perfect for grazing, group dining, or trying multiple cuisines in one visit (from Italian to American to Mexican!). We stopped in for a quick lunch at around 2pm on a Wednesday; there was plenty of seating at high-top tables, and QR codes on paper menus make it easy to explore all the different food vendor options. It's also a fun activity to peruse the market, taking in different sights, smells, and flavors. All of us ended up opting for Schiacciatas (large Italian sandwiches that are a staple in Florence) from Massimiliano Parri, which all ended up ranging from €10-12, depending on toppings - yes, it's more expensive than what you'd get from a traditional schiacciateria, but you're also paying for the market's location and convenience. We appreciated the fact that they shave the meat right in front of you! My schiacciata came with freshly shaved ham atop crusty white bread, slathered with burrata cheese, and sprinkled with arugula and figs (I opted for no additional olive oil, since I found the ham quite rich already). I loved the contrast of textures and flavors, though I will say that the bread ended up cutting the roof of my mouth! All in all, Mercato Centrale is a bit touristy, but still miles better (and cheaper) than most "Italian" sandwich places you'd find in the US (pro tip: save your receipt for free use of their bathrooms). The variety can't be beaten, prices are reasonable for a central market, and it's steps from some of Florence's most iconic spots.

Love this place! I've been here 6 times total on two different trips to Florence, 3 years apart and…read moreit was as good the first time as it was the last. I strongly recommend their Pizza and Lasagna but honestly, from sampling everything in my groups plates, I can say you just can't go wrong. Convenient location, comfortable atmosphere --yet very spacious for a historic area--, good staff, great food. I will be back!

We love this place in Florence which has indoor and outdoor patio…read more Pluses 1. Fresh mussels 2. Good wines by the glass especially Chianti Classico Reserva and the Brunello 3. Boar pasta Ragu 4. Lobster pasta 5. Triple tiramisu is the highlight and so delicious 6. Helpful and friendly service Highly recommended!

Apparently, this is a popular and trending restaurant on instagram. I did not know that. We stayed…read moreat the Grand Minerva so it was a few doors down from the hotel. I highly suggest making a reservation. Luckily, we were there in April so it wasn't too busy. They open for dinner at 7pm, so we got in line a little after 7:30pm. I think we were seated in about 30 minutes. We got the cheese wheel pasta (Flambé tagliatelle with fresh truffle in Grana Padano cheese wheel) that everyone is talking about. It's amazing! Definitely worth stopping by. The meal came with an aperitif. I got the Alcohol free gin tonic with aromatic essences, wild fruits basil and lemon--it was great! Also came with two types of bread and a limoncello after dinner.

A really great dining experience. Booked weeks in advance and for our time a lot 7-9pm, people were…read morelined up 10 minutes early to be let in. They brought us all in as a group (checking reso names) and sat us at individually tables. Then the "show" began with welcome prosecco, wine orders, etc. We got the squid and pork screwers as a starter and thought the flavors were just okay. The complimentary cheese bread ball and regular bread was super tasty. For mains, we got the truffle pasta (with the famous cheese wheel) which was fun to watch. The pasta itself was very solid, but not best ever. Also got the beef/boar pasta and it was better than the truffle pasta in my opinion and cheaper. The deconstructed tiramisu was yummy. Overall a good dinner with good service and pretty good food! An easy spot to recommend to others!

Looking for a place to eat, found this gem and realized I wanted to try it. Everyone had told us…read moredinner reservations were a MUST here, but didn't think about it. Not many places actually have yelp reviews, but this one had so many with great feedback. The food looked amazing. When we arrived we thought they were closed, but that is because they moved to a bigger restaurant a few doors down. When we arrived at the front, the gentleman asked if we had reservations, which we didn't. He directed us to the line with no reservations. The line was a bit long, but doubled in size almost immediately. It also started pouring rain during this time and we were ALL getting drenched even with an umbrella. The non reservation line was not really moving unless people left the line. We waited a good hour. As we inched closer and closer, the lines were now both outrageous and getting seated seemed like a distant memory. The staff came out and gave out Sangria and Bread bites to help those in line feel welcome. We did finally get seated and we were so glad we waited, it was worth it! We ordered the Spaghetti Carbonara, the lobster spaghettini and the chicken breast with roasted potatoes. We also ordered sangria. Everything was so good and our total was 83 €. Prices were unbelievable! We were amazed at the quality, the service and how large the restaurant they relocated to was. It was like a well oiled machine. The food coming out quickly and efficiently. I will 100% be back if I return to Florence!

