I will start on a positive note. The food was AMAZING, we had the Gorgonzola pear gnocchi and it…read morewas the best I have ever tasted BUT be prepared to WAIT. The restaurant seemed only to be at about 50% capacity but after we sat down it took 30 minutes before our order was taken. We received water in that time but no bread or any kind of apertivo. After we ordered it was another 45 minutes until the food came out so by that time we were ravenous. I think we scarfed down our food in a record 7 minutes due to being so hungry. Immediately following we asked for the bill but it was another 30 minute wait before we finally were able to pay and leave. Whole process took about 2 hours

OMG! The absolute best Italian food of my life. Leo is a gem of the city. A MUST visit restaurant…read more Yummy!!! I came in with a party 18 and there wasn't one dish that didn't put a smile on our face. I can't wait to go back for more!

We stumbled on Le Contrade totally by accident and I cannot be happier to find it. It's deep in the…read moreTuscan countryside and the food is divine! We had pastas and appetizers that made me think this place should have a few Michelin stars for sure. The chef is an amazing person and the staff is nice. This will go down as one of my favorite restaurants ever! Love it!! Go here ASAP!

This was a trip highlight for me. Every detail of this place, the food, atmosphere, setting and…read moreart was a delight. Andrea the owner is your waiter and his voice draws you in with anticipation. My hubs and i will travel far and wide to find a perfect bite and this place did not disappoint. Every bit was scrumptious- i ate 2 specials .... homemade burrata w basil and a roasted chicken turned in terrine triangles. Best bites for many meals in my book. Cheers! Don't miss this one. Pizza downstairs if you want more simple.

Another excellent spot we tried in Florence. We were greeted as soon as we walked in and seated…read moreimmediately. The staff was very friendly and our waiter was Nugo. He was awesome and had us laughing the entire night. We peppered him with a lot of questions about the menu, he answered everything and also accommodated my father-in-law, who is GF. He had his own GF bread basket and was able to order almost anything on the menu. We ordered a nice bottle of Montepulciano red for the table that was $48. Others had the Hugo spritz. For app I had the anchovies with roasted red pepper, sea salt and oil over grilled crostini, very good. I skipped first course and ordered the ribeye steak for my main course. Bone in, medium rare, sprinkled with sea salt and a side of onion marmalade. The steak was very good and had way less fat than I expected. The waiter suggested a huge steak for the table, but I was the only one ordering steak that night. Maybe next time. Others ordered the fillet and it was cooked perfectly, the angels and demons gnocchi, and the veal scallopini. Everybody was pleased Really cool spot with a very good wine selection, drinks, excellent food and a fun atmosphere that you don't find at many places. Nugo was an A+ server.

Fyi there are two locations, make sure you go to the correct one (only two blocks apart)…read more Wonderful, laid back but inviting ambiance. Waiter was super friendly, taking time to explain their wines in detail and food options. They even have a kids menu with sizeable portions for older kids. We all thoroughly enjoyed our meal, and it was definitely the best wine we had with meals in Florence. Gnocchi and wild boar taglietelle were outstanding. Had we had come earlier in our stay we might have come back again They also do a wine window which I wish I'd known about earlier because the other one we tried for fun was not good

We went May 1st, first of all, the restaurant truly carries that Tuscan brick-stone tavern, charm…read more The staff was accommodating, knowledgeable about wine selection, the food was absolutely delicious, walking down to the cellar definitely had an awe factor. The staff cut us up a platter of their cheese in the cellar. Tiramisu for desert topped the 5 star experience. EXTREMELY IMPORTANT: You need reservations that can only be made by calling them, no online reservations capabilities. You should call 5 days in advance. Worth it. Our bill came out to less than $250 + Tip for 2 bottles of wine, 6 main entrees, 2 appetizers, 3 Tiramisu, and cheese platter - NOT BAD if you ask me. Because we gave them a nice tip - they gave us a bottle of wine as a thank you gift.

