La Giostra
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Recommended Reviews - La Giostra
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Food was extremely overpriced and not honestly not that good. Service was the biggest disappointment, rude and paid no attention to us. Ambiance is nice, the only redeeming thing about the restaurant. Please go elsewhere in Florence for actually good food and friendly service.
By far one of the most highly recommended restaurants when we were making our plans for Florence. Highly recommend making a reservation because the wait without one would have been quite long. This restaurant is such a VIBE. Cozy, romantic and a total scene. Service was great as was the food. It was tough because there was so much on the menu that I wanted to try but we couldn't not order the pear ravioli and the Florentine steak. If I went back I would want to try the ossobuco which I saw at the table next to us and looked dynamite. If you only had one night in Florence this is the restaurant I would recommend.
A friend recommended La Giostra to me before visiting Italy. I'm so glad she did because this is one of the best restaurants in Florence. The ambience of this place is just very cool. Dark inside with the walls filled with a Who's Who of celebrities who've dined here. The owner/chef, Soldano, is well known and it was awesome that he came out to meet us and take pictures. While Soldano is well known, the star of the show here is the food. After starting off with some wine, we were served a complimentary appetizer sampler platter. Delicious! I loved the eggplant. We ordered a Caprese appetizer with buffalo mozzarella. For entrees, I had one of the signature dishes, the pear and cheese ravioli. My wife had the Tagliata (grilled beef) with rosemary and olive oil. We topped off dinner with desserts of Tiramisu and an Apple Tart with vanilla ice cream. Outstanding meals! This is a very popular restaurant so we made reservations weeks in advance. If you're visiting Florence and you want to try the best restaurant in town, book that early reservation!
I heard this place was very popular so was somewhat skeptical whether it would be any good or not... I will say it lived up to the hype. We had probably four to five staff come to our table during dinner who were all very friendly. The espresso martini was perfect, my boyfriend got the Hugo spritz which was very good as well. A little pricey on the cocktails but worth it. Not pictured was a tray of appetizer items that were complimentary (bruschetta, chicken pate, etc) which were all very yummy. Our pasta came out quick but was cooked perfectly. The carbonara had the perfect amount of saltiness and savory. My boyfriend got the ricotta & spinach ravioli which were divine. Although it is more expensive than other options in the city I would say it's worth a try at least once!
I went with a group of 14. We had a set menu. If I was picking the menu I would have changed some things. The burrata was very good. The Parmesan cheese that was with the tomatoes was delicious. I liked the ragu. The pear ravioli was good. But I do think it had a lot of dough. I also don't know if I could have ate a whole order. I was glad to only have 2. I like something more savory. The florentine steak came out way too raw for my liking, I am aware this is how they serve it. Skip the chocolate cake it was not good. I did like the tiramisu though. The staff was great!!
5 stars 500 times over is what La Giostra deserves!!! Dining at La Giostra was nothing short of unforgettable. Dinner reservations were hard to find and we grabbed ourselves one for lunch. Absolutely loved the experience. From the moment we stepped inside, we were transported into a world of warm hospitality, rich Tuscan ambiance, and food that speaks to the soul. We settled in and were served a platter ( on the house) that had richness, flavors and amazing taste written across the board. The house bread is amazing as well and has a very unique taste associated with it. Post that, we ordered ourselves the Pear Ravioli and Steamed Octopus carpaccio with boiled ( finely sliced potato) which were so delicious ( big quantity served as well).We took our time to enjoy each of these a morsel at a time and they were simply sumptuous. For our main course we ordered Grilled steak with garlic, olive oil and rosemary ( which I didn't taste though got amazing reviews for it) and Baked Branzino with zucchini, tomatoes, olives and capers. The fish was cooked to perfection and the veggies added the much needed fiber alongside and as well were cooked to just the right degree. Loved the bites immensely and took our sweet time while we devoured through the meal :) After the check formalities were done and we were headed out, we ran into the man the legend, Soldano who happens to be the owner and runs a perfect culinary orchestra at La Giostra. Had a fun little conversation with him and definitely left with a lot of good feeling, vibes and felt that truly amazing customer care that they have built in the very fabric of La Giostra. It wouldn't be remiss to say that his warmth and charisma are reflected in every detail of the experience. La Giostra isn't just a restaurant -- it's a story, a tradition, a feeling. If you're in Florence, this is an absolute must. Thank you, Sandro and team , for making our lunch so memorable. This definitely has been a bright shining highlight of our trip!! Absolutely recommended!!
