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This was our own fault. We were swayed by a social media couple I kind-of-but-not-really follow, who raved and raved about this restaurant. They told us to ignore the rule - the "it's in a tourist spot so the food will be terrible" rule - because the food here is top-notch and the service is incredible. Neither of those things turned out to be true. I wish I could be more generous in this review, but the only thing our time here had going for it was that we were in Firenze, hard stop. We were shown to a table right away, but that's because they were practically empty the night we showed up. We were facing the piazza, so had a good view of the Basilica behind us and the people enjoying the area. The waiter who I think was assigned to our table and our area was way more interested in hanging out with another waiter and checking in on a table of eight than tending to us and the only other table occupied near us that night. We had to try flagging him down for water, for wine, to place our order. He would see us, nod in our direction, start making his way over and then get distracted by something shiny or pretty and never make his way over to us. It continued like that for almost 20 minutes. I was fed up and ready to leave but my husband had no desire to try to find another spot after we'd invested so much time to this place. I wish we had just left. By the time we were finally able to order our food, we were famished. We started with a bottle of red and an order of the Bastoncini di pasta fillo agli asparagi (€14) - basically phyllo-wrapped asparagus served with a dipping sauce. For my main, I went with the Tortelli con punta di asparagi (€17) and my husband got the Trofie al ragu di agnello al punta di coltello (€20). The food was not good. If I were being super dramatic, I'd even call it inedible. The appetizer came out first, the phyllo-wrapped asparagus. It wasn't hot - not even warm, really. The phyllo was kind of soggy, not crispy, like you'd expect from something fried. And it lacked flavor. The dipping sauce was supposed to have pecorino cheese, but if it did, we couldn't taste it. The tortelli was a mushy, soggy, inedible mess. Have you ever tried to eat overcooked asparagus? Not a pleasant experience, and I don't know how they thought sending a dish like that out to a paying customer would be okay. I barely got three bites in before I had to stop, my husband glancing apologetically over at me every few minutes. But there was no part of me that wanted to shove subpar food into my face when we were surrounded by culinary greatness. The lamb ragu pasta that my husband ordered didn't fare much better, but at least he was able to stomach the meal. He did mention that the meat was chewy and the sauce was watery, and in a move that shocked me, practically dumped shredded parmesan over the plate before finishing it (him: "it needs flavor"). In the end, the waiter finally deigned to present himself to get our payment and didn't once remark on the untouched meal in front of me or the half-finished appetizer. I guess I wasn't really surprised by that, but it was disappointing.
UPDATE - Never had a bad meal at Finisterrae. Their pizza is excellent as is the rest of their offerings. We ordered a whole mess of pizzas and they were all excellent as was the service. Got a chance to say hi to my friend Colin, the owner, and it was good to know business was still going strong. Can't recommend highly enough.
My husband and I were starving and the little café we wanted to visit before heading to the Basilica di Santa Croce was jam packed and we didn't want to wait. We decided to walk towards the church, in hopes of finding something to eat. We came across Finisterrae and even though I thought it looked like a tourist trap, I was hungry and decided to eat here. Thankfully, I wasn't disappointed. This is a tourist place, there were quite a few tour groups being sat as we were finishing up, but the food is good and the pricing isn't too outrageous. The service was definitely fueled toward more tourists. It was quicker than most restaurants we visited and this was the only time I was told I must tip, which was weird. My husband left a few Euro for the guy, but I was off put and didn't appreciate that.
This place was recommended by our tour guide (shout out to Andrea) and after lord of walking we chose this place to have a bite. Unfortunately when we got there the place was already packed, but still managed to get a table. The service was a little disorganized cause they got a lot of people at the same time and I guess that was understandable. We had some delicious Prosecco to start with and I had the pizza Tricolore. Sooo soo good. Everything tasted so fresh and delicious.
The accompanying photos define the exceptional meals we definitely enjoyed for our first dinner in Florence. Our Italian is minimal, so I'm not certain if the staff would have preferred we ate outside. We were determined to sit inside and we're seated at a teeny tiny table with our shoulders against the wall in a virtually empty room. Ah well. My husband said his lasagne was the best he's had, so far, in Italy. My pizza was the Italian version of an American combination pizza, however each topping was in it's own section. Fantastico. The pomodoro sauce was fabulous probably San Marzano pompdoro which is best on earth. Molto bene. We're going back tonight.