Taverna di San Giuseppe was a disappointing meal for us, especially in a city with so many great…read moredining options. We ended up here by mistake (confused it with another spot), and unfortunately it didn't live up to expectations. The restaurant fills up with reservations for two seatings, and from the moment we sat down the pace felt rushed. We ordered drinks and a starter while deciding on the rest, but multiple staff members kept coming by trying to take our full order. It felt like they were pushing to move things along quickly. There were a couple positives. The chicken livers to start were quite tasty and something we didn't see often on other menus. The primi were underwhelming. The pasta didn't taste fresh like many other trattorias in Siena, and the dishes overall were just average. The lasagna in particular was mushy, and the sauces didn't stand out. The secondi were slightly better -- pork ribs, Barolo-braised beef, and a "small chicken" -- but still nothing that justified the higher prices. They do have an underground wine cellar built into a cave, which is interesting to see, but there are other places in Siena with much larger and more impressive cellar spaces. Also worth noting, they add a "10% tax" charge rather than the typical €2 coperto per person. Overall, a rushed and fairly mediocre meal at a higher price point. With so many better places to eat in Siena, this is one I'd skip.

One of the best dining experiences I've ever had. No wonder it's always fully booked here!!The…read moreowner is so welcoming and kind, taking the time to introduce himself, the menu, and provide personal recommendations. The servers check in frequently and are quick to help with anything you need. The ambiance is lively with popular music, laughter, and conversation. We chatted with the table next to us on the way out and met some fellow Texans! On our way out, the owner also remembered my name and started introducing me to other tables to make friends. What a fun place to be! The food was absolutely amazing. When we saw them slicing the salami right in front of us, we decided to order the salami plate and we were so glad we did! The zucchini flower and saffron pasta was bursting with flavor and the pasta was so perfectly cooked. I couldn't get enough! The duck ragu pasta was also hearty, rich, and delicious. The sauce was so good, my family soaked up every last bit with our bread. The ricotta spinach ravioli was also amazing!! Again the sauce was such a standout. The ravioli was so fresh with the perfect amount of bite. The green pepper sauce steak was soooo good. Cooked perfectly, with such a unique sauce that the whole peppercorns added perfectly to in texture and spice. Finally, the raspberry tiramisu. We were so full, but when they set these down our dessert stomachs were ready. They were amazing! Not the strongest raspberry flavor, but still such a delicious end to the meal. Side note, you MUST have a reservation to eat here, and they only take reservations by call. Because I didn't have a way to call them, I asked my Airbnb hosts who did it for me (also amazing people). While we were eating, there was a crowd forming outside of people waiting to get in but unable to. It's so worth it to visit Vini e Vecchi Sappori! I'll definitely have to come back next time I'm in Florence.

If you're planning a trip to Florence, make the effort to book a table at Vini e Vecchi Sapori…read more It's a small, popular restaurant that only takes reservations by phone, and it does seem to book up for every meal. We had our hotel call for us when we checked in and were lucky to grab a 1:30 lunch slot on a Thursday afternoon. We saw the fat physical reservation book when we went, and also saw an attempted walk-in get turned away. We wanted to go for dinner, but I'm just glad we were able to get in at all. Vini e Vecchi Sapori was easily my favorite restaurant in Florence. I loved the cozy, vibrant dining room, snug and eclectically decorated. We were at a table so tiny, I worried about pulling a muscle when I crossed my legs. It was nestled amongst other tiny tables, and abutted a counter where plates were put out for service and the reservation book set down in its glory next to my husband's head. Service was warm, efficient, and attentive. Our waiter basically told what to order and we obeyed him, with excellent results. The one-page handwritten menu, helpfully available in English, presented the day's offerings and this preemptive list of disclaimers: No Pizza No Cappuccino No The Fork No Ice No Spritz No Ketchup FUCK CANCER There was a brief selection of Italian wines by the glass, and we got the Chianti Classico and the Bruno de Montalcino, both lovely. The food was delicious, starting with good bread and good olive oil. We ordered the mixed Tuscany salami and the beef carpaccio as appetizers, and they were both superb and not in the least bit redundant. There were four or five types of salami, every one of them fantastic, and I loved the thin, silky carpaccio, served with rucola, parmesan, olive oil, and black pepper. We shared two splendid pastas, spinach ricotta ravioli in a creamy rose tomato sauce and a hearty pappardelle with duck ragu. For dessert, we had the lush, irresistible raspberries tiramisu. I plan to come back to Florence one day, and will make a point of coming back to Vini e Vecchi Sapori. It's a special restaurant, the kind you hope to find in Italy, a welcoming place with lively ambiance and wonderful food.

