L'Osteria di Giovanni

Such a great place to eat. Reservations are recommended. They bring fried bread to the table, which are like little golden pillows of flavor. Lightly salted and warm, they were delicious and gone in no time. We shared a caprese salad with burata cheese and fresh tomatoes, and a tortelli pasta dish with cheese that were both good. But the highlight of our meal was the 1.5kg bistecca Fiorentina that was cooked perfectly. With the appetizers, it was plenty of food for four people. They served us a lemon sorbet after the meal to cleanse the pallette, and almond cookies that look like biscotti but were softer. For dessert, we had tiramisu, and a special for the evening of orange cake with ice cream on the side. Both were excellent. I'm so glad we came here.

Last night was our first night in Florence so we took a suggestion given to us by a local and we were thrilled with this restaurant. We did not have a reservation but they said they had room in the wine cellar- what a treat! Our waiter brought over bread with “ new olive oil” and it was amazing. I have read that this only comes out in October and November. We ordered stuffed zucchini flowers for an appetizer and they were the best I have ever had. I had the pasta stuffed with pears and pecorino and my husband had the suckling pig both were delicious. We thought we couldn’t fit dessert but they brought us cookies similar to biscotti but better and a lemon sorbet. It was a perfect first night! Food and service were fabulous! Hoping to get back there again.

We had a wonderful night here. Service was top notch! Food was fabulous. After the meal, they offered biscotti and refreshing drinks for free. 10 out of 10. Will definitely come back!

Wow what an experience. We turned up without a reservation and only had to wait 15 minutes before the team put together a table for us. We were gifted a small glass of beautiful prosecco while we waited! As soon as we walked in all the staff were incredibly hospitable. We were sat downstairs in the incredible wine cellar which was a bit more intimate and quieter than upstairs - we loved it! Alberto was our waiter and we cannot praise him enough. What a lovely man and what amazing service. We had the Bistecca Fiorentina (1.2kg) for 2x people and it was perfect. Thank you to Caterina, Alberto and the rest of the team at L’Osteria di Giovanni. We will definitely be back next time we are in Firenze.

We found this place by chance, or photo perhaps. I was looking for places with seafood risotto and one picture along with countless positive reviews led us to what quickly became our favorite restaurant in Florence. Both nights we dined here the place was packed. Our first night, we sat upstairs and the energy of the place was wonderful. The second night we opted to sit in the wine cellar, which was nice, but we missed the energy of the upstairs. The staff feel genuinely proud to share their culture and incredible food with locals and tourists alike. Nothing about it felt or read tourist trap, as some reviewers have described. This is not super central, and nestled into a small side road. There is no one standing outside trying to draw in passers by, cuz they don’t need to. The food, service, and vibe speak for themselves. Recommended: Black truffle pasta - this is the best truffle pasta we’ve had in Italy, with a generous amount of real truffle shaved atop a bed of saucy noodles. This is incredible and a must try. Just be warned, the loving care and generous amount of real black truffle may ruin you for any other truffle pasta you try, but it’s soooooo worth it. Seafood pasta - we had this as a risotto instead of pasta. I was looking for something similar to the Portuguese style of seafood rice, and it came close. Very good! Florentine Steak - we had this our second night, and it was perfectly charred while maintaining a medium rare center. Seasoned with a touch of sea salt and some olive oil left plenty of room for the beefy taste of the meat to shine through. Our waiter suggested adding a bit more olive oil, which really elevated the flavor. We enjoyed it, but 1kg of meat is a lot, even when being shared, so skip lunch that day to save some room. Tiramisu- just lovely! Torta Brownie - they split this into two portions for us to share. It was decadent and delicious. Both before the meal they bring out complimentary fried bread, which my husband loved, and then they end the dinner with complimentary lemon sorbet which is so fine in texture that it is drinkable and such a delicious palate cleanser you’ll want to drink it. But one of the most notable things is their almond biscotti. Homemade and flavored with honey to make it softer than any other biscotti you’ve ever experienced before. They will give you a bag to take them with you if you are too full to enjoy at that moment- but at minimum try one while they are fresh. Our first night also ended with a limoncello shot, which was strong but deliciously sipable. This was, by far, our favorite restaurant in Florence. They made us feel so welcome, like family. We’ve never spent three hours enjoying a dinner, but they kept the food coming and surprised us with iconic and complimentary culinary trademarks of both Italy and their restaurant. 💕🥂 We will absolutely be back on future visits!!

