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    Ambrosia

    4.6 (13 reviews)
    Ultra High-EndTuscan, Vegetarian
    Open 12:15 pm - 2:30 PM, 7:15 PM - 10:15 PM

    Ambrosia Photos

    AMBROSIA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Quiet
    Intimate
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

    Recommended Reviews - Ambrosia

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    Interior ancient Etruscan well, where rain water flows from the rock wall to baths below.
    Devon T.

    This place has it all: ambiance, authenticity, unforgrettable cuisine, and top-rate service. It's only slightly more expensive than the tourist trattorias you'll find around the square, and your superior dining experience will be well worth it. Your experience will begin as you enter the medieval building purchased in 1910 by Chef Matteo's grandfather, a butcher. Unbeknownst to Matteo and his family until recent renovations to open the restaurant, the medieval building was constructed right on top of an ancient Etruscian bath, which Matteo has uncovered and incorporated into his restaurant. The back wall is ancient stone that the water runs across after a rain, into the lower-level bath which you can view through the glass floor. In other words, your entire dining experience will take place in a structure older than Christianity itself. If that doesn't impress you, then Matteo's personal welcome will. He is a very gracious host, and will ensure your dinner and your experience is remarkable. Although his staff does not all speak English, Matteo's English is quite good, and he won't hesitate to leave the kitchen to translate, answer questions, or generally make friends. Fine, so you came for dinner and want the food to be good, I get it. You're still in the right place. Matteo has studied and cooked in kitchens all over Europe, and his ability to prepare fresh, local ingredients in fantastic and delicious ways won't disappoint. For example, during our meal there, Matteo sent us a complimentary anchovy crostini to try. I hate anchovies. But Matteo's preparation used the salty fish flavor in such a way that the dish as a whole was nothing short of exceptional. By way of another example, we went out on a limb and ordered the tripe as our first course - another dish I've never tolerated even a little. But again, Matteo's mastery of the various local textures and flavors made for a crispy, flavorful delight of a dish that resulted in a clean plate at the end of the course. In short, any trip to or even near Cortona is not complete without visiting Ambrosia. It is the first place I recommend to anyone I meet planning a trip to the area, and we will not miss it when we come back again.

    Caramel creme brûlée... delicious!
    Alice W.

    Came here based on reviews and also the unique twist on Italian food. My friend ordered the tortellini filled with liver pate and it was delicious. However, my other friend and I ordered the grilled steak, and it was underwhelming -chewy and not well spiced. The risotto was also bland. We ordered two desserts, caramel creme brûlée and the dark chocolate brownie which were AMAZING. They also brought out a chocolate mousse on accident and that was also very tasty. They give you an appetizer, bread, and assortment of biscuits/meringue/cookies with the meal. All in all, the dinner was enjoyable with good service. I think, however, it is a little hit or miss with the menu.

    Delishhhh - Boar Ragu

    The boar ragu was sooooo tasty!!! It's a small family owned place. I also tried the fried mushrooms (porcini, from what I remember) and it was really good too (but I went alone so I couldn't really eat all of the fried mushrooms alone).

    Amuse bouche - bread crumb tomato croquette with salty parsley sauce - yummm!
    Anne P.

    This small restaurant in Cortona is a true gem. Don't let the signage fool you - this is NOT a quaint faux Greek menu. This is the real Italian deal. I can't think why they chose the "Greek" font of choice for bad restaurants in North America - it does not in way reflect the high quality of the very very Italian food-regional choices, complemented with an admirable range of fish and meat choices from other Italian cuisine. We arrived and were greeted with s small glass of Prosecco followed by a welcome dish (amuse bouche in France) - a bread and tomato croquette with a savoury green sauce. We shared the baccala which was an inspired combination of tender salty fish with chestnut butter and a piquant sauce. The pumpkin gnocchi with bacon and gambas is heavenly - lighter than air gnocchi with crisp bacon and sweet perfectly cooked gambas. My partner had the soup with a pasta made from bread, eggs and parmesan (sort of a cheesy little matzo ball) with a consomme poured over. Delicious. We followed with the fritto misto - fried vegetables, chicken and rabbit and the suckling pig with kale. The suckling pig was tender and sweet, and the kale a perfect bitter counterpoint. We were too full for dessert (so will have to go back) but were presented a plate of tiny biscotti and meringue with ambrosia for dipping. The ambrosia is a sweet honey mix with floral notes. All in all this was an amazing meal. We've been travelling in France, Spain, Greece, Turkey, New Zealand and Canada and this is top of our list. Again - don't let the signage fool you. I would have walked past this place but for Trip Advisor ratings. You will not be disappointed at Ambrosia!

    tomato and bread soup

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    La Taverna di San Giuseppe - Lasagna

    La Taverna di San Giuseppe

    4.7(203 reviews)
    53.1 km
    €€€

    Taverna di San Giuseppe is a very well oiled machine. Reservations are a must (recommend booking…read morethrough your hotel/walking in and requesting a reservation for next day) but the atmosphere is well worth it. Every server is serving you and the owners are incredibly attentive. Meals are stepped out in a way that has you receiving each dish with ample time to enjoy. The tiramisu was to die for and the invitation to explore the wine cellar afterwards was a treat. Well worth it!!

    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.

    Photos
    La Taverna di San Giuseppe - Inside

    Inside

    La Taverna di San Giuseppe - "small chicken"

    "small chicken"

    La Taverna di San Giuseppe - Wine bootle

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    Wine bootle

    Il Fornacino

    Il Fornacino

    4.8(5 reviews)
    17.8 km
    €€

    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.

    Photos
    Il Fornacino
    Il Fornacino
    Il Fornacino - Outside

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    Outside

    Ambrosia - tuscan - Updated May 2026

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