Delicious, home-style food! We visited this family owned trattoria on the recommendation of our apartment host and a long time resident of Firenze. The food was delicious - we loved our pici con ragu di cinghiale (the thick hand-rolled pasta of Tuscany with a wild boar ragu) and osso bucco. We thought that the price including €2 per head coperto, PLUS €2 for water was a little steep but maybe this is reasonable for Firenze. read more

Trattoria Il Giova - Italian Near Me - Florence, FI

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Yummy! Was on vacation and the group was hungry for dinner. The restaurants around the corner from the hotel were not taking walk-ins for dinner. We walked down a bit an found this quaint place. We were welcomed with open arms. We got the menu and asked for some help (Google translate wasn't so helpful). They didn't speak much English but were going out of their way to help us. We were able to order our dinner as the place began to fill up! No surprise, the food was delicious! The wine list had something for most wine drinkers too. Give this place a try. You won't be disappointed. read more

Trattoria Il Giova - Wild boar - Italian Near Me - Florence, FI

It absolutely kills me to give a mediocre review to this place. We desperately wanted to eat at an off-the-beaten-path restaurant that was only locals, and this place fit the bill. To be clear, the service was perfectly fine and some of the dishes were excellent. My mother's spaghetti con vongole and my tagliatelle con sugo all'anatra did not disappoint. The only downsides to our meal was (a) the fried porcini was not cleaned properly and had sand in it, and (b) they gave us a cut of bistecca that was clearly meant for folks that wouldn't be back anytime soon. It was all sinew; parts of it couldn't even be cut, much less eaten. I tried to politely mention this to our waiter (who was also the owner), but he took the plate and walked away before I could say much of anything. Please know that Il Giova is ABSOLUTELY worth a visit if you're in the area. Just be careful what you order if you're a tourist. read more

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Our host Sent us here for lunch. It is by far the best place we went to in Tuscany! I ordered the pesolo. We keep craving it! So good! The pesto and homemade pasta was off the charts! It was definitely a local spot. Quite small. Well worth it!!! read more

I love love love this place. I am traveling Europe for a few weeks and have been staying in Florence (fell in love with the town) for a few days. I came across this restaurant as it's down the way from my Airbnb and it is absolutely the best food I've had in Europe. Not only is the food amazing, the restaurant is owned by a family! It's true and authentic Italian food made with heart. If you are lucky enough to be served by the wife, you'll have a great time. She is SO cool and speaks perfect English. We even talked about how much we don't like LA (I live there). If you want some great food with amazing service. EAT HERE!!!! read more

I have been coming to Italy for years. It is often difficult To find a place where the food is made from The heart and served by the very hands That crafted it. This is one of those places. Our honeymoon was capped by this amazing meal. Come here for authentic home cooking, great atmosphere and love of food and people. This is the real deal. read more

I recently discovered this gem of a restaurant located on the corner of Sant.amrbogio and borgo la croce. Tiny interior but don't let that fool you, the food is amazing! I got the tortelli with saffron, sage, and arancia while my friend got carbonara of seafood. Think good quality seafood, not your average small and frozen shrimp. Both plates delectable, simple, and full of flavor. This is somewhere you feel like a local and the food reflects tradition and innovation. Medium-priced, we were able to find a table on a saturday afternoon quite easily. I liked the vibe of the place, like a typical trattoria with noise, but also cozy on a rainy day. This is a place you won't regret eating at in Florence. read more