What a maze of a restaurant, super interesting decor and set up. Such a cute restaurant with so…read moremany "rooms". Definitely can tell the old building and maybe they had expanded over the years. The service was amazing and the food delicious. This is one of the places that friends recommended and it's also on the list of many influencers. Tourist trappy, maybe. But the food was totally worth it. We were in the area around 4:30PM and decided to stop in, totally not expecting much as we didn't make a reservation but figured if they're open and not busy, why not give them a try. The most memorable dish we had was the appetizer we order - fried polenta with mushrooms and chicken liver pate, the polenta fried crispy, the mushrooms creamy and the chicken liver pate so smooth and savory. We also ordered 2 pasta dishes - wild boar sauce pappardelle and spaghetti alla carbonara. So tasty and with depth of flavors. Paired well with the house white wine we ordered as well. Definitely a spot you don't want to miss when in Florence.

My husband and I visited Florence for a full week and came to eat here 3 times because everything…read morewas just so incredibly fresh and delicious! The oysters are ENORMOUS and the portions are very generous and extremely great value for money. The atmosphere is very cool and modern with incredible service as well. We basically tried through the menu while we were there and honestly loved every single thing we tasted. I highly recommend this to anyone in town to add to your list of you are a seafood fan!

4.5 stars The Fishing Lab presents an innovative…read moreconcept--seafood served in a variety of forms including raw, grilled, bar bites, and composed dishes, all on the same menu! The most creative dish we had was the Codfish Cappuccino, a codfish mousse topped with potato foam, served in a cappuccino cup with a croissant on the side. It was made to look like breakfast but was a savory seafood appetizer! One nice feature about the menu here was that many dishes could be ordered in a "Tapas" (half) portion, so it was easy to try and share lots of different items. The Catalan-style Calamari and Shrimp Salad was a refreshing mixture of chopped squid mixed with zucchini, carrots, fennel, tomatoes, and oranges; the Fusili with Galician-style Octopus Sauce came with al dente corkscrew pasta in a tomato-based octopus ragout made with spicy salami and topped with potato foam; and the Cacciucco was a tomato-based stew (from the Tuscan coastal city of Livorno) made with octopus, cuttlefish, mussels, and gurnard, along with dry chunks of bread that were moistened in the stew. Finally, we had the Isolana-Style Sea Bream Fillet, which was simply grilled and served over roasted vegetables including zucchini, potatoes, peppers, onions, and olives. Overall, the seafood here was fresh and tasty, fusing elements of Spanish and Italian cuisines.

Overall good experience Food is amazing…read more Reservations not required but better to have one

Made a reservation well in advance. Arrived for our dinner and were immediately seated. The…read morerestaurant is good looking and very welcoming. We looked at the menu and decided on a couple of things...the Burrata with Truffles, Eggplant Parmigiana, Cacio e Pepe, and a side of Tuscan White Beans. We ordered food and drinks. Drinks arrived within 2 minutes and lo and behold our Burrata Salad arrived Two minutes later...and yes I timed it. I asked that our food be slowed down and also asked that it not be cooked and served cold. We finished our Burrata with a Truffles which I might add was delicious. And within a reasonable few minutes our food arrived. The Cacio e Pepe was delightful but could have had a bit more Pepe. The Tuscan White Beans were perfect with a hint of spice which made them special. I wish I could say the Eggplant Parmigiana was equally as good as the rest of the meal. It was not. It was way over cooked - almost burned. Guess it just stayed in the oven while we slowed down our meal. We managed to delay our meal enough that we were actually in the restaurant a bit over an hour. I can't say service was lacking I would describe it as more overwhelming...almost uncomfortable. Atmosphere - 4 Food - 3 Service - 2 Price - 4 Overall Rating - 3.25

Perfect and delicious. Family run, momma, papa, and daughter, Nina…read more From the amazing pizza to the homemade Lemonchello, this place is the best!