Had a reservation at 9:30, we were then finally seated at 10pm. We started with the servers recommended red wine, which was very good. No appetizers besides the complimentary bread and toppings - they were okay. I ordered the sliced steak with potatoes, asked for medium but it was more on the medium well side. The entree was pretty good but nothing to write home about. I've had better steaks at longhorn steakhouse back in the states. It was a good experience but was shocked that we didn't get seated until a half hour past our reserved time. This place is also very warm, I was starting to sweat a bit within my long sleeve shirt. The atmosphere is cool and the service was nice.
We had a wonderful evening at La Giostra! We saved the best for our last night in Florence. Bottle of red, bottle of white. We started with the pear ravioli for the table. Worth the hype! Two people had the seafood pasta, one had the sliced balsamic steak, and one had the tomato pasta. All meals were incredible! We ended with the tiramisu and a shot of limoncello (on the house). The server was so great - a true professional. She let us enjoy our meal without rushing us. A true gem and must try!!!
This place is worth the hype. The owner is super funny and interesting to talk to. I went there because of course when in Florence why not. Order the steak its delish and buy the bottle of wine with it. Pricey but the ambiance, the people, the food is worth it, Questo posto ne vale la pena, e quando sei in Italia perché non spendere i soldi? Adoro questo posto.
We have made this a staple to our Florence trips. We always save one night for dinner here. The atmosphere is always business casual. The service is always fantastic and the food is always delicious. We always bring our friends and family here so we definitely recommend this for your visit to Florence.
For foodies only. If you want the best, make a reservation here. What can I say that has not already been said. The house special pasta, the Bistecca alla fiorentina and the tiramisu are amazing. Get there early and order the house Negroni, relax at the bar, enjoy the vibe as people come in dressed for dinner. (Oh yeah, dress for dinner!) If you don't find this place the best, there are many pizza shops and street vendors that can make you a meal.
La Giostra is my favorite restaurant in Florence. Make a reservation. Show up early and grab a drink before your dining experience. Order the pear ravioli and a steak. You won't be disappointed. This is a very special place inside and out. Buckle up, you'll kill 2- 3 hours here but just enjoy the ride.
Because you can't come to Florence and leave without trying a Florentine Steak...and to be sure, the steak was what drew us to this restaurant. We did a lot of research, of course, and after scrolling through countless pictures, reviews and available reservations, we landed on La Giostra. The restaurant is quite pretty inside, filled with tons of twinkly lights that set the mood. The tables were kind of squished together, which made navigating between chairs difficult for some people and having a semi-private conversation difficult for others. The service was great, the staff was attentive and friendly, always greeting us with smiles and small bows, almost overly deferential. They took the time to answer our questions, provide recommendations and ensure we were taken care of. The steak (€130) was cooked to perfection (and to Florentine Steak standards) and, true to what is advertised, there was a lot of it. It was a challenge to finish even with the two of us sharing, but that could also be because of the sides that were included, or maybe the fact that we thought we'd also need to add the Fried Zucchini Sticks (€12) to the main meal *and* the Gran selezione di Salumi di Cinta Senese (€28) as a starter. They started us out with a plate of tiny toasts, with various toppings ranging from marinated veggies to sauteed tomatoes, stuffed mushrooms and a couple other vegetable-based items that we both missed when it was pointed out. We rather enjoyed everything that was presented. The charcuterie board came out next, piled high with meats and a handful of nuts. My husband was in heaven. The steak was presented next, and good heavens, was I already suffering from meat sweats, before I took my first bite. The steak was flavorful, I'll give it that, and simply cooked. It was served with potatoes and carrots, along with a simple side salad of greens and a creamy dressing. The zucchini sticks we (unnecessarily) added on were tasty and salty, crispy and crunchy. We both enjoyed the meal but I was full for the next two days haha.