Beautiful inside, about of twists and turns and we were in the patio , at the back of the…read morerestaurant. Amazing experience ! I highly recommend this restaurant as a stop in Florence . As recommended by Stanley Tucci , we had to stop here and enjoy their amazing delicious dishes. Reservations are highly required! The staff goes out of their way to make sure you have the opportunity to enjoy your meal in Florence . Everything was delicious from the veal lombatina to the pappardelle cing, to the onion flan , to the filetto Chianti ....just delicious . Of all of Florence this was my favorite restaurant.

Believe the hype. And trust me, I was incredibly doubtful at first, afraid it would be overrated…read moregiven the absolute fandom around this being one of Stanley Tucci's go-to. On top of the pain of securing a reservation (they only take these over the phone; no online system), the only slot I could secure even as a solo diner was as soon as they opened, at 6pm, and via a bar seat. When I arrived, I was immediately greeted by several of the staff, all warm/kind. One of them offered me a table, even though I humbly mentioned I'd be fine with whatever was convenient to them. I looked around and saw what seemed to be majority American tourists so I had very standard expectations. Well, what commenced...my god. I'm getting chills now thinking about the entire experience. Just the absolute perfect dinner my first night in Florence. Everything on the menu looked fantastic and I was even tempted to order 2 Primi (pastas) but my server discouraged it, said they were quite large. Instead she guided towards the "must" appetizer, the "onion flan with pecorino cheese and truffle" followed by their signature pasta, "pappardelle with wild boar ragù" The appetizer literally brought me to tears as soon as I took a bite. I didn't think I liked truffle but this was life-changing. And the pasta was served piping hot and also to die for. I complemented the meal with a delicious glass of white and red and ended with the utterly divine tiramisu. I will be dreaming about this meal for years to come. So epic.

Food is fabulous, centrally located in Siena Italy. Very reasonable and with several vegetarian…read moreoptions.

Extremely good food and top notch service. I loved every aspect of my visit. We had 6 adults…read moretraveling and each ordered a different item. Everyone raved about their choice. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone and everyone

