Galateo was presented to us as THE top italian caterer for our wedding near Verona in June 2013…read more We went to a wonderful tasting at their offices in Florence and were promised the world. Whilst the prices were almost double that of any other caterer we had been talking to, we agreed that Galateo would provide us with a catering experience to remember on our special day Their high promises of top food quality combined with 5 star service meant we did not have a concern in the world that we might be let down This was so far from the experience on the day unfortunately. The quality of food and service both disappointed us greatly. The attention to detail in the service was totally lacking. There was not a manager in sight - when we had promised he would be there on the day running the show making sure everything was perfect for us. The differences between the standard of food from the fantastic tasting to the day were enormous and we were both embarrassed in front of our guests and very angry at the money we had spent to get far from a 5 Star service. To add insult to injury the management at Galateo did not even have the courtesy to respond to our letter of complaint. All they were interested in was our money. Once they had it they had not a care in the world, They have no idea about customer service. We have a very clear idea what 5star service and food should be like. This was NOT it. I warn anyone intending to use them to be very very cautious. I am happy to share more details of my experience.

From the owner: L'attività ha una lunga tradizione familiare alle spalle. Fu avviata ben 26 anni da Alessandro…read moreGrassi e nel 2011 è arrivata alla terza generazione della famiglia che si occupa dell'azienda. I comuni denominatori della Buona Tavola sono tradizione e fantasia: specializzata in cucina tipica, toscana e Artusiana riesce comunque a stupire anche con piatti preparati secondo i criteri della più moderna nouvelle cuisine.

Lorenzo delivered to my daughter the most beautiful cake and a fantastic bottle of champagne for…read moreher birthday!! He is such a kind gentleman!! Go and visit his shop the next time you are in Florence!!

Quick notes: Our first time at this particular food market…read morevendor in Florence but have been at this great food hall on past trips. What a Great , FUN & DELICIOUS happy place to eat. Their staff is so happy, cheerful, super friendly and nice with singing and music playing. What an uplifting experience. They were so friendly, upbeat and simply said a lot of fun to be around. We got there before the crowds as there were lines after we got our food. They gave out some samples often to us while we were eating and to others waiting on the line. We had: Eggplant parm Tomato soup x2 ( went back for another after trying a family members ) and also had bean veg soup ( something like that- forgot the name) -Soda's -Wine available but we didn't have any with our lunch. -Fun place & tons of meat samples from the staff as they were putting it on our plates as we were eating. -staff Singing with music playing -places to sit-with high tables and chairs Extremely Very friendly staff

During our three days in Florence, we came to Mercato Centrale everyday. The first time, this spot…read morecaught my eye with their fried zucchini flowers but we didn't get them. Decided to come back the second day, but all of the food stalls were closed. Finally, the third time's the charm. We made it with half an hour to spare, on a Friday at around 2:30. There was still a small line at that time. They have lots of other dishes, which people were ordering, but it seemed like everyone was getting the fried zucchini flowers at the minimum. They might be the best fried zucchini flowers I have ever eaten. Granted, I haven't eaten a whole lot of these, but they were so good. They are fried to order right in front of your eyes. The chef will even give you a little sample while you're waiting, if you're lucky. The batter is light and airy, and comes out perfectly crisp. Each order comes with 6 pieces and costs €8. After a piece or two, it does get a bit much, no matter how good they are. The flowers are pretty big, and you are eating deep-fried food after all. One order would be the perfect snack to share between 3-4 people. I can't speak about the other food but the zucchini flowers are a must!

We had a two day wedding in May of 2019, which featured appetizers, a luncheon, millefoglie (made…read morelive at the wedding!), and pizza party dinner the first day - the whole day we had beer, wine, and aperol spritzes available. On the second day, we had Indian appetizers, followed by a dinner and full American bar. We visited Florence for a tasting in September of 2018 and were blown away by the experience that Galateo provided. The food was beautiful, the tasting was well structured and impressive, and the manager who sat with us did a great job talking through our needs and wants. On the weekend of we were so impressed by the unbelievable execution and professionalism of the staff. The making of the millefoglie was certainly an event that we will never forget, and it was delicious!! We were concerned about the Indian appetizers because we weren't able to taste them ahead of time. Ultimately, we wound up with delicious food that received praise from all of our guests- including those from India! This caterer was the most expensive one that we considered and was worth every cent.

We were told that Galateo was the best caterer in tuscany. We did not question this..was excited…read moreabout our tasting and was so shockingly disappointed that i was speechless. I am hoping that it was a fluke because we got a bad chef that day...The food had no flavor at all..the tomatoes, basil, had no basic flavor. The special truffle pasta dish they had prepared at extra cost tasted like mac and cheese with sliced raw potatoes. The beef tenderloin with brunello di montalcino sauce was ok. The ravioli had no flavor and made with really thick skins. The fried appetizers were not flavorful at all... I think the have an excellent selection of wines to choose from but at extra costs. Their chairs/linens/tableware etc all looked great with a large selection. I would hope their service is great given the descriptions but that you can't tell until the day of. It was too risky to use them... People come to tuscany for the stunning landscapes and authentic fresh foods. We have not had a bad meal in tuscany till this experience..even in the little restaurants in the countryside. We are better off using a local chef who prepares simple but fresh foods. In the end we chose a chef from florence who served excellent food... we don't know how the other aspects of the wedding reception will go..but food is important to us. Everyone we talked to said Galateo was excellent...so it must have been a fluke that day.