Absolutely amazing meal is this beautiful spot in Florence. It was recommended to us as one of the best places for Bistecca, however we were not up to such a big dinner. The meal started with the most beautiful and delicious antipasto course, followed by an amazing pear ravioli- yes, pear. Our dinner mates had veal and other dishes and all really enjoyed . Amazing. We drank several bottles of a delicious Rose which was a nice pairing with our meal. Service was outstanding and the decor was beautiful. We tried to get a second reservation for the end of our trip but they were booked. Excellent- It would be the first restaurant I'd book before visiting Florence again. read more
11 months ago
2 years ago
Hands down the best restaurant experience I've ever had in Florence. Every single thing was perfect. The service, the food, the ambiance, everything. As a recommendation- try the burratta with grapefruit and fig compote, the tagliatelle with porcini mushrooms, the fresh asparagus and the tiramisu. Absolute perfection. Do NOT miss this restaurant if you are in Florence. Tiny quiet street away from the hordes of people. Perfection. Seriously. read more
11 months ago
2 years ago
2 years ago
The service was exceptional. I wish we had another day in Florence just to eat here again. The Florentine steak, although pricey, was worth every euro spent on it. read more
1 year ago
La Giostra was amazing! Definitely need to stop here when you're in Florence. The service was excellent, the server recommended some great wine and dishes. The food was phenomenal. I had the Filetto Kalvill Con Fegato D'Oca Fresco E Mele All 'Armagnac very delicious and my wife had the parpadelle fatte a Mano Con ragú which was also excellent. The ambiance was very romantic and inviting! read more
1 year ago
Amazing ambiance, excellent service and exceptional food!! The owner is super cool as well!!! It's a do not miss in Florence!! read more
This review is long overdue and absolutely necessary. Hands-down the best meal I had in Italy while I was there. If you go to Florence and you do not eat at La Giostra you did it wrong. I was walking through the streets of Florence with two friends and by complete accident stumble on this restaurant. The restaurant wasn't open yet, the gates were shut, but the ambience was so beautiful, it called to me "we have delicious food come eat here". They were fully booked but I asked if there was any way they could squeeze us in since it was our last night in Florence. Luckily, they were just opening the restaurant and seated us before guests with reservations arrived. Thank you to the staff, they were impeccable the whole night and the quality of service was wonderful. The meal started off with complimentary Spumante and a platter of three appetizers which was lovely. I'm not a fan of eggplant but I loved it in the appetizer. Florence is apparently known for their red meat so I knew I had to get steak. Let me tell you, best decision I ever made. This is a meal that will not be forgotten. The pictures do not do it justice, the filet mignon was perfection! When I tell you the steak was so juicy, so tender, infused with even juicier pieces of bacon... it was such an amazing meal that I was trying to savor each bite. The dish wasn't on the main menu yet so I can't recall the name of it, but if you come here get some type of red meat dish and just enjoy. My friends ordered pasta dishes and absolutely loved their meals as well. I don't think you can go wrong with anything on the menu. The wine list is expansive. Our waiter recommended an excellent red wine to accompany our meal. 10/10 would recommend across the board for everything. Service, ambience, food.. all of it was top notch. If I'm ever in Florence again I have to eat here and try another dish. La Giostra is perfect for any occasion. There's enough seating for a large group, intimate enough for the perfect date night, or even just a great spot to grab a delicious meal and drinks with a few friends. read more
10 months ago
2 years ago
First and foremost, all the poor reviews revolve around issues with not having a reservation. Don't be stupid. Book in advance and expect the restaurant to be busy. It's for a effin reason. My wife and I had the greatest meal of our lives and felt extremely appreciated. Upon arrival, we were greeted by the owner, the amazing hostess, and the nice bartender happily made us a drink and personally brought it to our table once we were called. Aside from the hospitality and beautiful ambiance, here's what we ordered. The pear ravioli dish nearly made me shed a tear upon first bite. This dish is to DIE for (seriously don't go unless you order this). We also opted for the wild boar ragu and tagliata (steak) with Parmesan/arugula, both of which were incredible. Overall, there's a reason this place gets busy. Soldano and his staff operate like a well oiled machine providing a touching, genuine, and delectable dining experience. read more
2 years ago
Loved it here! We had so many people recommend La Giostra on our trip to Florence we had to try it. The string lights along the roof made it such a welcome and relaxing environment, especially since the day we had our reservation there was a severe thunderstorm out so it was perfect. The appetizer plate they give was delicious and the pear pasta was fantastic with an amazing flavor. Paired with wine it was a perfect lunch. read more
1 year ago
