Amazing dining experience in this small rustic Osteria! Chef Julio masterfully cooks Bistecca Alla…read moreFlorentina to perfection in his wood fired oven! Pici Con Ragu Di Cinta Sense e Tartufo is a must try. Authentic Tuscan food! Atmosphere is very cozy with shared tables.

Great dining experience. One of the best meals we had in Montepulcino. We ordered the steak, which…read morewas perfectly cooked and a couple of sides which were also delicious. The house red wine was quite good.

This family run restaurant is warm and welcoming. The servers (father and son) were very welcoming…read moreand personable. We had fantastic Steak and pasta dishes. We loved the food and ambience. Steak was cooked just right with great flavor and perfect salting. We felt like we made new friends as the staff were so friendly. I definitely recommend checking out this small family restaurant in a very beautiful mountain town very close to Pienza and Montepulciano.

Overall 4.5 stars. We two had dinner…read more SERVICE: 5.0. The gentleman who runs the restaurant is a character, and fun to interact with. Every one we dealt with was friendly and professional. FOOD: 4.0. - Pecorino Pasta: 5.0. Fun to watch the preparation, and excellent taste. Hot pasta is placed on/in a large cheese round, and the resulting melted cheese with pasta mix is then delivered to one's plate. - Pork: 3.5. - Tiramisu: 4.5 We ended the meal with a limoncello digestif. AMBIANCE: 4.0. Indoor and outdoor seating. Very pleasant. This night only the outdoor was being used. Located just inside the main gate of the quiet and pretty town of Montefollonico. As we left there was a group of locals of varying ages sitting outside at a patio across from the town gate, watching a soccer game together on a large TV screen.

For 10 years whenever we passed through Tuscany we made certain to have at least one meal at…read moreMassimo and Francois's old restaurant in Monticchiello. It was always the most delicious of our trip, and they were an important part of our beginning love affair with Italy. We lost track of them when they began a new restaurant, but by luck found them again, this time in Sant' Albino, just south of Montepulciano. We've eaten there twice this week. The restaurant is warm and welcoming inside, and the food is as perfectly delicious as ever. This is not a place to breeze through, because everything is made fresh for you, and the owners pride themselves in making only the best. Massimo makes the savory foods, and Francois the desserts. We consider them the best chefs to cook for us in our 18 trips to Italy. If you get to experience their artistry, you're a very lucky person.

I came a long way to eat here, at a time that they are publicly listed to be open. And they are…read moreclosed. So unprofessional.

Wow, wow, wow. We stayed in historic Montepulciano and this Osteria was recommended by the locals…read more We had a beautiful experience siting on their outdoor patio overlooking the Centro. Ate a delicious plate of pasta! Friendly service! Highly recommend!

Both our pasta dishes had little flavor. The photo in menu had lots of meat. In reality maybe 3…read moretablespoons! Boiling a few large shrimp took 45 min. Hectic service. Overrated.

Places a phone order today for $42.50. Arrived at 4pm to…read morepick up my order. Went to my car decided I wanted an order of bruschetta. Went back and placed an order. The young lady said a few minutes. Okay, no problem. I was standing waiting at first; normally it takes 5 minutes. We're at 10 minutes now so I sat down. Young lady says to me "it will only be a few more minutes " okay. Still waiting..... now we're at 45 MINUTES! I CANCELLED IT at this point because this is absurd! 45 minutes for toast, tomatoes and cheese. She goes to check if it's ready first, NOPE NOT READY. Mind you it's been 45 minutes! The " head chef" came walking out being snarky. Had an attitude work me instead of offering an apology. No sorry for wait or inconvenience. Mind you my other food is in the car ice cold now because it's almost an hour now I waited for BRUSCHETTA. I've been a patron for over 10yrs. I have no idea what's happening with management. Very disappointed I will keep in mind my treatment on today before ordering again.

The location is superb looking down on a Tuscan valley and hillside as far as you can see. We…read morebarely made it in before they closed their kitchen for lunch. In fact, a family came in just after we sat down, and they could not get any food except drinks and dessert. The mixed Tuscan crostini plate (photo) was very good with several Tuscan specialty meat and cheese, chicken pate, fresh ripe tomatoes...my wife said she had the best salad with tuna (photo) ever. I thought every ingredient was very fresh. With a Yelp check-in, you'll receive a complimentary glass of procecco (Italian sparkling wine) which was very nice. Overall a great dining experience here. If you're in the vicinity of Monticchiello, Italy, this is a must stop. There's a large free parking lot within a five-minute walk. Highly recommended.

