We went here for dinner one night while we were in Florence since it had such good reviews. Unfortunately we were disappointed by our dinner here. The grilled vegetables were very soggy and not as good as other vegetables we had in Florence. The pasta we had was okay, but a little bland. The lasagna I personally thought was good, but my husband wasn't too impressed by it. Overall the meal was just okay. read more

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Amazing 5 star service and meal. Our last night in Florence and by far the best experience in the two week journey. Owner and staff could not have been more attentive. Highly recommend. read more

My hubby and I went here in our first night in Firenze, because it was recommended to him by 2 people in our home city. It was an incredible experience! We started with the bruschetta and the Fresh Burrata on garden soil and fresh truffle appetizers. The truffle appetizer was layered on a textured base of deliciousness, that you must try. For dinner my hubby got the Beef fillet with potato cream, olive soil and fresh truffle and I got the Tagliolini with fresh truffle and truffle caviar. Everything was exquisitely made and the details were impeccable. My husband was going to get a Negroni with another type of booze and the owner, Besi, strongly suggested he try the one on the menu. He shared the artfully thought-out process to barrel age his feature drink, so my husband tried it and loved it so much, he ordered 2 more ! Besi, and the two gentlemen who waited on us were absolutely delightful and very welcoming. Definitely stop here when you are in Firenze! read more

Brandolino - Steak with cream and truffle. Excellent - Tuscan Near Me - Florence, FI

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We were lucky to get in on a Friday evening. The restaurant was small and crammed in on one side, so I was thrilled when we were taken on the other side. The other room was roomy and open. It had a comfortable setting with benches that had cushions. The staff were all extremely nice and attentive. Our main waiter was great with explaining the menu and pointing out what was really good on the menu. I ordered the steak with truffles on top sitting on a truffle cream sauce that was delicious. There was little black specs of Parmesan that looked like dirt on the sides and it had a little herb leaf sticking out of it. I tasted it, and it added just the right amount of flavor to the steak, truffle, and cream sauce. It was superb. My son ordered. Ordered stew beef bolognese, which he enjoyed immensely. Beware of the bread scam. They put bread on the table and then charge you per person for partaking of the bread. I didn't even eat it but they charge a cover charge for sitting down and eating bread. Let them know you don't want any bread if you don't really want it. It was a nice place and they don't rush you to leave. They also bring cold limoncello shots after dinner. I would definitely go back there. read more

Brandolino - Steak bolognese - Tuscan Near Me - Florence, FI

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Wow, what an amazing experience we had. My husband and I were visiting from California, and we went here for dinner on our last night in Florence. 1. Beautiful and rustic interior design. 2. Our waiter was just amazing. He gave us recommendations based on our inquiries and was very accommodating as we were quite indecisive with choosing from their wine selections and entrees. He gave us a couple of choices for red wine and white wine to taste before choosing. He also showed us our cut of steak before it was cooked as we weren't sure if we could consume what we thought might've been too much (but it turned out to be just the right amount!). He truly gave 5-star service. 3. The food was so delicious, presentable and memorable. We got the risotto (so creamy and melts in your mouth) and tagliolini with fresh truffle (smoky and light) for our first course. Second course was the florentine steak (tender, savory, and cooked to perfection) with roasted potatoes (salted just right). Lastly, dessert was a classic tiramisu. They offered us complimentary digestif to end our meal as well. I truly recommend Brandolino to anyone visiting Florence. There are many restaurant choices, but Brandolino would be a great one to make. read more

Brandolino - Florentine steak - Tuscan Near Me - Florence, FI

The food suggestions were superb! We had the duck and ravioli. Such a prize find highly suggest quaint atmosphere and beautiful service. An amazing end to our Florence vacation. read more

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On our final night in Florence, we decided to have a fabulous dinner..and Brandolino did not disappoint. Recommended by our photographer, Brandolino had filling but moderate portion sizes, and everything was cooked to order, and wonderfully made. The service was attentive and they were quick to offer personal recommendations. I was warned that dinner reservations fill up very quickly, so I personally called to make sure we reserved a table for our party. We arrived about 10 mins late, but called to give them a heads up. We had to wait about another 15 mins to be seated, but they also graciously offered us Prosecco for our wait...nice touch! Overall, this restaurant is well decorated and styled, the service thoughtful and personable, and the food is worth the trip. Highly recommend! read more

