Very nice hidden gem just a short walk from the central of Florence. It's a nice size restaurant that is intimate and inviting in true Italian style. I stumbled on it as I was adventuring around. The service was wonderful. The menu is in Italian but most of the staff spoke enough English to describe the various dishes. The white house wine was very good which was paired with a nice, tender, sizable and perfectly seared steak and mashed potatoes. I would've gotten red wine but I wasn't sure at that point what my entree would be. Still good pairing. read more

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I really enjoyed Il Gusico. They have fantastic steak and the prices aren't too bad for the quality of food. A reservation would be a good idea. Dogs are allowed. read more

I got recommended this restaurant by a local guide and holy cow the food substantially below average. The house appetizer was not flavorful and I couldn't bring myself to eat more than one bite of each item. The bone marrow was completely flavorless, it's wild. I've had bone marrow in Paris and somehow this was even more flavorless. It was like I was eating a flavorless, greasy paste. The roasted lamb was tough to chew, not tender, and again bland. It was so bland that it was difficult to get it down. They ended up changing the roasted lamb out for veal cheek. The veal cheek was decent, I would say very average. It was tender, fall apart, but the flavor wasn't all that exciting. I was going to give this place 2 stars but the fact that the service was willing to change out not 1 but 2 items I ordered I felt really deserved a bump up to 3 stars. Very kind of them, I appreciate their helpfulness. I thought Italy was the land of scrumptious food, but my experience has been anything but that. I had phenomenal pizza while in Rome and that's literally it. Everything else has been very underwhelming. The food isn't terrible so it doesn't warrant 1 star but it is very below average. read more

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Wine recommendations - 5 Appetizers - 4.5 Mains - 3 Had high hopes for Il Guscio with all the praise I saw in reviews and different write ups but left quite disappointed. The wine recommended to our table by the server was fantastic and the appetizers were the highlight of the meal (we ordered almost all of them so you'll be satisfied with any of them). The mains however, were pretty subpar. read more

Local neighborhood restaurant with classic meals, great casual service, low key energy and incredible food. Just go. Go. Go now. read more

Had a great meal here with some of the best pasta we had while in Italy. The bread service and wines were nice, the tonno del chianti was incredible (beans and pork), and so were the pastas - our favorite was the prawn maltagliate. We also had the two ragu pastas, both were very similar in taste, just with different pastas. Mild preference for the one with olives, I wanna say that was the rabbit one. Unfortunately filled up on pasta and did not try any desserts or mains. read more

Looking for authenticity? Go to Il Guscio. The unbelievably stunning Tuscan-style restaurant in Florence was one of the best Italian meals we've ever had. English speakers might have an uphill battle communicating, but once you power through the details, your appetites will be elated. The menu is broken down into appetizers, first courses, second courses and desserts. Arrive hungry. With every sticker known to man clogging up the front door, we knew our meal would be legendary. The restaurant has been around for over 30 years and received many accolades along the way. The cheese / tomato / olive oil combination in the Caprese appetizer was extraordinary. There is something magical about the simplicity, freshness and the enhanced tomato flavor in Italy. Perfect starter for two people. I had three breathtaking pasta dishes during our European vacation, and the Rabbit Penne here at Il Guscio was one of them. The texture in the scratch made, hand rolled pasta was like candy to me. Adding the rich and savory flavor of the rabbit only enhanced the dish into the pasta hall of fame. Best rabbit I've ever had! Although I wasn't hungry after the pasta, the server insisted for a carnivore eater to try their pan-fried, hand-pounded beef cutlet. Where has this been all my life? No American restaurant has any dish to compare to this. It's homemade comfort food. The accompanying spinach was again, the best I've ever had! The rotating daily menu, the contemporary yet homey ambiance, and the top notch service made for a near perfect experience. Il Guscio is absolutely one of Florence's finest ristorantes! read more

