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.

Wow! What can be said that hasn't already been said. The place is beautiful. Everything you…read moreexpect when you dine in Italy. The white table clothes the amazing staff with great recommendations. Although to be honest. I don't think they can make a mistake. The food was absolutely delicious, with just the right size portions. We went for it with antipasto, primi's , Secondi's and dessert. Everything was spot on. If and when I go back to Cortona, this will be a reservation I make. Also The staff seemed to know when to approach and when to give you space. It was truly a first class experience. Make a reservation, because this is one place in Cortona you don't want to miss.

So good, we ate here twice! The fondue was outstanding. We loved the meat selection on the…read moreappetizer dish. We ordered the t-bone both nights and it was easily the best steak we ate in town. Lovely place, lovely service!

Ristorante Cacciatore is off the main square - on Villa Roma. Excellent meal and service.read more

I thought I should provide a review, to balance off the otherwise glowing reviews presently posted…read more We had an Ok dinner, but it was not exceptional, and this is not a restaurant to seek out, unless our experience was atypical. The quality of ingredients was probably the best feature, though still less than remarkable. The cooking was the low point, with the meat platter Main being a real disappointment: overcooked, almost flavourless game, chicken and pork. The service was good, while ambience is again, nothing special. I don't like being a Debbie Downer in amongst the mostly rave reviews, but I feel compelled to comment, for a more balanced consideration.

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!!

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!

This was recommended to us by our hotel. We had a lovely dinner this week and although our Italian…read moreis poor, we enjoyed every minute! Being unfamiliar with the area, it took us a few minutes to navigate with GPS down but worth it! My friend had the pork and it was delicious. We both had different pastas and enjoyed it all.

What a cool, little place in the heart of lovely Paciano, Italy. Wonderful, authentic food…read more Basically, you eat what they eat. I again had tagliatelle as that is the food of the gods, this time in a porcine and cream sauce. Wonderful Umbrian wine and focaccia. My daughter had a four cheese pizza which was fun as we couldn't tell what the cheeses were initially. The yummy was in the tasting! Worth the go and walk that town - it's worth it!

Best Home Cooked Italian food I have ever had in my life! My Grandmother would slap me with a…read morewooden spoon but I telleth the truth! Went 2 nights in a row! Freshest selection of everything! It's this type of place that makes life worth living! I continue to fantasize about this wonderful eatery Every now and then! Bottom line it's worth flying here just to smell the fabulous cuisine wafting from the kitchen! Do they deliver?

Il Fornacino has an adventurous menu that I was excited to try. Like every restaurant in the area…read moreit offers the traditional Tuscan tagliata di chianina (is there a law?) but there's also rabbit stuffed with veal and truffles and a very on-trend Swiss chard, ricotta, and truffled egg raviolone. I started with the latter, which was delicious -- but the powerful flavour of cheese and the egg yolk drowned out the chard. My wife's potato flan was quite nice, but it arrived buried under a heap of truffle shavings that tasted of nothing in particular. My main was a special of roast suckling pig with potatoes and a savoury tuile made with the pork drippings. The tuile was gratuitous -- a chef-y touch that didn't actually taste very nice. The suckling pig was beautifully cooked but the potatoes were weirdly inconsistent; some crisp and others mushy. Il Fornacino is a good restaurant that would be the best restaurant around in most places, but the five-star bar is set pretty high in Tuscany. But the prices were very modest and the wine selection was great. It's a tremendously good value for what it offers.

Wow! This was our first night in Cortona and it did not disappoint. Everything was amazing as soon…read moreas we walked in. Service was great, the restaurant is a small space but the food is packed with flavor. We had such an incredible experience here. We will definitely be coming back for more during our stay. We got lucky and were able to be seated without a reservation. We came right around 7 pm as we just beat the start of the dinner rush. Pictures do not do it justice. I can't wait to try more items. If I can give more than 5 stars I would. Pastas were cooked perfectly and the tiramisu was to die for.

We overheard a local recommending Trattoria Dardano in Cortona. The pasta with traditional ragu was…read morethe best I've ever had. Hubby had ravioli with ricotta in a butter and sage sauce. Devine. All the food was scrumptious and the prices all very reasonable. The service was prompt, friendly and efficient. I highly recommend this restaurant. 10/2025

We had a most wonderful meal here last night-dining in a cave setting was so unique. We enjoyed…read morethe pasta pici with asparagus...the rib eye steak from local beef...summer apple walnut fennel salad! The wine was exceptional as well as the fine service from the staff. We were so so very happy to have had the chance to experience this beautiful restaurant.

Surly service. Meat, their specialty, tough as nails. This place does not deserve their good…read morereputation.

What a great find. The very friendly owner, Mara, welcomed…read moreus as locals. The food was fantastic. The staff was prefect. The restaurant was clean and well maintained. All at a very reasonable price! If you visit Cortana, and don't stop here, you have missed out!

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.

WOW! If you want to feel warm and welcomed then you must go visit Emma, at Bar 500. Her…read morerestaurant is in the heart of downtown Cortona and offers inside and outside seating. Her restaurant is quaint, charming, and cozy. Emma will treat you like one of her family. My wife and I found her one night while she was closing and asked if we could get dessert and coffee to go. She could have said "no" very easily but instead welcomed us and prepared two hot coffees with cookies and a tart to go. We liked her so much, we made reservations for dinner the next night before we walked out. OBTW, the coffee and desserts were fresh and tasty. Our dinner and service the next evening was great. Emma and her associate do everything. They seat you, hand out the menu, take your order, cook and serve you the food, and then bus the tables. All along the way, you get to talk with Emma. My wife and I had salads to begin our meal and then pasta dishes with ragu. Our meals were cooked fresh, served hot, and the portions were generous. If you looked around, all of her customers were laughing, smiling, and enjoying themselves. The prices were very reasonable considering her location. Emma has quite a selection of tasty and fresh desserts, especially the cookies with the chocolate strip. There are plenty of options in Cortona but if you want to feel like you are entering into someone's home, go visit Emma. You will not be disappointed. Don't forget to make that reservation because you will need it!

The breakfast here is delicious. The eggs are cooked perfectly and comes with cappuccino and orange…read morejuice. The eggs were our favorite in town. My husband also enjoyed the pancakes.