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Brandolino is an INCREDIBLE restaurant in Florence! Make a reservation now because you don't wanna miss this. What they offer is an elected and modern take on traditional Italian dishes. The restaurant itself is beautiful with a very attentive wait staff paying close attention to every detail. We were constantly attended to in regards to food, plates, & wine service. Our wine was suggested by our server and it was incredible!! The next time we are in Florence this will be a MUST on our list and would recommend to anyone visiting or living in the area ! read more

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Food and service were great for our first meal in Italy in April. Husband wanted to try florentine steak and this was recommended by our hotel and didn't disappoint. read more

Absolutely astonishing! In a high traffic tourist area directly across from the Medici Chapel and yet delivered food and service like we we well loved Italian friends. Exceptional food, outstanding service and a quintessential Italian setting made for multiple nights of delicious eating. An absolute must visit! read more

Brandolino - View of the interior - Tuscan Near Me - Florence, FI

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Fantastic restaurant. Extra special. A must go. The main event is the T-bone steak, kind of like the number one dish in Florence. Every restaurant has one and at this place, it is really terrific. Everything else was great too. Lived the salad. Tuscan white beans were garlicky and delicious. Cacio e pepe??? Great! Wine was good, service was great. Not super expensive. You're gonna love this place. read more

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This is by far my favorite restaurant in Florence. The menu is amazing. The atmosphere (a Renaissance chapel with an amazing history) is incredible. The location (a 3-minute walk from the Duomo) is ideal. Also, when you eat at Brandolino, you are treated like family. Don't be surprised to be greeted by the owner/chef, who takes GREAT pride in the food he serves. I've tried many different entrees here, and I have loved them all. The pastas are subtle enough so that you can taste all the flavors, and the Florentine Steak melts in your mouth. If you are in Florence, absolutely make time to visit this restaurant. It will be memorable! read more

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This restaurant was nothing short of excellent! The staff were incredibly friendly, the service was top tier, and the food was absolutely divine. We visited multiple times during our trip to Florence, this restaurant is a favorite & we will definitely be back! I attached photos of some favorites - ravioli stuffed with pecorino, caramelized shallot and pecorino sauce; Chocolate lava cake & wild berries sauce; Grilled sirloin dry-aged with rucola, aromatic oil, grana flakes; Beef Wellington. A must try restaurant on your trip to Florence!! read more

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We absolutely love this place from the people, to the food to the service!!! I can't say enough about this place and Besi is a gem! We are here twice while in Italy because no other restaurant compare to it. Please make reservations in advance as this place books up quickly and I wouldn't want anyone to miss out on this experience. We ordered the steak and roasted potatoes and spaghetti with lemon sauce read more

Brandolino - Tuscan Near Me - Florence, FI

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This review is a little late in coming, as we ate here in mid-July. We absolutely loved Brandolino. We had a party of 8, including a 6-month-old, 3-year-old, and others ranging up to 65. They were extremely accommodating to our son who has 5 food allergies and for whom it's challenging to be in a restaurant. The owner was friendly, anxious to please, and made it known he also has a family and understands the struggles of traveling with children--he catered to their needs with great care and kindness. Atmosphere was lovely; we sat in the back room that also includes the bar, where the American bartender also was a great personality. Food was excellent. We ordered a variety of appetizers, dinners and drinks, and everyone was delighted with their selection, including pastas, steaks, etc. Perhaps the best thing about this restaurant is the owner, whose personal service makes you feel valued. Our party can be challenging because of the ages and allergies, but he was unaffected by us, and made us feel at home. read more

Absolutely incredible. We hung out with Mario and Besi 2 nights in a row. Absolutely top-notch in every single way possible. The food, a 10 out of 10 everything from the beef stew to the bread and wine selection... desserts were unbelievable and the presentation was top-notch. Everything was absolutely inspired and a must visit. The staff is top-tier in the experience, overwhelmingly a 10/10. Go here. read more