They don’t even need anymore reviews , but I couldn’t resist giving one, as it was really outstanding in all aspects. Amazing food, excellent florentine steak and pasta especially. Outstanding service and cozy traditional cadre. Grazie mille!!!!

We tried our first Pici and Florence steak here. They were just soooooo good!! We also tried the stuffed rabbit and seafood spaghetti. Mama Mia!! The tiramisu is also one of the top 2 we have had in Italy so far 😋😋

My second visit to Florence and third visit here. Best of the best in terms of atmosphere, food and service! This is a must for any visit to this city. Antipasta through 1st and 2nd courses to desert and digestives, all 5-stars. The staff will treat you like family!

One of the best meals we had in Italy. Every pasta was delicious and perfect, the bistecca fiorentina was cooked perfectly, dessert was good. And don't forget the fried dough - hard to not keep eating it! Service was efficient and friendly as well. Make a reservation, as they get packed. Highly recommended.

I was searching for places for dinner one of the nights we were in Firenze when I stumbled upon L'osteria di Giovanni. The reviews were great, and since we had nothing to lose we thought it would be a good place to check out. There were tables available, so I booked it and we made our way over shortly after. Compared to the other restaurants we visited for dinner, Giovanni was larger and a little more upscale (at least in aesthetics). Upon entry we were led to a back room which was an extension of the main dining room that I could see being used for private parties. The menu was typical of other Tuscan restaurants we visited - apps, pastas, and mains with an emphasis on steak. We decided to start with an app, and then share a pasta course before getting our own mains. We decided on the Caprese salad which one may think are a dime a dozen but Giovanni adds artichokes and substitutes burrata for the traditional mozz. The salad was great - super fresh and that burrata really elevated it. For pasta we chose the pici with sausage and kale ragu. This was delicious - the pasta was fresh and the sausage mixed with the kale was super flavorful. For my main I went back to steak but didn't have the strength for the t-bone so I ordered the filet mignon instead. The steak was great - cooked well (but not well done ;-) and paired with tasty roasted potatoes. As a finisher we were provided complimentary biscotti and lemon sorbet - again both delicious. Service was great, everyone was friendly and our dishes came out at a good pace. Overall, I'm glad we decided to try Giovanni - the food was tasty, the aesthetics were lovely, and the overall experience was on par with other good restaurants I dined at in Firenze.

Sorry Yelp, but your "5-stars" doesn't really do proper justice this time around. We need something with just a bit more 'flare' (like brown-nosers back at school that got an "A++" on their test, along with a sticker next to their score from the teacher) to let people know how stunning and remarkable a place is/was. Cutting to the chase: this place is officially in my TOP 5 RESTAURANT/MEAL/EXPERIENCES EVER. We got there early, waited across the street, right at 7pm we walked in with some other diners. We started by admiring the layout and artwork and overall 'vibe' of the ristorante - each was another layer building to a perfect night out. They started us with a (freebie) plate of what seemed like 'retrofitted' zeppole - but instead of being big, dense, dark brown (from being oily) and drowning in confectionery sugar - these were light, small and pinged with salt. (We would've given this place 5-stars on this dish alone.) Countless specials (on top of a solid/standard menu) and the fam went all-in to be adventurous... Carpaccio (first time for one kid) Fresh fava bean salad (first time for me) Shaved truffles (another item I'd never had before - so much better and different from the "infused truffle oil" I did have/use in the past, of course) over homemade pasta. You know the chef is serious when your other kid asks for a steak and the customer is told how it'll come out (hey, we were in Florence and I guess this is something they take religiously). Great (affordable) wine (trust me- they offered plenty that weren't!) on top of astonishingly flavorful and interesting food, just a block from the Arno River... can it get any better? (Yup... because dessert's next.) I abstained but they brought out complimentary 'shots' of lemon sorbet (Italians and lemons, right?) and these fresh-baked semi-soft mini-biscotti that were just bonkers. That was on top of the cheesecake special, brownie and crème brulée (another first for one kid) - that the rest of the family dug. Most expensive meal while in Italy but so so (so!) worth it.

