This place is right off the autostrada just before Florence, but is a little hard to find (forget…read morethe GPS!). Look for the big Hotel sign; it's right next to it. The outdoor look is deceptive (i.e. not very inviting.) BUT, the food was great. This place is Tuscan all the way: big meat carved table-side is the specialty. Almost all of the patrons are locals; the lunch service at 2:00PM was still packed and we got one of the last open seats. I tried the crespelle al forno (baked Italian crepes) and they were outstanding. The service was very good; prices were reasonable.

Found this on Yelp and had to check it out. Went with my family of 4 and had the steak like…read moreeveryone else....fun table side carving of a very rare steak, then placed on a sizzling hot plate that cooks the steak to medium. Potatoes were delicious.

I would certainly recommend. We stopped in for pizza lunch after visiting the leaning tower and it…read morewas delicious. I got essentially the pepperoni red pizza and my fiancé got a mortadella white pizza. I think the pepperoni red pizza was fantastic. Service was great!

A very lovely spot located on a beautiful street. The mista salad was only fair because of the…read morebitter greens they incorporated into it. The pizza was good but not great and the Branzino was dry. Service was so so, we had to fetch the waiter to take our order. If we had had a great experience we would of course come back tomorrow.

Happy to say this place is still just as amazing as I remember it almost 10 years ago!…read more A couple of girlfriends and I discovered Pensavo Peggio during our first trip to Italy in 2017, and it quickly became one of the reasons Florence became one of my favorite cities. Back then, I ordered the Osso Buco, Lasagna, and Tiramisu--and I still remembered how incredible everything was. So, of course, when I returned nearly 10 years later, I had to order the same meals... and yes, I said meals! Fabrizio, the same server who took care of me in 2017, asked, "Are you sure you want two dinners?" I told him, "Yes! I want to try them both." Fast-forward to 2026: I walked back in two days ago, reminded Fabrizio of our conversation, and told him I was ordering both again. He immediately started laughing. Some things never change! My boyfriend ordered the pappardelle and instantly fell in love with it. We also shared a delicious cheese and meat platter and, of course, finished with Tiramisu. Nearly 10 years later, Pensavo Peggio still holds a special place in my heart. Highly recommend this cute little spot! It just goes to show that sometimes the best memories--and the best meals--are found when you venture off the beaten path. Some places are simply worth coming back to.

Saw the reviews on Yelp and wanted to try it since we were staying around the corner…read more Had the Cacio Pepe and Grandma's Lasagna. Lasagna was 10/10 which is why my wife kept eating mine and the Pepe was still very good. Eat here for phenomenal food and value.

Delicious wine, perfect Bistecca Fiorentina, tasty wild boar with polenta and great service. This…read moreplace is a gem. Also, they have the best creme brulee I have ever had in my life. There's some magic in that stuff! A very happy meal for the whole family.

Nice little place, very friendly service. Located across the street from (hotel) Villa Le Maschere…read more Seems to specialize in dishes made with black truffles, so if that's your thing and you like Italian food, it's a pretty sure bet! Recommended.

Driving up the little winding road after the sign " Il Paiolo " (" the kettle ") we were wondering…read moreif we were in the right place. The old and seemingly small house hiding between the trees had us doubt. However, once we entered we were all blown away by the cozy atmosphere. The warmth from the wood-fired stove, the friendly personnel, and the fact that we immediately got a huge table with water and wine already standing on it made us feel comfortable from the beginning. It also turned out that the restaurant is much bigger than what it seemed looking at it from the parking area. The food we had was solid, typical Italian dishes (bruschetta and other appetizers, tortellini with mushrooms and a hint of truffles, Tiramisu) and the quality was excellent. Spices were just right, and the food was overall not very salty. The red house wine is light in taste and very pleasant to drink. The only thing to consider is that depending on the place in the restaurant the ambient temperature may vary quite a bit. In the room with the stove it was very warm and cozy, but in the largest of the 3 dining areas that were served when we were there it was a bit chilly, especially near the windows. Not that it bothered us, but I can imagine that some people might prefer to sit in one of the warmer areas instead.