Outstanding food! We popped in impromptu (7pm, no reso), based on a couple of recommendations and were absolutely blown away by each and every dish we ordered (3 starters, 3 pastas, 4 desserts). Every so often you encounter a restaurant you rave about and would go out of your way to try again - Brandolino is that restaurant. Truly memorable, a must-try. read more

An outstanding dining experience. Awesome food on all levels, superb service and marvelous ambience. Best restaurant in Florence. Highly recommended for the best dining. read more

This restaurant is amazing. We went there first night when we got to Florence. Our Hotel receptionist recommended to us. Everything we ordered was delicious. The service was great and beautiful vibes. We want to go back there again before head out of Florence. read more

Food was so good!! Great service and wine! We had to call ahead to get a reservation, and got seated very quickly. Great selection of foods and wines!!! read more

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Was able to make a reservation through email. Received an email confirmation a few days after I reached out. Painless process there. Brandolino is in a great location in Florence. The ceiling gives the appearance that you are in a wine cellar or old cloister. But the decor is modern. The service was polite and professional. Excellent wine offerings as well. Of course, my wife and I and two kids started with a pasta course. Pasta did not disappoint! All the pasta was fresh and flavorful. But, the highlight was the Florentine steak! If you are a person who orders their steak medium to well, please don't order a steak in Florence. Rare!!! So good! The char in the steak was awesome and steak itself was succulent and full of flavor even though it's simply but expertly prepared. If in Florence, get the steak at Brandolino! read more

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Amazing food, great atmosphere and good service. Definitely a must-do and we will return on our next visit to Florence

Enjoyed this place very much. My party did as well. Nice selection & decent prices. I'd like to go back.

Spent a delightful evening at this outstanding trattoria. The two of us wanted to order the bistecca, but 4.5 pounds of beautiful t-bone was too intimidating . We settled on tenderloins that were perfectly prepared and served with the best roasted potatoes we had on the trip. This is a must stop when in Florence. read more

Brandolino is simply magical. Here you will experience marvelous food offered in an ancient barrel-vaulted chapel while surrounded by lovely, crumbling frescoes--what more could you ask for, right in the heart of the oldest part of glorious Florence? The city has over 2100 restaurants, including some of the best in the world--and of course plenty of horrible tourist traps. Brandolino belongs to the former class, and is quickly earning a reputation as the best of the best. Besi and Mario have truly created a masterpiece here. First--the location. Tucked into a little piazza just a three minute walk from Santa Maria Novella church and the train station, four minutes from the Duomo, and right across from the San Lorenzo church and Medici Chapel (where members of the most famous family of the Renaissance are buried) you couldn't get a more convenient central position in the city. Brandolino is intimate but not claustrophobic, occupying a long narrow chapel nave in one of the oldest medieval blocks in Florence. People are drawn in from the street just by the romantic look of the long high-ceilinged chapel, which is not evident or expected from the exterior, and is unusual even for this beautiful city. The interior design is gorgeous, simple, and unpretentious. Actual Aldobrandini family crests from the Renaissance hang on the walls. The frescoes have been examined by an art historian and go back perhaps to the 13th century; as they have faded into a pastel obscurity they lend an effect simultaneously ancient and modern, mysterious and abstract, calling to you from past ages. It is like time travel. You can't help but wonder who has been there in the centuries before you...as I said, it really is magical. The service is very friendly and attentive without being invasive. Besi will give suggestions for what his best daily offerings are. He will complement this with details about how the food is procured and prepared, and also great stories, including the wild history of the ancient Aldobrandini family chapel, which was walled up by papal interdict for five centuries after something horrible happened here. It's a story only Besi should tell you, so I'll stop. But it will certainly make for a memorable meal, and one exemplifying all the disturbing intrigue of the Italian Renaissance! Equally amazing is the story of how the new Brandolino came to be under Besi's leadership--but that's also his tale to tell. His passion about food (and everything else, including his family) is infectious. The food is of course why you'll want to visit more than once. It is classic Tuscan fare, with the best beef I've ever had, wonderful pastas and antipasti, and a solid wine list. My favorites include the filet de manzo and the cacio e pepe. My all-time favorite Tuscan dish is pappardelle cinghiale (large pasta with wild boar sauce) and Brandolino's is the best I've tasted in Florence. My wife loves the beef as well and we're not big meat eaters. The filet with truffles is extremely popular but I've not had it since I don't like mushrooms. The burgers are huge and delicious. The chicken rolls--wrapped in prosciutto and presented in a delicious beer sauce are just phenomenal--similar to Roman saltimbocca but much tastier in my opinion. The desserts are small and exquisite, especially the tiramisu and fruit cheesecake. Every plate is presented artfully and with great pride. I've been to dozens and dozens of restaurants in Florence. I'm a professor of Renaissance cultural history based in Los Angeles and I live in Florence in the summer with my family and students, and I've visited several times a year in Fall and Spring over the last decade. This adds up to hundreds of meals in restaurants of all kinds in the city--everything from street food and the Mercado Centrale to the finest places in town. I've spent extensive time in Rome and Venice and other European cities and I can say that Brandolino's is simply the best overall restaurant experience I've had here. I've never written a review until now. I just wish they'd open a branch in LA! In the last six weeks my students have requested dinner at Brandolino's repeatedly--I think we've eaten there about half a dozen times already. They've only been open about two months and are already ranked #1 on Tripadvisor...and with good reason. On top of everything else--it isn't expensive. A very good dinner will run 20-30EU. You can have a great lunch for half that. You can easily spend more on a terrible meal in one of the tourist traps. Go to Brandolino and tell them Dr Grant sent you! A visit to glorious Florence without a meal at Brandolino would be a serious mistake. It fits right in with the Ponte Vecchio, the Uffizi, the Palazzo Vecchio, the Brancacci Chapel, and the David. Everything about it is beautiful. read more