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This was easily one of the best meals I had in Italy, and one of the best meals I had in Florence. I'm still kicking myself for eating a panini the day after eating here instead of eating lunch here for a second day in a row. If I lived in Florence, I'd be here once a week. Their lunch menu is really affordable, with most of the primi piatti pasta dishes at 6-8€, and the secondi piatti at around 10-12€. Many of the dishes have seafood, which is a great deal for these lunch prices. My friend who recommend this place to me says the prices go up for dinner, so come for lunch to get the best deal. I got the paccheri allo scoglio which was short tube pasta (think larger rigatoni without the ridges on the outside), with mussels and clams and this was one of the best seafood pastas I've ever had. At only 8€, this is a steal for the quality of the pasta and the shellfish. The zuppetta di seppie al pomodoro fresco e pistacchi was 9€, and I wasn't quite sure what to expect from this dish other than it had squid, tomato and pistachio, but it was delicious. The squid was sauteed and fresh, with a tomato sauce, over a piece of bread that was soaked in the same tomato sauce. I really loved this dish and would get it again, you don't find this kind of dish in most Italian restaurants. In short, some of the best food I had in Italy - definitely come once, if not more times for lunch. If I come back to Florence, I would probably have all my lunches here. If you like pasta and seafood, this place is a gem. read more

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We love this place. We started with a Caprese, and the tomatoes were delicious, and generous mozzarella This place has the best Linguini. It is my wife's favorite meal plate between all of the restaurants we have visited in Venice and Florence. My rabbit and potatoes were very tasty too. The rabbit had great flavor, but a little too dry for my wife, but nice for me. The potatoes were nice and buttery. The serving sizes were very gracious too. The wait staff was also very friendly. A definite place to enjoy a nice meal with the locals. Off the beaten path. read more

Il Guscio - Rabbit and mashed potatoes - Italian Near Me - Florence, FI

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Wow. Best gnocchi I've had in my entire life. Incredible bang for your buck. Amazing veal chop & pear risotto. A cute, homey atmosphere tucked in on the side of Oltrarno -- down the street from Hemingway chocolate bar. I took my family here when they were visiting me while I was studying in Florence -- everyone loved it. The rooms weren't overcrowded with tables, service was good, and the food was incredible. I will be returning with my boyfriend when he is in Florence. read more

Il Guscio - Italian Near Me - Florence, FI

Decor 5/5, service 3/5 Restaurant is pretty. Simple but elegant. It seemed bright and airy. Staff were friendly. The service is definitely a lot slower paced than I'm used to. But for European standards it was good. I didn't feel rushed. They even had a little patio outside. Just wish they had air conditioning. Food 4.5/5 The presentation for all the dishes was picturesque. To start we had the tuna tatarte with orange which was good, and fresh. But I found it lacked a bit of pepper and salt. The liver pate on crostini was the most surprising dish of the night; it was one of my favourites. I've never had liver pate served warm before. The liver was soft had tons of flavour and didn't have that metallic taste to it. It was the perfect first bite to start our meal. I highly recommend this dish if you like liver. Prawn pasta with zucchini flowers, and tomato was delicious. It was light in flavour, the pasta was fresh and cooked perfectly. The portion sizes are fairly large. Black squid risotto was delicious. The squid was cooked to perfection as well, it was actually still soft and not chewy, which is hard to do. The rice was cooked nicely and the sauce was creamy. The mussels were tasty and not over cooked. Both dishes were served piping hot. Even though I was so full we decided to get dessert. The chocolate soufflé was good. Not the best I've tried, but a good way to end the meal. The centre was still melted inside and gooey. It was served with strawberry and grand marnier cream, and strawberries. For our first meal in Florence I was really happy and super full. read more

Il Guscio - Black squid risotto with lime - Italian Near Me - Florence, FI

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Just delicious in an area off the beaten path but loved by locals in Frediano. They really have mastered the bisteca Florentine and little roasted potatoes. read more