Wine tasting while the kids make fresh pasta? In Tuscany?!! Ummmm, yes please!! This place was a…read moredream! An absolute dream! I didn't book a cooking class in advance because I had no idea on our last trip just when we would be in Tuscany, but I knew I HAD to get my kids one! Wasn't leaving without one. Luckily, I came across this place who snuck me in a private class for the same day, at the time of MY choosing! Amazing! (Especially in prime time tourist season!) Communication was a tad iffy at first, but the owner himself called me and spoke English well enough to explain everything to me....the €50 per person price and they even send me the coordinates to this, one of a few locations of Torciano on Whats App. We were greeted so warmly by all upon arrival. The kids were told to wash up and then they were suiting in aprons. They were regular sized but the staff folded them just so to fit. I was immediately handed a glass of rose' and thought to myself "yaaaaaaassss". The kiddos were brought back to a professional kitchen with a chef who spoke pretty fair English. She had the kiddos mixing the flour for their own dough for pasta, chopping herbs and peppers with huge knife that honestly had me a tad nervous, but I trusted her. They boiled and peeled tomatoes for their sauce and rolled out their dough. They cut it by hand and not in a pasta making machine, which I personally loved! I actually loved the in consist shape and size of their noodles! It gave the dish such a rustic organic feel. I was such a proud mama!!! They mixed cheeses and plated their tri pepper crostini and their bruschetta. Not without a taste first. They also mixed sugar with marscapone for their tiramisu! It was a different type of tiramisu than I've seen. It was simply placed in a bowl. No fancy layers, just uber thick, creamy cheese with a powdered cocoa top. Since the kids are vegetarians they nixed making the white wine pork chop dish, which is usually included in this class. The chef did however still show us how to make it from afar and replaced that entree with a hearty omelette instead when it can time to chow down. All the while I was given a sample of the most incredible balsamic I have EVER tasted as well as many different wines. This was even before my proper tasting! They made me feel like royalty! We were soon seated at a lovely table where my tasting official began with a super informative, friendly sommelier!! I didn't try a wine I didn't like! I wound up purchasing the rose' and the prosecco, which is usually too sweet for me. This was actually on the drier more subdue (in a good way) side! I also bought an incredible cab sauv/Merlot Tuscan blend and their Vernaccia, a delicious crisp white. I was actually gifted a bottle of their All You Need Is Love, which retails at €120! It was fascinating to not only learn the process for making each specific variety, but also to hear which regions in Italy each grape grows and the reasons for the locations such a temperature etc. They also served us the 4 course meal the kiddos made! Everything was outstanding and that pasta I'm still dreaming about. Thick tagliatelle cooked perfectly al dente. It was UNREAL!! Our super kind waiter suggested I tried some pepporcini oil to drizzle atop the simple pomodoro covered pasta. It made the dish even more delicious, if you can imagine! It was the perfect amount of heat and flare. I bought a bottle of this to take home also. He said it was fantastic just drizzled over grilled veggies. It is!! I would absolutely recommend this place to anyone!! I appreciated them treated my nature 7 &9 year olds like adults in the kitchen. The class wasn't "dulled" down for them and they learned a ton. Since we've been home they've had a desire to help in the kitchen even that much more than they did before. They know how to properly chop veggies and use real knives. We plan on hosting a big family dinner making exactly this menu and popping open a bottle or two of their incredible wine. Overall such a wonderful experience for both my children and myself! Come VERY hungry and make sure to leave some room in your luggage for all the wine and oils you'll want to purchase. (I actually ditched most of my large toiletries and my hair dryer in exchange for these wines ((covers eyes)).) They do ship charging only a flat rate but you must buy a case of each type of wine, at a 30% discount though! Once I enjoy MOST of these bottles, I'm certainly placing a international order! It all just fantastic!

From the owner: Vieni a gustare la cucina toscana a Bottega Torciano! Bottega Torciano si trova a Poggibonsi, a…read morepochi minuti da San Gimignano dove gustare ottima carne alla griglia, pasta fresca fatta da noi e i vini della nostra azienda. Fatevi coccolare dai nostri antipasti, con i migliori salumi e formaggi toscani. I primi piatti comprendono pasta al ragù tradizionale o di cinghiale, la classica ribollita e la pappa al pomodoro. Oltre al menù stagionale, fatevi consigliare i piatti del giorno dal personale di sala! Durante le stagioni del tartufo, potrete gustare ad esempio piatti a base del tartufo che raccogliamo nella nostra Tenuta. Potete scegliere se accompagnare il vostro pranzo o la vostra cena con un bicchiere di vino o con una bottiglia ad esempio di Brunello di Montalcino, Chianti Classico o Vernaccia di San Gimignano, tutti di nostra produzione, che potrete anche acquistare al ristorante. Infine potrete deliziarvi con uno dei nostri dolci, sempre fatti da noi. Vi aspettiamo a Bottega Torciano!