Brandolino - The amazing Besi prepares our beef at the table! - Tuscan Near Me - Florence, FI

Besi is the absolute best host and restaurateur in Florence! We arranged our wedding rehearsal dinner to take place here and it was definitely a highlight of the entire trip. He was always available to discuss details even though we live in the USA. He gifted our entire party welcome prosecco and made the presentation of food into a show that kept everyone so entertained. It was an entire experience eating at Brandolino! The food was INCREDIBLE. Our guests are still talking about the Florentine steak. Thank you Besi, we will be coming back! read more

I went with some friends on recommendation for the best Steak Florentino. What I was not expecting was one of the most delicious dinners I have ever had. Everything my group ordered and shared was perfection. I didn't have words to describe how delicious it was. And everyone on staff was very friendly. read more

We had a lovely dinner here. Walked in without a reservation and got lucky that another group didn't show up! We were warmly welcomed by the bartender who kept us entertained until we could be seated. Our charming waiter took it from there and was so sweet and wonderful. Other staff, maybe managers, were equally friendly, joyful, and seemed genuinely happy to provide a superb dining experience. Simple ingredients executed perfectly!! Loved this place!! House white was a white chianti, i think, and a winner!! The cheese platter app was divine, spaghetti limone superb, and ricotta ravioli was excellent! read more

This place is so amazing ! Hands down so impressed , first of all you can drink the olive oil it's so refreshing and sweet tasting , the owner himself seated us and took our orders he was very informative and he cared about the food preparation I got the truffle burrata wow it was so delicious melted in your mouth I usually don't like truffle taste but it wasn't so powerful it was shuttle and was crusted with garlic crumbs it was delicious , I also had the flank steak , delicious tasting and perfectly cooked one of the best steaks I ever had the stuffed beef ravioli melted in your mouth! Only 3 raviolis so definitely order more if your a foodie!! Delicious !!!' read more

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This restaurant was beyond my expectations ! The decor was a homey Italian cozy style feel . The olive oil They give on the table was unlike any other oil i ever tried , my mom and sister actually drank it lol that's how good it was ! The truffle burrata was perfectly paired with black garlic crumbs, that was so tasty and paired great with one another. We ordered a bottle Of Sauvignon blanc .. so fresh and fruity , not too sweet and not too dry ! For dinner we ordered the steak .. so juicy and a very detailed taste , cooked to Perfection wow ! The owner served us himself , which is never the case in any restaurant , so made it that much more special ... highly recommended this restaurant in Florence Italy. read more