I'm speechless. This was hands down, the BEST meal I've had in Italy. Possibly the best meal I've had in my life. We started off with the rabbit ragù. Honestly the best pasta I've ever had. So much flavor, and so perfectly cooked, it truly is unbeatable. Then for the second course, we had the ossobuco, which was so delicious I teared up. Literally, the meat fell off the bone, and it was so flavorful. The dessert was just as spectacular. We had the copetta crema di ricotta. It was so interesting and different, but also the most delicious dessert I've had in Italy. Not to sweet, and a mix of cream and berries, it truly was unmatchable. The service was great, loved the owner, he pointed to the items we must try and did disappoint. Everything came quickly, and the waiters were so sweet and helpful. The restaurant is super cute inside, and you can tell that it lacks the touristy bs. Overall, do not miss out on the spectacular place. It will take your breath away with each bite. read more

I've been coming here for lunch once a week for almost two years, so needless to say, the food is excellent. During lunch time It's usually full of locals making the atmosphere very Florentine. Admittedly the service is not always the friendliest but this also depends on who you get, so I don't consider it an issue. You get your food quickly and it's always tasty. They do some of the best seasonal seafood pastas in Florence for less than €10 (lunch) and the desserts are homemade and delicious. The menu changes quite often so I never get bored with the options. I've been here a couple of times for dinner and it's always been really nice. The ambiance is very different to their lunch hour making it suitable for a more formal occasion. The menu is more varied and slightly more expensive than lunch. It's not fancy or over the top but a genuine Florentine restaurant that's a hit with the locals and travellers alike. I recommend it wholeheartedly! read more

Truly exceptional. Wish we could have eaten there every night but we went on the last night we were in Florence. It is actual authentic Italian food and it is excellent. I had (forgive me I don't remember the name) the first course pasta dish with spicy tomato sauce and burrata cheese, and my friend had the ravioli with truffle butter. Both were seriously amazing. Second course we had the roasted potatoes and beef with rosemary and capers, also amazing. And panna cotta to finish. Go here. It's real Italian food and you won't want to miss it! read more

Easily the best restaurant in Florence! I was in the city for two months and returned to eat here three separate times. The Bistecca alla Fiorentina is very nice, cooked perfectly, and the owner is very friendly. The seafood is also divine - we had the branzino one night and it was flaky with a light pan-fry on the outside and a simple sauce. The real gem here, though, is the rabbit papardelle. The papardelle are made fresh in the restaurant and the slow-cooked rabbit sauce is out of this world. Portion sizes are quite generous and the wine list is reasonable. read more

This is a restaurant I know for a long time, it's the place I love to have dinner when I am in Florence. They cook a few "must eat" dishes, so special and tasty..yummy! I can say that this is easily my favorite restaurant in Florence. They make very tasty dishes, authentic but not heavy and with fresh ingredients. Service is always very efficient and very kind, quality is always high level. Prices are super fair PS. Exciting wine list too! read more

Primo food in Florence Italy. Off the beaten path and better than the best Italian food you'll find almost anywhere in the states. Go!

Il Guscio is another great example of a classic Florentine restaurant. While they have all of the typical Tuscan dishes, look towards their specials and some of their more unusual dishes that you're more likely to find here at a "ristorante" rather than at a slightly lesser "trattoria". It's always busy with locals and a handful of tourists. read more

this is one of my favorite restaurants in florence. i adore the food there and the unique creative dishes they offer. the fritto misto del mare is out of this world, fried seafood. i crave it and then i have to go!! the pastas are all delicious and really everything on the menu is worth trying. they have a great wine list and very good service. i love it for lunch and then i sit inside. for dinner i love to sit at the little patio outside and watch the world go by. the staff seems to be there for a long time and everybody is very friendly. it is easy to get to, a 10 minute walk from piazza santo spirito. i like to take friends there and introduce them to true, home cooked italian food. cant wait to go back when i return to florence. read more

Il Guscio is an excellent restaurant located out of the tourist zone and is frequented primarily by locals. In fact the only way we found it was the recommendation of a prominate Florentine family. The food is excellent and very typical of the region. We had a nice pasta course of a duck ragout and noodles, as well as farfalle in a fresh fish sauce, both which were excellent. For our main courses we had what was effectively a meatloaf, although they refer to it as a large sliced meatball. Served with a brown sauce. The only reason i didn't give it 5 * is that the service is more casual, not substandard, just not 5 *. The wine list is very adequate and the prices are reasonable. I can not wait to return. One of my new favorites in Florence. read more