Was referred by our hotel staff- the staff was gracious and it was like walking into a piece of old Florence- food was great and the owner is worth the trip- read more
2 years ago
Great food, excellent staff but you need to make reservations weeks in advance. It's always very crowded. Bring an appetite. Great wine selections, too read more
2 years ago
3 years ago
My favorite restaurant in all of Florence, after living there. Incredible atmosphere, top notch service and to die for food that I think about on a weekly basis in the states. Since moving 6 years ago I haven't stopped thinking about their melt in your mouth pear ravioli and their chicken Marsala(unlike any you've ever had) with the best potatoes I've had in my life. My family also got the pistachio Gorgonzola fresh gnocchi and said it was incredible. My entire family was treated to an antipasti sampler upon arrival, with enough for 7 portions to try and each option. As well as limoncello shots on the house. Small details like these make you feel special during your dinner here. Make a reservation weeks ahead they fill up! read more
3 years ago
We had read about this place prior to coming to Florence. We made sure to make reservations very early out and I'm glad we did because we discovered that they're typically booked more than a month in advance. We arrived and we're promptly seated. We asked for the house red wine, which was a very good Sangiovese. We ordered pasta to start - the pear ravioli and the wild boar tagliatta. Both of these were delicious. We also ordered the Steak Florentine. We have never had a steak that tasted this good. It was really hard to describe how good it tasted. Think filet mignon with a tremendous amount of flavor that melts in your mouth and requires hardly any effort. We then decided to get the Tiramisu for dessert. Renowned chef Ubaldo Tornarelli stopped by our table and took a photo with us. A great evening with amazing food that we won't soon forget. read more
1 year ago
3 years ago
Fell in love with Florence and fell in love with this restaurant. The staff, the food and the ambiance were incredible. We loved it so much we went back twice and there is not one dish that ate that we didn't love. We will be back. read more
2 years ago
Business owner information
Soldano D.
Dear Erick, Thank you for your feedback. Soldano
2 years ago
Always a pleasure to dine with you. Thank you so much for making my wife's birthday the best yet! Anxious to come back another visit soon! read more
My friend made us a reservation here for our time in Florence as she heard this was the place to try and that reservations were hard to get. We were fortunate enough to get lunch reservations for one of our days in the city. This is the type of restaurant where there are photos on the wall of all the celebrities and famous people who have eaten there fill every space. My friends were crushed to hear that Kristin Bell was there a few days after us. To the food! When you go, every table gets a beautiful tray of various marinated veggies, pate on crostini and bruschetta. We saw all the tables getting it and we thought we had to order it. When we found out that it was complementary, we freaked out. Florence has created a chicken pate fan out of me. I got the speghetti alla carbonara con asparagi and it was very good. My friend got risotto with shrimp and my other friend got tortellini filled with various cheeses. Everything was delicious. Even though we were full, we had to get dessert because you do what you must! The three of us split the cheese cake and it was very tasty. It's hard to say "this is the best" but when you are in Florence and eating all of this beautiful food, no matter what, that cheese cake is going to be very special. read more
2 years ago
The pear ravioli was the best single dish of our entire trip in Italy. Great wine selection and excellent service. The chef comes out and greets guests throughout the meal! Great date spot in Florence! read more
2 years ago
1 year ago
2 years ago
Planned our visit to Florence months in advance, and this was one of the restaurants recommended to us from a friend. I made the reservation way ahead of time, and I am glad I did, since this spot is very popular and apparently very famous with celebrities. We stopped in early before our scheduled reservation to see if we could sit at the bar, but no go, as it wasn't open so we walked around a bit more and came back. Hostess was friendly but I made sure to sit where she could see me so she wouldn't forget we were waiting. (I had read some reviews prior where people were getting seated before others and some still had to wait even though they had reservations) Thankfully, we were seated promptly, and had great service from the staff. The lights were dimmed and its small, cozy dining room, so as to set the romantic mood. I had to use my flashlight on my phone because I couldn't read the menu - but small price to pay - I didn't mind that much. We ordered the famous Florentine steak and the pear ravioli. The steak was amazing and I even tried it even though I don't like rare meat - I tried the more well done pieces hehe. My husband was asked how he wanted it cooked and he said "medium" and the waiter just shook his head haha so medium rare it was! The pear ravioli was pretty good - just wish I had tasted more pear flavor, but it was so fresh and well made that was just a little thing. Zucchini fried sticks were yummy and my salad was good as well. Dessert was a warm apple tart with ice cream - also good. I believe it was the owner that talked with us about how amazed he was that my husband polished off the Florentine steak (that's normally a 2 person serving - they prepared it so it was a little less since it was just him) We had a great experience and would definitely recommend this restaurant for dining! read more
