Some of the best food I've eaten in Italy. I'd give them 6-stars if I could. The food was amazing…read moreand the staff are so friendly and cheerful. You should make a reservation because it's not very big and it's extremely popular. Da Cesari is a perfect example of why Bologna restaurant food is so renowned. It's worth visiting Bologna just so you can eat here -- it's THAT good. Their sangiovese wine is fantastic at a great price.

Reservations are recommended, or if you come a few minutes before they open, you might be lucky…read moreenough to get a table. We thought the pasta dishes were decent, but nothing special. The truffle tasted light. We did enjoy the pork cheek though. The atmosphere and service were great. They have an Italian and English menu. The bathroom is behind the mirror in the back. I would rate it a 3.5/5, rounding up to a 4/5.

I've eaten here 4 times now during two trips to Bologna and it's consistently my favorite place for…read morepasta; namely a dish I first discovered here called Passatelli. It's made from bread crumbs, eggs and lots of Parmigiano Reggiano cheese. There are two preparations on the menu: alla Romagnola (with butter and some tasty type of cured meat) and in Brodo (in broth). Both are divine! Also, the Tigelle (small pancake shaped breads) are epic when sliced open and filled with the "pesto" made of lardo (pork fat) and fresh herbs. It's downright delicious made only more tasty if you decide to add mortadella to the mix. And, they have a Lambrusco (sparkling red wine with gold top) on the list that should not be missed! #JustSaying

First time in Bologna and staying at Hotel Novecento. Wanted something good to eat and easy to get…read moreto. How fortunate we were! Our Italian is quite limited at best. The staff spoke excellent English and made us feel right at ease. The menu is not extensive but but it is excellent. We started with the vegetarian soufflé antipasto. Such a delicate flavor! Each of us then had a pasta course. All were delightful. (Of course we had wine which was delicious). For dessert we split the torta al riso (which turns out to be a regional favorite) and the crema inglese. Yum. Yum. Yum. Not only was the food delicious but the staff so kind and helpful. Definitely if ever back in the area would go again and recommended it to our guide to spread the word for other hungry but weary travelers. Grazie Mille!

Amazing spot our hotel recommended for lunch, the team here has great service, has delicious food,…read moreand the restaurant has a very cool vibe to it (see the pictures). We ordered the meat and cheese plate - came with other items such as jams, eggplant, bread with different toppings-we loved it. Paired with a delicious white wine made the afternoon. There was a mix of locals and travelers in the restaurant so if the locals are eating there, you know it's good. Give it a try!

During a day of walking around Bologna center, we stopped by for a bite to eat. We ordered a board…read morefor two people (we were 4), sampled meats, fruits, and spreads. We enjoyed beer and wine and sat at a high top near the door. The place was busy, enjoyed the busy and rustic aesthetic, friendly and prompt service. The food was fresh, delicious, and the generous portion was perfect for the four of us.

Somewhat far from our hotel but with great reviews so we ventured out. And it's not a bad walk so…read morewe didn't really even mind it. Started with the mortadella mouse/potato souffle, which were a few interesting bites. We didn't think either of the pastas were standouts: gramigna & tortellini in brodo. The latter was particularly disappointing because it's one of the main dishes to try in the area, but it's just a bit boring (but maybe this is just what this dish is). We got a side of spinach that we probably didn't need but it was nicely done. Ended with the lamb chop, which was well cooked and the potato it was served with was perfectly lightly seared.

Yelp and Google pointed us to this location. Got here at opening and it was completely reserved…read moreexcept one table, which we were lucky enough to score. Can be noisy but not distractingly so. Have never had gramignone pasta, particularly double fresh prepared. Add into that the sausage ragú and you have an amazing winner. Wifey had the signature Tortellini in Brodo, which exceeded expectations. A 100% Super Tuscan rounded out the meal--Blueberry, earth, black currant with ripe tannins. Nice acidity that presents cranberry with bread products. Lorenzo was outstanding in service with a great attitude and sense of humor as well as confirming my wine choice as his wine choice for the value. He also had great support on the floor with others who also had excellent senses of humor.

Food and service was excellent. Charming neighborhood restaurant- beef was so tender you could cut…read moreit with a butter knife

This place has good service and food. They're known for their Florentine steak - we didn't try it…read morethough. The vegetable flan with fondue was bland, osso bucco good, and penne with meat sauce was also good (a little too salty for me). Cheesecake was also bland but recommended by the waiter. The restaurant is not friendly towards those with mobility challenges. There's a cute exterior covered patio with a few dining tables but too cold for dinner in mid-February. Prices were fair. Interior is really charming with bookshelves lining all the walls and heavy with books and wine. Family friendly.

Great food and atmosphere. Other reviewers mentioned that the place seems to be family-run by four…read morebrothers and that looks like it is still the case. We were able to roll up without a reservation and only waited about 30 minutes total. Guy working the reservations/walk-ins gave us free prosecco while we waited. Food was fantastic, they clearly care very much about the quality of their ingredients and the presentation of the dish. Great hole-in-the-wall place and they have a clear passion for good music too as they would turn up the songs that they particularly liked. Place was a whole vibe. Highly recommend.