We stopped in on our first day in Montepulciano after checking in to our Airbnb. We had the most…read moreincredible, delicious, and memorable meal of our entire trip. Plans on returning next year!

Hands down, this is the best place that I ate at while I was in Italy…read more The restaurant was very unique with a vibrant interior that you can't help but love. The salad, pasta and vegetables were nothing but amazing. The pasta was fresh and the tomato sauce was indescribable. The freshness was out of this world. What also made this experience perfect was the hospitality shown by the owners. They were extremely kind and friendly. The male owner also goes around and sings to the guests, which is a great surprise. It's a very family oriented restaurant with home style cooking and beautiful ambience. 5/5!

From emu sightings in a morning to truffle hunting in the afternoon!…read more We spent an unforgettable few hours at Agriturismo La Chiusa Tuscany last year wandering through the olive groves with the expert Paolo Formichi and his amazing dogs, Super and Lola. Watching the dogs work was pure magic, they led us to a massive haul of about 20-30 black truffles and even a few rare reds! The best part? Sitting down afterward with close friends to a lunch featuring our finds, overlooking that iconic Val d'Orcia view. There is truly nothing like the taste of a truffle you watched being pulled from the Tuscan soil just an hour before. A huge thanks to Paolo, Super, and Lola for the best kind of 'treasure hunt.

Wow! What an amazing place to spend our anniversary!! Our room was immaculate, spacious, and warm…read more Dinner was magnificent! I literally licked my plates clean- and that was not a typo! All Staff members were very friendly and knowledgeable, and I ended up ordering 3 dishes for myself. After a peaceful night's rest, we had a terrific breakfast that was sooo fresh and delicious, I could've eaten for hours. If you want a bucolic Tuscan experience, La Chiusa is a MUST!!!

Wonderful restaurant in a beautiful Umbrian village. The setting is spectacular and all the food…read morewas wonderful.

Where do I even start? Montepulciano is a dreamy town tucked into a Tuscan hillside. In chilly…read moremid-November, it's haunting and empty and blessedly peaceful. Admittedly, a fair amount of places were closed, possibly due to it being a drizzly (but still so atmospheric!) Monday evening, so when I looked at the menu for L'Altro Cantuccio, I was excited to see that it was open. I was even more excited to see a vegetarian entree that I figured could be made vegan. We entered the restaurant at an early time for Italy, 7:30 or 8, but we'd skipped lunch and we also were calling it an early night because we were staying at an agriturismo about 45 minutes away. Not surprisingly, we were the first customers (by the time we left around 9:30 or ten, there were only 2 other tables). If you're looking for a dark, intimate dining experience, this is your place. It's so beautiful inside, like an upscale tavern, with ambient lighting and a fireplace. I was totally unprepared for this utterly exquisite dining experience, but I had a hint of what was to come, once we were greeted by an urbane set of waiters. I asked if the farro dish could be made vegan and he said it could. That's all I ordered (besides a glass of sparkling wine, and my husband ordered some kind of steak), but we received several curated complimentary amuse bouche, presented like the edible works of art they were. Only one item was not vegan, a duck liver macaron. Besides two tiny bites of vegan pates, there were these incredible bites that appeared to be olives but were savory cocoa butter truffle that contained olive oil and crushed olives (like a filled chocolate). I never had anything like this before. This was followed by a single cherry tomato... or so it seemed! It was actually a bite of pappa al pomodoro. And then there was the divine bread service (see my photo). The main event, also presented like a work of art, the farro. It's absolutely delicious and I treasured each bite of grain, truffle, mushroom, beans in a porcini broth. This was followed by a complimentary dessert, two tiny chocolate shells with a passion fruit topped non dairy cream and two tiny spoons of chocolate pop rocks. I can't say "exquisite" enough! Now I must note my appreciation here for the service, as I was informed as to exactly what things were vegan when they brought out all the complimentary courses (I am not entitled... I never expect such service). I walked in without a reservation and this meal exceeded my expectations beyond words. And coming from the US, it blew my mind that the cost of this extravagant meal was comparable to a casual dining experience. Core dining memory may be an understatement. I'd return to Montepulciano if only to dine here.