The food was subpar and the service was horrible. This place is not for tourists. It's a nice place…read morein a great location, but they don't appreciate tourists. There was an obvious favoritism shown to the locals as there was only one couple in the restaurant when we came in and every other table that came in after us was served, ate, drank espressos, and left BEFORE we ever had our food.

We didn't really think we were gonna have such a wonderful meal at this modest, homey, family run…read morerestaurant. What started out as a late lunch while discovering the hillside town of Peccioli. We had ducked in to pick a few pastries from the shining cold-case, and saw that there we tables open, so we said..."Wanna...?" We were so impressed with the food, the savory waffle, the steak tartar, the cheesecake and pastries. The atmosphere and loving family service made us feel like we were locals who had stopped into our regular place. We finished with a rich cup of coffee and Ferretti's famous Biscotti. Those biscotti are sooooo delicious that we had to buy a couple of containers of them for the road.... they traveled with us throughout Italy and we hoarded them for morning coffee each day. Our waiters were the sons of the owners, and they were so charming. They shared with us some of their own travels, especially in the U.S. (our home). Our advice; roam the farmers' market in the town square and, right there, stop into Pasticceria Ferretti. They even have a nice sidewalk seating area in that pedestrian only area. P.S. The town has a great parking garage with a famous modern-art foot bridge.... memorable, photogenic!

If you are looking for a Tuscan holiday in blissful surroundings, a pool to relax by if it's too…read morehot or a hot tub just to enjoy, this ticks every box. If you enjoy country living with beautiful scenery this is a must.

My wife and I have just returned home from our second holiday at Villa Centopino - we had a…read morefortnight there both last year and this. What can I say? Overall it's probably the most relaxing, enjoyable and restful place I've ever been to on holiday. The setting is stunning, surrounded as it is by breathtaking views of the Tuscan hills - all the more enjoyable for watching tremendous thunderstorms traversing the countryside on the other side of the valley from the comfort of Centopino's patio - while we didn't get a drop of rain. The villa is very comfortable with everything you'll need to make your stay as convenient and restful as possible - and you must experience at least one sunset from the hot-tub - it's beautiful. If you want to start the day with something to get the heart pumping, simply jump in the pool - you'll instantly know what I mean. It has to be acknowledged that the villa is fairly remote and a car is probably a must. That said, for days when you really don't want to drive anywhere, there are some beautiful walks to be had from the villa - not least around the villa's own garden, olive grove and surrounding fields. When you fancy a drive then Volterra, Siena, San Gimignano, Florence, Pisa - the whole of Tuscany is within reach and even places like Montepulciano are do-able. It used to be the case that if you wanted to eat out in the evening then you had to drive over to somewhere like Radicondoli (to La Pergola - superb) or elsewhere for dinner. Not any more. The newly opened Diavolo Rosso, run by Stefano and his charming wife, is fantastic. Their hospitality is exceeded only by the quality of the food - their peppered steak is mouthwateringly tender and full of flavour and their Cinta Senese is Tuscany on a plate. And it's literally 2 minutes from the villa down the road towards Castelnuovo. Stefano regularly has friends dropping in for dinner - get into a conversation with them over a glass or two of the local vino (and maybe, as we were lucky enough to, meet the guy who actually produces it), share their locally produced cheeses and meats, and the evening just evaporates in a way that typifies the appeal of Italian hospitality and 'la dolce vita' that keeps us going back time and again. But the real jewel in the crown of Centopino is undoubtedly the owners, Gina and Franco. It's difficult to overstate the warmth of the welcome they give you. The fridge full of basics on arrival, the almost daily gifts of wine, eggs, cakes (baked by Gina - will you marry me?) etc. Nothing is too much trouble for them because, quite simply, they care passionately about where they live and they want to share everything about it with their guests. (And if, as we did this year, you have any little difficulties - in our case dental problems - they're a God-send with their local knowledge and contacts.) I could go on - but you've probably got the gist by now. Will we go back? Does il papa have a balcony?