Wow. This place was phenomenal. I think the pasta was the best textured noodle I've ever had and I've had a lot of pasta. The restaurant is beautiful, service was fast and nice. Lovely place! Creme brûlée was awesome and was delivered to the table as it was on fire. Pretty cool and definitely instagrammable which seems to be a very important criteria for most people these days. read more

Brandolino - Tagliolini with truffles - Tuscan Near Me - Florence, FI

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We dined at Brandolino's for our last night in Florence and it did not disappoint! The rustic ambiance was the perfect compliment to our meal. We both had steak, one with truffles and one with a bitter sweet wine sauce with sweet onions. They were both amazing. Very well prepared and the right balance of flavor and texture. Our waiter recommended a fabulous Castlevecchi Chianti. It paired very well with our meal. If you are looking for a fine dining experience, this is a must stop location read more

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This was arguably one of the best meals I have ever had. Within minutes from being sat at our table, we were greeted with a complimentary glass of Prosecco by our waiter. The ambiance is just perfect, from the design & build, to the lighting, decor, & music...I wouldn't change a thing. We had a late lunch so we shared the artichoke appetizer (just the right balance of flavors), the Florentine steak (chef's recommendation on temp is 'blue' as the waiter responded) we opted to go with medium rare, which was pretty rare still & just fine with me. They ask if you want salt, pepper & olive oil drizzled and the answer of course is YES. Do not get a florentine steak anywhere else. THIS IS THE SPOT. We did a caprese salad on the side, the tomatoes were fresh & flavorful. We shared two desserts & a very good bottle of wine. Not one thing missed the mark here. HIGHLY recommend finding your way to this establishment when in Florence. We WILL be back. read more

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Had dinner tonight and the owner recommended a menu for us. There were 8 of us and our meal was absolutely unbelievably fantastic. The best meal we have had in Italy (Florence, Rome and Milan)!!! The pasta was full of flavor, the salad was fresh, the steak was decadent! This was the perfect meal with the perfect host!!! If you are in Florence and want a great meal- eat here! read more

We went here for dinner while staying in Florence. We asked for air so they took us into the back of the restaurant. The air conditioning worked well. It was a hot day. Service was a little slow. Very friendly though. Seems like the norm here in Florence. We had Caesar salad to start and then Gnocchi for our main course. They were delicious. We also had desert. Tiramisu and cheesecake. read more

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The food was SPECTACULAR The best meal I have ever had!!! We started off with burrata and white truffle which was melting in our mouths and very tasty! We also got a steak which was perfectly cooked topped with black truffle- amazing- and a pecorino filled ravioli with sautéed onions which was also perfect For dessert we got chocolate cake which literally melted in your mouth and was not too rich- perfect flavor and consistency Hope to come again in the near future!!! read more

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Amazing atmosphere, wonderful staff and fabulous food. It is a converted 18th century chapel. The walls are old painted frescos. The chandeliers are rustic modern. The food is updated Tuscan, not a standard tourist fare. Plating is elegant. Attention to detail is superb. We ordered pasta for primi to share and they split it for us. My lamb was divine with 3 sauces. Must try: creme brûlée. read more

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All I had was Penne Pasta with Tomato sauce and Basil, and I was blown away. The pasta was delicious with fresh flavors. I even scraped off the sauce in the end. I could eat this pasta over and over, it was that good. The service was decent. I think this is a family owned restaurant, so the servers were not dressed in a particular uniform. Overall - loved the pasta, and I am sure the other dishes are great as well. read more

You MUST go here. The service, the food, and the atmosphere are unmatched. We made our reservations over a month in advance because we heard such great things about it. Truly made our entire trip the best night ever. read more

Very good! Had pasta with truffle sauce, Ravioli with butter sauce, chicken with beer sauce, and Filet with red-wine sauce. See photos. Also has a taste of our neighbor table's Florentine steak. All was very good. Best place we have eaten in last 3 days of Italy travel. read more

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