Our first stop on the Florence food tour, Finisterrae is located not far from the Dante statue https://www.yelp.com/biz/monument-to-dante-alighieri-firenze?hrid=VCnkNR2vbmhT5h7l7GilOw on Piazza Santa Croce https://www.yelp.com/biz/piazza-santa-croce-firenze?hrid=F-vwabltV5509JwXrlJTwQ. We had a reservation and our party of seven (six tourists plus the tour guide) were brought to a comfortable table in the back. Today's bites was a simple antipasto to start the tour, get introduced to Firenze food culture and meet our fellow tour members. The bruschetta was quite simple but loaded with flavor. A slice of toasted baguette topped with chopped tomato and a sprinkling of basil. There is olive oil and balsamic vinegar on the table as well as grinders of salt and pepper, but it did not need any of that. Paired with it, a perfect Italian white wine. Crisp, clean, a great starter. Finisterrae also has a huge counter of pastries that look insanely delicious. Maybe next time. [Review 17030 overall - 228 in Italy - 546 of 2022.]
Oh my gosh, this was by far the best experience I have had during my tour. The food was amazing but I can't say enough about Colin Russell and the staff. What an amazing group of people who treated us as if we were family. After a long 2 days of on-the-go with the tour I thought I had reached my tipping point until I arrived here. The atmoshpere and the staff totally rejuvinated me and along with some of my companions. Such a welcoming and enjoyful experience!! The pasta and the main course - Delicious and of course you have to save the sweets for last, not your everyday run of sweets these were sensational treats. Go and enjoy I guarantee you will not be disappointed. Michelle Wemyss Portland, OR
Great location. Centrally located to all the shopping. My husband I are on vacation, wanted to try this place and decided to have dinner on our last night in Florence. We ordered the hummus appetizer that was delicious. The Seafood Paella is listed on the menu as for two with one price however I was told it was double the price (which is not listed on menu) as per person. We continued to order regardless of the price. It took them over an hour to prepare, once we received presentation was lovely but the food was a total disappointment. The risotto was under cooked, no real flavor besides the seafood. Seafood was simply described as mediocre, definitely not worth what we paid for. Restaurant off the busy paths are much better locally.
We were part of a group of 20 and had a nice lunch here. They brought large pizzas to share of our choosing, so we got three: a margherita, a mushroom with salami and onion, and a veggies pizza. They also brought us salad and dessert. The food was great however I'm not an Italian food expert, so I can't tell you if it's authentic or not. However the wine came from 13 miles away. read more
Pizzas are amazing here. We were part of a tour group that stopped in for pizza lunch. Salad was included and the portion was large and olive oil and balsamic was really good. Margarita pizza was amazing. Tomato sauce was extra delicious on all their pizzas. Ham and mushrooms next, then Veggies. All were excellent. The service for our large group was done with perfection. The restaurant is extremely large with great rest rooms and amazing desserts. Worth a stop read more
This delightful restaurant has all the things you look for when coming to italy. Tantalizing food, beautiful wines, decadent desserts and wonderful staff. Many rooms to choose from to dine in and can accommodate all sizes of groups! FYI if you want the croissants, get in line at 6:50 or wait until 8:15 and hope for the best! read more
1 year ago
Cute place to grab a iced coffee in a martini glass with a pretty fruit pastry Nice staff and great people watching place read more
1 year ago
This was our own fault. We were swayed by a social media couple I kind-of-but-not-really follow, who raved and raved about this restaurant. They told us to ignore the rule - the "it's in a tourist spot so the food will be terrible" rule - because the food here is top-notch and the service is incredible. Neither of those things turned out to be true. I wish I could be more generous in this review, but the only thing our time here had going for it was that we were in Firenze, hard stop. We were shown to a table right away, but that's because they were practically empty the night we showed up. We were facing the piazza, so had a good view of the Basilica behind us and the people enjoying the area. The waiter who I think was assigned to our table and our area was way more interested in hanging out with another waiter and checking in on a table of eight than tending to us and the only other table occupied near us that night. We had to try flagging him down for water, for wine, to place our order. He would see us, nod in our direction, start making his way over and then get distracted by something shiny or pretty and never make his way over to us. It continued like that for almost 20 minutes. I was fed up and ready to leave but my husband had no desire to try to find another spot after we'd invested so much time to this place. I wish we had just left. By the time we were finally able to order our food, we were famished. We started with a bottle of red and an order of the Bastoncini di pasta fillo agli asparagi (€14) - basically phyllo-wrapped asparagus served with a dipping sauce. For my main, I went with the Tortelli con punta di asparagi (€17) and my husband got the Trofie al ragu di