Our Perfect Last Night in Tuscany - Best Romantic Dinner in Montepulciano at L'Altro Cantuccio!…read more After a day of strolling up and down the winding hills of Montepulciano, my wife and I stumbled upon L'Altro Cantuccio, and what a find it was. Tucked under the archway of an ancient stone breezeway, our romantic little table caught the cool evening breeze and gave us front-row seats to the quiet hum of this timeless Tuscan town. The dim lighting and centuries-old walls made it feel like we were dining inside a piece of history -- only with the comfort and warmth of a dear friend's welcome. From the start, the staff set the tone, with Leaza leading the way. "Outstanding" doesn't quite cover it -- her knowledge of food, wine, and spirits transformed the evening into an experience. She presented three perfect wine options, guided us like an old friend, and had that rare gift of knowing when to be right there and when to step back, letting the romance and flavors speak for themselves. A rustic bread board with pillowy focaccia, nutty seeded bread, and golden olive oil -- the perfect Tuscan welcome. We began with cocktails -- a Negroni for me, an Aperol Spritz for my wife -- followed by an appetizer that can only be described as edible theater. The crispy egg "candido" with pecorino foam, green coffee, and Sichuan pepper arrived in a smoked ceramic egg, releasing an intoxicating aroma when the lid was lifted. The smoked ceramic egg, opened to reveal the delicate crispy egg "candido" over pecorino foam -- like unwrapping a culinary gift. Alongside came a complimentary aperitif -- whimsical bites that looked like one thing but tasted like another -- playful and creative. A tiny "tomato" that burst into chilled gazpacho on the first bite -- a fun and surprising twist. For our first course, my wife had the ravioli of stewed pigeon topped with seared breast, Sangiovese wine reduction, and a butter-sage powder. It was perfectly cooked -- tender, rich, and delicious. I had the truffle pasta, a nest of golden tagliolini crowned with a snowfall of freshly shaved truffles, the scent so intoxicating it turned heads at nearby tables. The truffle pasta -- a mound of golden tagliolini under a generous snow of fresh truffles, plated on sculpted white porcelain. Both dishes were paired with a 2018 Talosa Nobile di Montepulciano, deep ruby in color and velvety on the palate -- a flawless choice from Leaza. The mains were pure Tuscan indulgence. The local Chianina beef cheeks were slow-cooked for 50 hours until they practically melted on the tongue, plated with seasonal vegetables and a silky sauce. The Fiorentina T-bone steak was a feast for the eyes -- thick, juicy, beautifully charred -- presented whole before being sliced and served on a black marble slab. Too full for dessert, we closed the night with an Indonesian Kopi Luwak coffee. The brewing process was presented tableside like a ceremony. Sitting there, sipping coffee in the cool night air, hearing the faint murmur of other couples, I couldn't imagine a better way to end our last night in Tuscany. L'Altro Cantuccio isn't just a restaurant -- it's a memory you'll carry home. The flavors, the setting, the care in every detail... you must eat here!

My fiance and I chose this hotel for our August 2015 trip to Italy based on TripAdvisor reviews,…read moreand we were not disappointed. By the way, the correct spelling is "Cicolina." The hotel and its grounds were beautiful! A very romantic setting, it's set up on a hill overlooking beautiful Tuscan scenery. The hotel is about 2 kilometers from town, and a portion of that drive is on a gravel street which isn't the easiest to navigate. You definitely need a car to get to town as well as the surrounding areas. Our suite was large and decorated to suit the surroundings. We did think the furniture in the sitting room was a bit "tired." The restaurant was top-notch - our best meal of the trip, hand's down. We ate there the first night and wish we had tried it a second time. Service is also excellent. Very, very friendly and helpful. The infinity pool is beautiful and unexpected for a quaint property. The pool (paint) probably could use a good refresher. Wi-fi is slow.

Villa Cicolina is a fantastic little hotel, event space, and restaurant on the outskirts of…read moreMontepulciano in the Tuscany region of Italy. While my friends opted to have their wedding elsewhere, this would have been a beautiful spot to get married. Infinity pool and infinity hot tub looking over the valley. Interesting gardens and paths throughout the grounds. (Just check out the pictures on the website) We ended up doing the rehearsal dinner here and the food was out of this world. The highlights were the lasagna (best lasagna I've ever had) and the chocolate lava cake. Great service and good wine. I'd love to come back here again for a longer stay.