We had some drinks around the corner and were hungry so decided to come here due to the great…read morereviews. We walked in and the guy who spoke to us almost seemed bothered that we came in. I felt like it was almost an inconvenience to ask if there was a table for 2 . Once we got sat the waitress who helped us was very nice. We didn't realize how big the pizzas were but the price was great for two of them. I was pulling apart slices but the pizza was soggy and the toppings were coming off BUT the flavor was really good!!!!

What a great surprise this little food stall was! Fresh seafood, lightly battered, and perfectly…read morefried! With a slash of yellow lemon it was a delight! The combo mix was shrimp, squid, and cod. They have beer, wine, or soft drinks. The one guy there does everything and we really nice. Little English tho but we were fine. You can eat it here sitting on small stools or take it upstairs to the dinning hall.

FRESH CALAMARI! When…read moreI say fresh, I mean fresh! There was a line waiting to get fresh calamari and the smell was just too alluring that we had to line up ourselves. You can opt just for calamari or get a mix (fish, shrimp too). We went with the mix/combo and my tummy and taste buds did not regret it one bit at all. SO yummy. Next time, I want to get just the calamari. I love the tentacles :) Other than that, this place is cash only and it's located inside the Mercato Centrale.

Delicious! Worth checking out. It's very local so either get there right when it opens or have a…read morereservation. Prices are affordable. If you are looking for something different. Menu changes daily. Vegan options. A nice change of pace for those of us who also eat meat but want to finally limit it. Also the way it works is that you order ahead and pay and then the food is brought to your table. Service isn't exactly warm but they are quick and efficient with your meals.

We're always very excited to try a 100% vegetarian restaurant knowing we can eat anything we want…read moreon the menu and we were excited to learn that Il Vegetariano existed. It's a bit of a walk outside of the center of Florence but we'd thought we'd see what the Italian vegetarian focus experience was like. It was serviceable, but not as great as we'd hoped. The concept is interesting...the menu changes every day depending on the whims of that days chef, so our experience could have been informed a bit by just what we experienced that day, and might have been completely different on another day. An issue sometimes with all vegetarian restaurants is they specialize in the concept of being vegetarianism, without necessarily specializing in a particular kind of food which can lead to a mish-mash of disconnected offerings which is what we found on the menu here. The night we were there, for example you could get Italian, Indian, and strudel main dishes...all vegetarian, but otherwise not specializing in any particular type of food. We also didn't have a reservation. They were nice enough to seat us, but the restaurant was not at all full in any of its rooms (at any point when we were there) and the person who seated us, made a point of telling us they prefer reservations and then seated us at probably the least desirable table in the restaurant, right next to the cash register and right across from the salads display case which was the most trafficked area of the restaurant with people ordering their food hovering right over our table. We definitely felt like we were being unnecessarily punished with this table, especially when there were plenty of other places we could have sat and the overall demeanor of the person who seated us made us feel like she felt like she was doing us a big favor and she had her limits. So kind of a bummer of an introduction to the place. You order by writing down what you want on a slip of paper they provide you with, and then bringing that to the cashier to pay. That's fine, but it's not exactly "service" like you might get at any other sit down restaurant with servers and a wait staff. The food came extremely quickly...at the same time as the wine...It's hard to complain about quick service, but at most other places we experience in Italy (and the rest of the world for that matter) you get your wine first and can enjoy it a bit before the food shows up. We felt rushed. Also, and I'm sure I'm coming off as awfully picky, but you can see the high scores I typically give in my other reviews so...but the chairs were really uncomfortable to sit on. I typically don't think about the chairs at restaurants...these chairs made me think about them. My wife and I shared a lasagna and a greens-filled calzone-like pastry for our mains. Both of these portions were super-large...we appreciate generosity in portions, but these were just too large for us to be able to finish...both, especially the lasagna were really rich and heavy dishes too. They checked the box for being vegetarian but didn't excel to star dishes in terms of flavor or presentation that we'd want again. The desserts looked amazing but by the time we had eaten as much as we could of the mains, we just didn't want anything else or to hang around. We had many vegetarian-friendly meals at many restaurants in the cities we visited in Italy on this trip. This one was easily the most disappointing. If we lived in town we might come by to try the desserts or to see if it's a completely different experience with an unnecessary reservation and different chef...but otherwise, it wasn't really worth the walk out of the center of Florence to eat here.