agnello al punta di coltello (€20). The food was not good. If I were being super dramatic, I'd even call it inedible. The appetizer came out first, the phyllo-wrapped asparagus. It wasn't hot - not even warm, really. The phyllo was kind of soggy, not crispy, like you'd expect from something fried. And it lacked flavor. The dipping sauce was supposed to have pecorino cheese, but if it did, we couldn't taste it. The tortelli was a mushy, soggy, inedible mess. Have you ever tried to eat overcooked asparagus? Not a pleasant experience, and I don't know how they thought sending a dish like that out to a paying customer would be okay. I barely got three bites in before I had to stop, my husband glancing apologetically over at me every few minutes. But there was no part of me that wanted to shove subpar food into my face when we were surrounded by culinary greatness. The lamb ragu pasta that my husband ordered didn't fare much better, but at least he was able to stomach the meal. He did mention that the meat was chewy and the sauce was watery, and in a move that shocked me, practically dumped shredded parmesan over the plate before finishing it (him: "it needs flavor"). In the end, the waiter finally deigned to present himself to get our payment and didn't once remark on the untouched meal in front of me or the half-finished appetizer. I guess I wasn't really surprised by that, but it was disappointing. read more
UPDATE - Never had a bad meal at Finisterrae. Their pizza is excellent as is the rest of their offerings. We ordered a whole mess of pizzas and they were all excellent as was the service. Got a chance to say hi to my friend Colin, the owner, and it was good to know business was still going strong. Can't recommend highly enough. read more
2 years ago
My husband and I were starving and the little café we wanted to visit before heading to the Basilica di Santa Croce was jam packed and we didn't want to wait. We decided to walk towards the church, in hopes of finding something to eat. We came across Finisterrae and even though I thought it looked like a tourist trap, I was hungry and decided to eat here. Thankfully, I wasn't disappointed. This is a tourist place, there were quite a few tour groups being sat as we were finishing up, but the food is good and the pricing isn't too outrageous. The service was definitely fueled toward more tourists. It was quicker than most restaurants we visited and this was the only time I was told I must tip, which was weird. My husband left a few Euro for the guy, but I was off put and didn't appreciate that. read more
This place was recommended by our tour guide (shout out to Andrea) and after lord of walking we chose this place to have a bite. Unfortunately when we got there the place was already packed, but still managed to get a table. The service was a little disorganized cause they got a lot of people at the same time and I guess that was understandable. We had some delicious Prosecco to start with and I had the pizza Tricolore. Sooo soo good. Everything tasted so fresh and delicious. read more
2 years ago
The accompanying photos define the exceptional meals we definitely enjoyed for our first dinner in Florence. Our Italian is minimal, so I'm not certain if the staff would have preferred we ate outside. We were determined to sit inside and we're seated at a teeny tiny table with our shoulders against the wall in a virtually empty room. Ah well. My husband said his lasagne was the best he's had, so far, in Italy. My pizza was the Italian version of an American combination pizza, however each topping was in it's own section. Fantastico. The pomodoro sauce was fabulous probably San Marzano pompdoro which is best on earth. Molto bene. We're going back tonight. read more
Our first stop on the Florence food tour, Finisterrae is located not far from the Dante statue https://www.yelp.com/biz/monument-to-dante-alighieri-firenze?hrid=VCnkNR2vbmhT5h7l7GilOw on Piazza Santa Croce https://www.yelp.com/biz/piazza-santa-croce-firenze?hrid=F-vwabltV5509JwXrlJTwQ. We had a reservation and our party of seven (six tourists plus the tour guide) were brought to a comfortable table in the back. Today's bites was a simple antipasto to start the tour, get introduced to Firenze food culture and meet our fellow tour members. The bruschetta was quite simple but loaded with flavor. A slice of toasted baguette topped with chopped tomato and a sprinkling of basil. There is olive oil and balsamic vinegar on the table as well as grinders of salt and pepper, but it did not need any of that. Paired with it, a perfect Italian white wine. Crisp, clean, a great starter. Finisterrae also has a huge counter of pastries that look insanely delicious. Maybe next time. [Review 17030 overall - 228 in Italy - 546 of 2022.] read more
2 years ago
Our first meal in Florence and they did not disappoint. Friendly service and a great meal. I had the crespelle (crepes) with ricotta and spinach. Kids had Caprese salad, lasagna and pizza. We finished everything. read more
1 year ago
3 years ago
Oh my gosh, this was by far the best experience I have had during my tour. The food was amazing but I can't say enough about Colin Russell and the staff. What an amazing group of people who treated us as if we were family. After a long 2 days of on-the-go with the tour I thought I had reached my tipping point until I arrived here. The atmoshpere and the staff totally rejuvinated me and along with some of my companions. Such a welcoming and enjoyful experience!! The pasta and the main course - Delicious and of course you have to save the sweets for last, not your everyday run of sweets these were sensational treats. Go and enjoy I guarantee you will not be disappointed. Michelle Wemyss Portland, OR read more