Absolutely delightful little spot! While still technically in the "tourist center," Il Giova is far enough from the Duomo to be a neighborhood joint, and we were the only tourists in the place when we visited last week. The owners and wait staff are genuinely warm and welcoming, and were cheerfully accommodating of our mangled Italian while speaking enough English themselves to help us navigate the menu. The room is small, with warm, vibrant yellow-painted walls and happy décor. A wine bottle on each table holds the artfully drippy remains of many pastel candles, and full bottles of wine march around the room on shelves. There were six of us - we made a reservation - and we mainly ordered from the daily chalkboard specials. We opened with an order of deep fried dough served with a soft "cream cheese" (really nothing like cream cheese - a bit more like burrata) and slices of ham, an order of deep fried veggies (zucchini, onions, and eggplant) and tagliere vegetarian (a stack of grilled veggies served with soft cheese and anchovies). For mains, we inhaled one order of the daily special risotto, an order of spaghetti margarita (for my 12 year-old niece), two orders of the pappardelle al cinghiale (fresh wide egg noodles with wild boar ragu), an order of something called rosticceria con patate (oven roasted pork ribs served with fries), and a pasta with duck breast. We finished with a couple of orders of tiramisu - one with hazelnuts and vin santo, the other (served in an adorable mason jar pot!) with shaved chocolate. Everything was utterly delicious! I had one of the orders of pappardelle al cinghiale and it was magnificent. The noodles were fresh, there was just enough rich sauce to coat them, and it was all studded with large hunks of boar meat - lean, and falling apart tender. My husband's pork ribs were juicy, spangled with roasted crunches of fat, and deeply flavorful. (Only the fries didn't exceed expectations - but then he had kind of been expecting roasted potatoes.) My niece's simple spaghetti was on point - fresh and flavorful. The risotto was creamy and toothsome. The duck was pronounced "marvelous!" by my sister-in-law. Our appetizers were similarly amazing. Who knew that something called "deep fried dough balls" would be soooo delicious?! The cool, milky cheese paired gorgeously with the crunchy, hot deep fried dough, and the ham was so good I thought my husband was going to grab the plate and drag it into a corner so he didn't have to share. The deep fried veggies were crunchy and crackly outside, perfectly cooked inside, and gone in a FLASH. The veggie stack was fresh and vibrant, and the salty tang of the anchovies set it off perfectly. As for the tiramisu... well, full disclosure: I'd never had tiramisu, and I have no idea what I was waiting for! One order was ethereally light sweet cream with hazelnut biscuits soaked in vin santo, the other was the same fluffy cream with chocolate woven throughout and a dusting of cocoa on top. Both were completely delectable. To top of off, it was cheap! Our entire bill - including red house wine for the adults, apps, mains, and a couple of desserts, was 132 Euro! read more

We came upon this place by accident and tried their homemade fettucini. OMG, foodgasm for sure! The homemade pasta with mushroom sauce is just to die for. My cousin had the same pasta with wild boar and raved about it as well. Service is friendly and reservations are recommended. One small boo boo, we ordered the mushroom pasta to go on our last night since they were full and they gave us the meat version which I couldn't eat:( Major bummer, but I'd love to come back again! read more

Trattoria Il Giova - Yummy pappardelle - Italian Near Me - Florence, FI

This trattoria doesn't look like much from the outside (plus the building is currently being restored) but it lived up to the other excellent reviews. Walking in, the decor is simple, the tables pressed closely together. But there is a view to the kitchen and a charmingly gregarious proprietor to greet you at the door. We ordered a tortellini with ham and peas and a sea urchin pasta (one of a long list of specials) that tasted like the ocean. Both were marvelous - generous portions and rich flavors. We couldn't resist dessert either: a poached pear in red wine sauce and a cheesecake drizzled in chocolate. The poached pear was the star of the desserts. The atmosphere is warm and open - everyone talks to everyone else! We chatted with the French couple on our left and the Florentine opera singer on our right! Absolutely cannot recommend Il Giova enough. read more

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Delicious homemade food as good as any place in Florence, at a fraction of the price and no pretense. The chef is a Florentine named Roberto Pagni; his wife Lucille runs the place. They both speak good English. Desserts (gorgeous looking) and menu change daily. The atmosphere is friendly and simple. The place was filled with locals when I went there for lunch. Try the pappardelle with wild boar sauce. read more

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FRIENDLY, genuine and very helpful staff. A family-run, down-to-earth business serving DELICOUS food at REASONABLE PRICES. Everything we ordered was EXCELLENT. Wait staff spoke SOME ENGLISH and without hesitation, and didn't cringe as we earnestly mangled their language. VERY relaxing place. We will happily return!! For more of my thoughts see www.alistairavogan.com read more