I can confirm what has already been posted here. Yes, it is hard to find (look for the Hausbrandt…read moresign, see pic). Yes, there is in fact a grandma cooking the food (just as Jeff J. said, two in fact). Yes, the food is amazing. Maybe the reason this place is so hard to find is that it is a hidden gem that feels so authentic that you only hear whispers about it. But it is real folks. We started our meal with the fried polenta with ragu. The combination is a meal in itself. You can tell the ragu was fresh and well made because you could see the chunky bits of garlic, mushrooms and meat. The next course was the lasgna. It was rich with the ragu and ricotta. The noodles tasted homemade. It was a delicious dish blessed by a nonna. The last course was the steak Florentine. You can order it by weight. My conversion math may have been off because we got a HUGE cut of porterhouse. But it was absolutely tender and delicious. We enjoyed this delight to the bone. The service was exceptional. We were the only non-Italian folks in the restaurant but we were treated like family. I will also add that while I enjoyed our food selection, I noticed that the pizzas and pork/veal shank were also very popular and looked incredibly appetizing. My only regret is that we found this gem of a restaurant on our last night in Barga. I wish I had more time to taste more of the menu. The family owns another restaurant in Lucca (la Donna Clara) and one that's 3 km away that does seafood.

Writing this review is ridiculously painful because figuring out how we got there and its address…read morewas impossible. Their "webpage" is on Facebook, but their address on Facebook is inaccurate (stating that it's in Lucca city). On the receipt, there are two addresses, their page on TripAdvisor is matches one of the address on the receipt. When I put down the address here, the location on Yelp doesnt seem right. I tried to Google Map this place, but street images were taken in 2011, and this place wasnt opened yet. Long story short, we were driving down from Renaissance Tuscany Il ciocco resort on the SP20 looking for a restaurant, and happened to turn into this one off the side. It seemed like a traditional Italian restaurant you see on TV with cozy red chequered table cloths, a wood fire oven, and ladies behind the counter busy making pizza and pasta for you. We ordered a 4 seasons pizza (6EUR) and a personal sized lasagna (8EUR) - both of which came out of the wood oven! It was so delicious. We came in just before noon and there was only one other table filled but as we were leaving this place filled almost to the max and when we were driving out, people were waiting for our parking spot! WIth a beer and capuccion, our total was only 18.50 for too and we were so full.We really felt it was traditional Italian home cooking - awesome comfort food. We are still wishing to go back!

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.

The eight of us stayed at Casale Giotto in Vecchio for a week and had the pleasure of dinning at O…read morePer Bacco for three dinners. The service we received from the owner was fantastic from the first moment we arrived. If you like spicy, the owner makes his housemade spicy olive oil that adds a nice kick and touch to the food (luckily we were given a few bottles to take home with us)! We had read wonderful reviews of theirs restaurant and I'm happy to say that every dish was delicious and lived up to expectation! We've basically tried everything on the menu between the eight of us and our 3 dinners here. It's hard to pick my favorite dish, but the steak tartare was so fresh and focused on the taste of the beef with its minimalistic presentation. The Spaghetti alla chitarra al ragù di pesce was very different and the first that I've seen on a menu, but oh so delicious! The Tagliata di manzo con rucola, parmigiano e patate al forno is quite memorable, with its fresh taste of grill on the medium rare sliced steak. The tiramisu here is a must have and does run out, so make sure you have the owner out one aside for when you're ready for dessert. There is just something special in the food here that make it so delicious, the service is attentive and warm, and that tiramisu is really something else! So glad this restaurant was a part of our Tuscan experience - can't wait to go back for another few meals! Thank you for such a memorable Tuscan dining experience, O Per Bacco! The Mack Family

THE best food I ate my entire trip in Italy (by-far)…read more You have it in your mind that just because you are in Italy that everything is going to be better than Olive Garden or Chef Boyardee. Nope. This place met all my expectations of what a small-town Italian ristorante is meant to be. Our visit to another place locally yielded poor results, with sub-par food and offerings proving my point that our idea of Italian food doesn't hold water. O'perBacco was recommended by another great Trattoria that was closing due to our American stereotypical attention to details such as hours of operation. Oops. That mistake ended up being a blessing in disguise as the location on the piazza with the statue of Giotto made for the perfect backdrop with Italian families enjoying the beautiful weather. This is what I had envisioned when signing up for this trip. This is the postcard-picture you hope for. We were greeted immediately, and sat on the piazza for that little extra touristy flare that worked perfect for our group. In broken English, and menus in English for our less informed, we ended up chosing all the specials and NOT ONE PERSON complained. House wine was on-point, and the food quality was tremendously fresh and well prepared for what I had fear was going to be another bust. Not tonight Luigi. I would come back to Italy JUST to eat at this place.

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.