4 years ago
We really enjoyed the pizza while walking around the square. The crust was crisp not heavy or doughy, not a lot of smothered sauce but creamy mozzarella read more
4 years ago
Great location. Centrally located to all the shopping. My husband I are on vacation, wanted to try this place and decided to have dinner on our last night in Florence. We ordered the hummus appetizer that was delicious. The Seafood Paella is listed on the menu as for two with one price however I was told it was double the price (which is not listed on menu) as per person. We continued to order regardless of the price. It took them over an hour to prepare, once we received presentation was lovely but the food was a total disappointment. The risotto was under cooked, no real flavor besides the seafood. Seafood was simply described as mediocre, definitely not worth what we paid for. Restaurant off the busy paths are much better locally. read more
4 years ago
I got the paccheri con orata, which was well cooked but under seasoned. The portion did include a good amount of sea bass and the pieces were not small. My friends got the tagliolini su crema di zucchine and were also underwhelmed. read more
2 years ago
Stopped for a quick lunch. The service was friendly and prompt. Best canoli I've ever had. The gluten free options were decent. The ability to get a reasonable nice light lunch and enjoy the outdoor seating was really wonderful. read more
Not every restaurant on a busy square in Europe is a below average touristy cash cow! Finisterrae was recommended by a local merchant and held up to its reputation. Note-worthy for its outdoor seating and cool interior design, the place has a great diverse menu, average wine menu and a to-die-for list of desserts. Unlike to other Italian joints that salads are missing off their menu, they had a good selection of salads. We split a salad, I had a pasta dish (Tagliatelle with pork) and my hubby had their branzino (sea bass) plate. Even though the owner's wife is Spanish but the menu is Italian. All dishes were absolutely great and they tasted as if they were homemade, cooked by an Italian grandma bossing around in the kitchen! While sitting in the restaurant we made conversation with the local gay couple (best visitor guide in any city) sitting next to us that let us know of a fantastic outdoor event that was going on that night. After the dinner we strolled to the show which was cherry on the top of our dining experience. read more
Quick, friendly service on a Sunday evening for dinner. I think we were a bit early for Italian standards so we had the place to ourselves around 7:30pm. There is both indoor and outdoor seating. The outdoor seating has fans facing the tables and a beautiful view of St. Croce! We shared the caprese salad with avocado which was so fresh and delicious! We also loved the margarita pizza. It was the best pizza we've had so far in Italy! The house wine was super cheap, too. Their desserts looked tasty but we were so full so we had to pass. read more
9 years ago
OMG!!! Huge, delicious and cheap (just 1€) croissants exactly on the S. Croce church side!!! It's a miracle in a city center. Especially in Florence. You can have a really good breakfast without vaste your wallet! And it looks a very elegant place with smiling staff. Absolutely recommended! PS: highly recommended croissant with cinnamon and apple!!! read more
We had lunch for 4 while visiting Florence during a cruise. This location was recommended by our guide. If you checkin with Yelp you get a free glass of Prosecco. We order pizza, lasagna, pasta with boar, and pasta with mushrooms and sausage. It was very busy but the service was good. The only negative was the pasta in the lasagna was overcooked. We would recommend this restaurant while visiting the area. read more
My wife and I have come to Florence numerous times over the past five years and this place is the main reason why. The pizza is absolutely incredible! I've never been to another place that compares. Additionally, the wine is cheap and extremely good. As for the staff they have always been incredibly friendly helpful with the menu over the years. I highly recommend to anyone coming to this city! read more
6 years ago
Best lasagna in the world! We were told by a local guide that this was the case, and it certainly was. As I toured Italy, I ordered lasagna several times and this one stood out. Being that this restaurant is right next to the beautiful Santa Croce Basilica, one would expect overpriced mediocre "tourist" food. Not the case, this is world class food in one of the most beautiful places in the world. read more
We were told that this is the best place to get gelato in Florence, and I have to agree completely!!!! I got a lemon gelato and my husband got the strawberry. We loved both flavors but in the end were fighting for the lemon. It was the had the perfect amount of tartness. We were upset we didn't get a larger size. read more
10 years ago
5 years ago
Pizza is amazing! The salad was so good with fresh cheese and the cannoli was the best! Highly recommend a stop here! Reasonable prices for the area read more
11 years ago