Delicious little trattoria, Robert is amazingly helpful and welcoming. The food is AMAZING. Their menu changes regularly and everything is so tasty. Stayed in Florence 4 days, came back 3 days for either dinner or just wine to hang out. Would come back 1000% read more

Thanks Lonely Planet this time for suggesting this lovely spot. You wouldn't encounter it just by walking into touristic streets. Referred as good, local, tasty Trattoria, it was worth the search. First, the lady (probably the Mama) who served us was really nice, smiling and proud to explain the different daily dishes. You feel directly welcomed when you enter this small place. Second, the food is OMG delicious!! We first shared some antipasti that we all loved and then ordered pasta as primi (unless you are Italian, you can stop there, quantity are enough). I had some tagliatelle with gambas and vegetables that were perfect. And again I was so surprised with the prices, less than 10 euros for a plate. Regarding the place itself, it's small and there is nothing special to mention but the simplicity makes it charming in a way. Definitely a great spot during lunch! read more

Trattoria Il Giova - Italian Near Me - Florence, FI

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Well, in an attempt to become one with my temporary neighborhood, I decided to stay a little closer to "home" and eat at Il Giova. I have passed it almost everyday and they have this cute little outdoor area that consists of four little tables. Tres cute. Anyway, I had read some of the reviews and I also took a peek at the menu online. Typically I am pretty good about not getting my hopes up when it comes to what is online versus what is actually on the menu that night, but I didn't manage expectations this time. Online there is a duck dish with pomegranate and red onion that I was super excited about, but they didn't have it when I went :(. On this night, like almost every other place I have been to in Italy, they sent the staff member who spoke Spanish to me. To be honest, it is nice that I blend in, but then I don't really get an explanation of what is on the menu... so my Yelp reviews aren't nearly as detailed. However, I do like the surprise of ordering off an Italian menu with no one to explain it to me because there is a chance that I may not have ordered what I did had I actually known what it was. For my starter I had what the menu said was the Antipasti Toscano with Polenta (I think it said Polenti). The waitress said, "Lots of meat? Is ok?" I nodded. Sure, bring on the meat! It turns out it is a cute wooden board with three different types of meat, I know one was definitely Breasaola... the other two I am guessing on based on what I thought I heard the lady say and what I have seen in the meat stores: Speck or Prosciutto and some kind of salami with peppercorns. Whatever they were, they were delicious. In addition, there were two slices of fried Polenta (love fried Polenta) one with Lardo and the other with what I thought was mushroom pate, but in my research, I think it is actually chicken liver and anchovies. I know, it may not sound appetizing to some of you, but it was actually very good and I would gladly order more! For my main, I had more Paparadelle alla Cinghiale. I really cannot get enough of this stuff. Pork is my absolute favourite meat... it is so versatile and when prepared with love and knowledge of how to cook the right cuts, it can be so heavenly! Not the best Paparadelle alla Cinghiale I have had, mostly because there just wasn't a lot of meat in the dish. I will give them they upperhand on the pasta though because it was homemade, not a dried pasta. At some point, my waiter changed and I had the waiter that spoke English. He was very nice and checked on me to make sure I had everything I needed. Overall it was a great dinner, not too hard on the wallet and I would definitely go back to try more of their dishes. Also... if you sit outside, just note that it does get pretty loud because the street is a popular pedestrian area... great for people watching, but the couple behind me kept noting on how loud it was. There are some tables around the corner, but I don't think it is as cute as the ones on the main thoroughfare. read more

Authentic, cozy and wonderful cuisine...not to mention service!!! One of the best restaurant that completed my trip to Florence. read more

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Love this authentic amazing trattoria!!! Had the gnocchi and it was brilliant soft pillows and peas ham and a few shrimp...great wine and even the white wine.... Would love to go back everyday for the amazing homemade meats and of course the cheese...hard to find but worth the search... read more

I'm so glad for yelp and finding this gem of a trattoria serving home cooked meals. Take it from a first generation America/Italian. My mom would be proud. Roberto the owner takes much pride in all the meals he delivers from this tiny kitchen. Everything from the balsamic glazed grilled figs with prosciutto to the perfectly cooked pasta and amazing tiramisu. The meal and intimate setting made me feel as if I was eating at my grandmothers house. If you're looking for white glove, silver service keeping looking but if you truly want a home cooked Tuscan meal this is it. Tell Roberto Ciao and ask him about the history behind the 100 year old mirror he hanging on his wall!!! read more