As we were walking the streets of Florence, we noticed this restaurant, and the server got us…read moreinvolved in a conversation and we decided to go in. He asked us where we were from, and gave us a good spot to sit. He was friendly and attentive. However, there weren't too many people dining here, which was strange. The bread they serve at the beginning is awful. I don't think I have ever tasted bread that is so bland, dry, and tasteless.....and we were in Italy. I took a bite of the bread and left it. I have tasted better bread in the US. Then I ordered the following: - Fried squash blossoms: The server said this was amazing, but it was anything but that. Its very greasy, and bland. Very disappointing. - Spaghetti with Tomato sauce: This was decent, not anywhere close to the pastas I had in other restaurants in Florence and Rome. They do take credit card, so that was great. But overall, I was very disappointed with the food here. There are tons of other restaurants in Florence with much better and delectable food.

We had the Greek salad, risotto, chicken breast and a bottle of the recommended rose -Fabulous!!…read moreRisotto and mushrooms were some of the best we had! We topped it off with an affogato which I don't believe is on the menu, but very well worth it! The staff was extremely friendly a super conversational. Very comfortable setting to relax during a lengthy meal!

I had the best meal of my life at this restaurant. Beyond the food, the experience itself made this…read morerestaurant a 5 star and I would give it more if I could. The food is an art -- you can taste the subtleties in each bite. Andrea, the server, was extremely friendly and translated the menu into English and described the region the wine was from and paired glasses with the food we ordered. Oh and do not skip dessert!! This place is very reasonably priced and I will most definitely be back!

I have used Yelp many times, but never written a review. This restaurant was recommended to us by…read morethe man we rented a room from in Florence, and I have never in my life experienced such an amazing reception at a restaurant. Andrea was helpful, friendly, and even shared a portion of his own meal with us so we could try some variety. He paired wines and served our food promptly and perfectly. The pasta was to die for, and the service was second to none. If you have a chance, please eat here and tell Andrea we said hello. The best experience in Italy thus far, and what a superb gentleman. They sell wine upstairs, so if you drink something you love, you have a chance to take a bottle home with you. He knew where the grapes were from, he knew what the food was about, and he was the perfect host. Great restaurant!! Thank you, Andrea!

AMAZING!!!! Would give this 10 stars if we could!!…read more My wife & I thoroughly enjoyed our experience with Mirella and Stefano. It started with the both of them taking us on a tour of the Sant'Ambrogio food market, where they told us fascinating details about the market and vendors. This is where they picked up the ingredients for the menu we were to cook a bit later in the day. This market tour was a fascinating & entertaining way to start the experience! After the market, they drove us to their BEAUTIFUL home and gave us a tour of their home & lovely garden. This was such a thrill and further immersed us with Italian authenticity. We then got to cooking, during which my wife and I could not stop smiling. It started with two different forms of bruschetta, both of which turned out DELICIOUS. Then, we made handmade tagliatelle pasta with Tuscan ragu. WOW, just wow. The next thing we prepared for the menu was chicken cacciatore. Sooooo wonderful, tender, and flavorful. Finally, we prepared homemade tiramisu. It was every bit as tasty & amazing as it sounds! Throughout the food prepping and cooking, Mirella & Stefano gave us the perfect combination of talking us through it, assisting hands-on if needed, and informing us about the fascinating history behind each dish. The time passed so quickly, as we were having the time of our lives! When it came time to eat, Stefano served us each course. The food all came out INCREDIBLE and it was amongst the best meals we had throughout our entire week in Florence! Stefano & Mirella's kindness and courtesy made us feel like we were family. This was our first full day in Italy (our first experience in all of Europe, in fact!) and we can't stop talking about this experience. We get so welcomed & appreciated by Stefano and Mirella. We would highly recommend this experience to just about anybody, regardless of culinary interest. For all of the fascinating things you'll learn about Tuscan food & history, you'll also feel like you just had an amazing get-together with new friends! Thank you, Stefano & Mirella. The next time we make it out to Florence, we will absolutely sign up for another class. Oh, and one more thing: Mirella handed us a printout of our entire menu, with detailed instructions of how to prepare each item! We've already recreated the bruschetta with Tuscan bread, sausage & stracchino cheese - DELICIOUS!!! Grazie mille, James & Christa

From the owner: We like to cook for our guests while telling anecdotes, also historical facts, about the food and…read moretheir preparation, such as to enrich the memory of the experience for our guest once they return home. These experiences are a very important means for us to meet new people and share moments that can become unique for both. Our menus are varied, however linked to tradition, seasonality and taste. We offer experiences (services) divided into three possibilities: 1) - market tour + cooking lesson + lunch 2) -cooking lesson + lunch or dinner 3) -only lunch or dinner