When you have half-day and one meal to spare in Florence, what is one to do? You could count your lucky stars you're in Florence...and not in...you know, Detroit. There are hundreds of options and to just pick one...if you'd be smart, you'd pick a comfortable chair in front of a picturesque square and order a lot of food. Finisterrae has many such chairs in just such a square. As with many restaurants, this one's tables spill from their doors onto the road, the precious interior rationed for gelato, alcohol and bathrooms. Picking Finisterrae was easy, the obvious choice after our Globus tour abandoned us inside a leather goods store across the Piazza Santa Croce. Yes, no tour is complete without forcing us to listen through a sales pitch. We were eager to leave and find someplace to eat. Instead of wandering like we often did, we decided to eat first and spend the rest of our short time in the city shopping and walking. We needed said walk considering how much we ate. You see, I discovered at Finisterrae that Italy has no sense of portion control. You can never order just a slice of pizza. And after enjoying a bruschetta pomodoro, I followed it up with a pizza, the only one I would ever order on my trip to Italy. It was good, really good, and it was also the size of a hubcap off an Alfa Romeo. Don't give me that look, there was only one size available, one price listed, with no indication of what I was getting. I thought it was going to be half the size of what I received. My mother brainwashed me from birth to finish my plate. She's European; that's what they do. No matter how full I was, not matter how much was left, my plate could be cleaned in two bites. Just two bites. I was fat as a child, not sure if that begs mentioning. Even more shocking was the pizza being cheaper than my mother's pasta. The pizza wasn't even that expensive (nine euros). We wanted to enjoy some tempting gelato, but after that main, I simply had no room (kind of wishing I had a hobbit's appetite right about now). Finisterrae also had a pastry store. I could do three reviews of this place and still have material for more reviews. It's trendy by day and romantic by night. Of course, that's an assumption--I can only imagine how beautiful Piazza Santa Croce looks after sunset. Fringe this square with water and it would fit perfectly in Venice. Finisterrae is positively Italian, even to the extent of not giving us a check even after us asking. I eventually had to walk right up to the till to request a bill. And the resulting receipt had no cover charge, nothing added for ambience. Yet another nail in that myth. Also, and this is only a cursory observation, we had front row seats to a band of cloth merchants getting into a fist fight over turf claims, yes the very same ones constantly forcing their wares in your face. The chairs around Finisterrae are fenced, another pleasant side effect of eating there. (Yes, I'm a pig, I ate the whole damned pizza. No one near me wanted a piece...because they all had their own pizza as well. If I was home, I would've taken half away in box.) Food: 4/5 Service: 3/5 Presentation: 5/5 Value: 3.5/5 Recommendation: 4/5 read more
7 years ago
10 years ago
3 words... NUTELLA FILLED DONUT. Need I say more? The pastries here are out of this world. Say the word Nutella and I'm in. The nutella filled donut is one of the best things I've ever eaten in my life; it's probably why I gained so much weight while I was in Italy...haha! The donut is warm, covered in sugar, and the nutella is practially melting out of it *drooling*. The nutella filled croissant is also amazing. You really can't go wrong with either of those. My roommates and I found ourselves coming here pretty frequently before breakfast because the food and coffee were so fantastic. The espressos and cappucinos paired with the nutella filled pastries are like eating and drinking foods sent by the gods; I'm really not exaggerating. You can also come here for lunch as well. In addition to that, they also have freshly made gelato. I will most definitely be coming back here the next time in Florence which I wish more than anything is sometime soon!!!! read more
12 years ago
This place is fantastic. I spent a month in Florence last summer and my roommates and I found ourselves here multiple times per week. Everything is delicious here. Especially the Nutella donut! You have to try it at least once Their pastries are to die for. So amazing. Another thing that is great is the cappuccino. That and the fresh squeezed orange juice! Yummmmm! We also came for lunch a bunch of times and got their pizza. I love the diavola because I love the pepperoni. You can finish the whole pizza if you don't stop yourself. Be aware that you have to pay for water. Here and at the majority of places in Europe. And of course, always finish your meal with gelato! They have great freshly made gelato. I loved the coffee flavor when they had it. It had coffee beans in it which was so great. Go to this place if you are in Florence. You won't be disappointed with anything you get. read more
This place was recommended by our hotel and we enjoyed it very much. The location is very central, right by Santa Croce. The service was friendly and efficient. We split a bruschetta appetizer and I had the spaghetti of the sea. It was delicious. We split a nice bottle of prosecco and enjoyed the people watching. read more
7 years ago
Possibly the best lasagna I've ever had. The margherita pizza is also delicious as well. The service was fast and the food was excellent! Next time we're in Florence, we will be back! read more
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