Trattoria Il Giova - Italian Near Me - Florence, FI

We were walking and came across to the restaurant about 1:30PM. The place was packed, which I knew for sure this is a popular restaurant. The lady was very fluent in English which made our lunch even more cozy. Service was just enough. The homemade pasta was just as amazing as expected. This place best for those who want to have local taste. read more

We ate here for dinner on our second night in Italy, and after being here a week, it remains out favorite restaurant so far! We tried several items on the menu that were completely new to us and loved all of them! The prices are very reasonable and the staff was friendly. We hope to go back for lunch before we leave Italy. read more

Trattoria Il Giova - Fried pumpkin flowers with mozzarella and anchovies. - Italian Near Me - Florence, FI

We have been In Florence for 6 weeks. Il Giovannone is our favorite lunch spot reasonable prices and fantastic food. A favorite for the locals, Every day they have specials that are fantastic. It.s a family run business. Momma and a few of the kids up front and Pappa in the kitchen. read more

Warm and friendly ambiance and service with good english. All 6 dishes we had over 2 nights were delicious. Two pasta dishes were as good as any we've had. read more

This was our first time in Italy, and as tourists, with little time on hand to explore Firenze outside the usual places, we had little choice besides the usual suspects.. expensive food, targeted to travelers like us, not so much as we imagined good Italian food. That was not the case with Il Giova - we landed there in our second day in Firenze, but we got too late.. the lunch time was gone, not yet time for dinner - there was something about the place as we saw it.. seem local, customers knew the waitress and everybody we saw was "at home" there, so we returned the next day. Lucky us, next day they had fish on the menu, so we had the best octopus, and calamari in Italia! Grazie mille! read more

Excellent place for lunch. We went here for 2 consecutive day while we were in Florence. Excellent pasta dishes, fresh ingredients and good services. Value for money. Must try while in Florence. read more

Trattoria Il Giova - Italian Near Me - Florence, FI

Il Giova is truly a place for homemade food. Expect a real Italian experience here. I have been eating around Florence since 2001 and this is one of the best. The owner is delightful and everything on the menu is superb! read more

The most authentic restaurant we visited while staying in Florence. The service takes a while (its part of the culture, sit back, relax, and have a Campari spritz) because it is literally run by the owner but the fried pumpkin blossoms are a must have! read more

Place is mostly locals. Fairly small and unassuming but food is amazing and prices are quite reasonable. Definitely worth a visit.

Definitely some authentic Italian. Had a great Parpadalle pasta dinner and glass of wine for a very reasonable price.

Friendly staff, great tasting food, reasonable prices. Only been for one dinner (so far) and had side salad which was of good size and nice selection of veggies, not just lettuce, pasta with mushrooms, filet mignon, side of spinach, and roasted pear with chocolate sauce for dessert. All excellent. I did send the steak back for more cooking because it was soooo rare, but I did order it rare, it just came more rare than I expected. All that stuff and a glass of house red for 46 Euros. read more

We decided to go eat here on a Friday night after reading reviews online. The food here was very fresh and quite good (though the pasta dishes were very salty). The starters we picked (grilled figs and fried pumpkin flowers) were of a good size. The pasta would probably be considered on the small size for Americans (e.g. there were only three - big - raviolis). The service was really slow - though it might just be all Italian restaurants... All-in-all, a pretty tasty place. read more

So good, I kinda started to cry. Had those deep fried squash flowers, amazing. All the food was very good, the people were super nice.

So glad we found this hidden gem on our last night in Florence! Excellent food and fantastic service. Very nice waiter. We had the fried dough and ham appetizer (highly recommended). My husband had the homemade pasta with bolognese and it was clearly homemade. Delicious! I had the fried cod with potato and spinach. I've never eaten anything like that in my life! A great experience overall. A must while visiting Florence!! read more