This place is absolutely amazing! The vibes are the first thing you'll notice. Great Wall art,…read moremusic, etc. Then there is the food which is incredible. We tried 4 out of the 5 pastas and all of them were excellent. The flower zucchini pasta is a must get. LOVED the caprese salad, so fresh and yummy. The parm on zucchini salad was perfection.

Came to a packed place sans reservation. Didn't have to wait. The Italian hospitality was through…read morethe roof. They made space for our party of 5 right in the center of a loud and and lively main dining room... where the energy and spark was so contagious. Just a marvelous setting for a night in Florence. Prepared dishes were family style. Every single choice was tasty good. The bread and bottles of Brunelo Montalcinos kept the conversation going. Florentine steak was not dry and forgettable. It went well with other pasta dishes like the Tagliatelle Con Ragù Di Coniglio or the Osso bucco, Pappardelle Al Ragù Di Cinghiale . . . of course with the Brunello & Chiati Classico The dining that night felt intimate yet party-like with nary a wiggle room. You don't get that often in the U.S. We never ever felt rushed despite the wait crowd out the door. Manager there was especially accomodating to us tourists. My 5 star rating has a lot to do with their boundless can-do spirit. A country house vibe rustic food with an outsized Italian howdy y'all. We will be back

Had an amazing experience at the restaurant. Came as a walk in on a Saturday night and was promptly…read moresat. It was busy but they def fill seats. The ambiance is cute and quaint. It's almost like the restaurant is positioned in a cave but it feels homey. Ample light to make it feel intimate and comfortable. The services was good and the wine and food were outta this world. All recommendations were great but would suggest the wild boar ragu and t bone steak. Would def be back when visiting Florence and highly recommend to others visiting.

After a heavy day of shopping, walking for 8 miles and dealing with the heat, we needed a good…read moresit-down dinner with a substantial meal tonight. We found Trattoria Za Za, but could not get reservations. We showed up with 60 people waiting in line like us. The line moved quickly and we were seated in a glass enclosure with nice views. The menu is vast and the food flying out of the kitchen looked amazing. An appetizer of lightly battered squash blossoms was unique and enjoyed by all. Our first choice was the green peppercorns and Cognac cream covering a steak with rosemary potatoes. This was the best dishes of our 17 day excursion. The steak was perfect while the sauce was incredibly delicious. The steak with argula salad was our second choice. It was also savory and highly recommended. The setting here is great, amazing food, good value and a truly relaxed environment. If you are in Florence, please treat yourself to a fine meal at Trattoria Za Za for that special evening. To the establishment, great restaurant and we will return. Congrats on a beautiful evening.

- [ ] a Tratorria Came here on our last night in Firenze…read more The restaurant was very large with multiple dining rooms and plenty of outdoor seating. We were seated by our server Chaima. She was friendly and attentive during our dinner. We began our meal with their house Chianti which was very good. We began with their ZaZa Cheese as appetizer. Next, we had Spaghetti alla Carbonara with Truffle and Pasta with Garlic and Olive Oil. We ended our meal with the ZaZa Tagliata with Italian Seasoning with Rosemary Potatoes. After eating in Italy for 17 days. ZaZa had the best pasta and steak. I would highly recommend ZaZa for its service, atmosphere and food.

Was in Florence for a day trip and found this wonderful restaurant. We were met by Nicolo at the…read moredoor and made our experience memorable. The entire staff made us feel like home. Food and wine was excellent.! Would like to thank Mauricio as well. Thank you.

In a town of Bistecca alla fiorentina, this restaurant was recommended to us and it delivered…read more The gnocchi was a fantastic way to start our meal. Creamy and spicy, only if you mix in the hot parts. They come to table and weigh the meat in front of you so you know what you're paying for. It is cooked rare or medium rare. This is NOT like steakhouses in NYC. In its own category. It was presented with melting bone marrow, sea salt and cut off the bone. Extremely flavorful and tender. My only issue is that the fat doesn't render and there was silverskin in some pieces making it inedible, plus you've paid for this by weight. Great attentive service by Nick

Fabulous food and the service was perfect. Loved this restaurants ambiance. Will return for sure.read more

What an amazing evening at La Giostra! The restaurant is beautiful, warm and full of character. It…read morefeels special from the moment you walk through the door. We started with a Cynar Spritz and Aperol Spritz, along with the complimentary bruschetta with chicken liver pâté, tomato and artichoke. We also tried several appetizers, including roasted eggplant, roasted peppers, artichokes and the spinach-and-ricotta dumplings. And the fried zucchini was out of this world -- absolutely one of the highlights of the meal! For dinner, I had the sliced steak with aglio e olio, accompanied by roasted potatoes, carrots and rosemary. The steak was delicious and perfectly prepared. Jim had the cacio e pepe, and Tom had the seafood pasta. All three entrées were excellent. The wine list is enormous, and the atmosphere is unlike anywhere else. Soldano Kunz d'Asburgo Lorena, from the Habsburg-Lorraine family behind La Giostra, is quite a personality. He moves around the restaurant greeting guests and has the presence of a rock star -- he really adds to the experience. We eat at a lot of restaurants in Florence, and La Giostra was a memorable one. Beautiful setting, excellent food, great cocktails and a wonderfully lively atmosphere. We will absolutely return. Highly recommended!