2 years ago
3 years ago
Natalie the hostess was amazing beyond words!! Very attentive and helpful!! She made us feel like family!! The food and ambiance superb!! I'm so glad we got reservations in advance!! We're definitely going back when we visit Italy again!! read more
4 years ago
Beautiful ambience: from the lights in the ceiling to the candlelight's. Reservation made in advance for 7:30 but came in around 7:15 and they were able to seat us as the restaurant was still empty. Around 7:30-8pm is when the entire restaurant is packed. Mostly Americans around this time as we're used to earlier dinner. Service is great- immediately served Prosecco on the house and later antipasti : bruschetta , chicken liver, celery, eggplants, red peppers. We ordered their Burrata and we both agreed, best burrata ever: just good by itself along with the honey and marmalade and nuts it was served with Unfortunately the rest of the meal was so so. We got the pear ravioli which was ok but the edges were extremely thick and dense and doughy. The minimum is 1.5 kg for the Florentino steak and they mention for 2 but really it's for 4 people! They were nice to pack it up for us but European hotels don't have microwaves so I don't know how we'll be able to enjoy leftovers. It was cooked to order as medium but it was more medium rare to rare. Nothing special about the steak - it wasn't bad and it was seasoned well but didn't wow me either All wine mostly in full bottles. No half bottles Besides dessert wine. Only wine they had by glass was Chianti and Brunello. We spent around 180 euros for dinner for two - it was a romantic ambiance but besides the antipasti and burrata, rest of the food was ok. I'm in line with some of the other reviewers that say it's a tourist trap: we were surrounded by all American guests. Definitely try the burrata and keep note that portions are huge. read more
1 year ago
1 year ago
pear ravioli one of the best things u ate in florence. the flavors pair so well!! the ambiance is so enjoyable but the outside is near some of the bars so beware of that depending on your vibe! read more
2 years ago
1 year ago
2 years ago
2 years ago
Amazing restaurant!! I came for the 2nd time last week. 2 major cons I had was that I made the reservation in April and couldn't get earlier than 9:30 and I was seated by the bathroom. Make reservations asap!! The pear ravioli melted in your mouth and the Florentine steak was amazing too!! It's a hotspot in Florence!! read more
La Giostra is absolutely worth the hype. This is known as one of the best, if not the best restaurants in Florence. Don't skip out if you are in town, and be sure to make a reservation well ahead of time on their website. I made my reservation two months in advance, and time slots were still limited. So yeah, it's like that. Before ordering a thing we were wowed. The ceiling is adorned in glimmering string lights and there are photos of celebrities that have dined at the restaurant all over the walls (seriously, who hasn't eaten here??). The meal also starts off with some comped glasses of champs to really set the mood. After lots of Yelp stalking it was clear to see that there are two important dishes, and my husband and I made sure to order both. You cannot dine at La Giostra without trying the famous pear ravioli. It's just so good and hard to put into words. The sauce is creamy yet light, the pasta perfectly al dente and the pear and cheese flavors just work so well together. We also shared the Florentine steak. You can have your steak prepared balsamic or garlic and rosemary style. We opted for garlic and rosemary and it was delicious. So flavorful and cooked to perfection. Even the sides of carrot, potato and spinach were phenomenal. Every little thing here is made with love and care and we seriously savored every single bite of food. The night ended with a deliciously sweet piece of tiramisu and full and happy bellies. For very high quality food in a romantic setting you really can't go wrong. I'm already dreaming of my return. read more
Lovely restaurant full of history (and delicious food)! We ordered so so much off the menu and all of it was delicious! We, of course, got the iconic florentine steak and it was fabulous! Americans coming here...be prepared...florentine steaks are always made very rare so if you're someone who doesn't like rare meat...get ready! But as some consolidation, the rareness just melts in your mouth and isn't chewy the way that it usually is at home. This place is definitely worth a visit! read more
If you're visiting Florence (or a local), La Giostra definitely needs to be in your dining list. From the atmosphere to service to truly delicious food, it will not disappoint. They also have an extremely extensive wine list. We typically share the cheese and pear pasta along with a bistecca alla Fiorentina. The pace of service always allows us to enjoy each course as it should be enjoyed, in a relaxed environment. Not to mention, they always offer a complimentary glass of prosecco and appetizers which is a great way to start the evening. They truly do the best bistecca in town - don't walk, run to this restaurant. You won't be disappointed. read more
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