Really great. The pappa al pomodoro was sooooo good and the filleto di manzo was great. Honestly I hadn't heard of this place before and just walked in to see if they had a spot for dinner. So glad they did. Service was wonderful.

AMAZING!!!! This was the best restaurant during our two-week vacation in France and Italy!!! The food is delicious, the waiters were attentive and the owner was just wonderful , she made us feel so welcomed. If you want a true Italian experience- you have to come here!!! We loved it so much, we came here twice ; every waiter that was there the first night recognized us and showed amazing hospitality. And the owner was absolutely incredible- she sent us drinks and a care package to take home. It was the most WONDERFUL last dinner we had in Florence- could not have asked for a better experience!!!

So good! One of the best meals I've ever had. The chicken leg was so delicious and the seafood was so tender. Great service too. Definitely recommend and will come back!

Florentine Steak and Zucchini Flowers w/Ricotta. House wine was lite and refreshing. The service was excellent! KD was fantastic and was amazing till the end. Would recommend to anyone visiting the area. We've had excellent food in Florence,,,but not to the level of service and hospitality that was shown to us.

We were lucky to get a table here. Although it was in the cellar, we quite enjoyed the experience. We were the only ones there and it really felt like a private room. We ordered appetizers to shared. Some of us had a pasta dish and some didn't. When the appetizers came, we were shocked by how big the portions were! It seemed like the appetizers were scaled to the number of guests, for the same price. When we moved on to the next course, as not everyone had ordered something for that course, they gave those who didn't bowls of soup. The filet mignon was the biggest I have ever seen and delicious. Of course, as with most places, they offer some limoncello and biscotti to end the meal. It was a very memorable experience and given the chance, we would go back again. By far one of the best dining experiences I have ever had.

Fantastic spot for celebrations, family meals and rustic Firenze dishes!! Last minute request for a dining spot from our hotel concierge; did not disappoint.

Amazing experience! We had a party of 10 and they were able to seat us in the wine cellar. The food was delicious! Would have eaten there again if we stayed longer.

Really liked this place. It was really really good and we were able to get a reservation just a day or two out. The service was terrific. The food was really good. The new olive oil was just pressed so they brought a bottle to the table for us to put on everything. I put a picture and check out the color. It was amazing. The steak was delicious. The potatoes were fantastic. We had fried zucchini flowers. I don't even know what that is but I loved it. Loved the carpaccio with truffles, the tortelli was really good. We had an artichoke salad with parmigiana cheese that was really good too. Not as pretty a restaurant or as fancy as some others but I liked it a lot.

This was easily the best restaurant we had while we were in Florence. We made reservations and were greeted right away by the owner who was very welcoming and gracious with her service. It was also the only restaurant that served us their fried bread. Never had anything like it, and we voraciously gobbled up two plates of that stuff. We ordered the seafood pasta, my gf had the Raviolis and her mom had the truffle pasta. Everything was delicious. Be sure to order their lemon sorbet for dessert! Highly recommend you make a reservation as well which you can do on their website.

This came highly recommended by a relative who lives in Tuscany. The service was impeccable. Especially since we had to move tables after adding another person after drinks and appetizer. The table was served Prosecco and fried dough to start. Delicious. I absolutely loved that their fried dough was smaller pieces than other restaurants served. The appetizers were incredible- artichokes, a type of soup with bread. I had the special - gnocchi with raw shrimp and tomatoes. The sauce was a little spicy. The table also had the truffle pasta which had a ton of truffles but the flavor wasn't overpowering. Also, the tortelloni. High marks for all!!

What an amazing experience! Our waiter was so accomodative and gave us great suggestions. We had the house red wine, loved it! I am a vegetarian and had the zucchini flowers stuffed with the most delicious ricotta ever...and the tortelli with pear and cheese! My husband had the Fiorentina steak, the best steak he has ever had (he had portions meant for 2 all by himself, so says it all) Absolutely wonderful experience, to add to the great service our waiter gave us complementary biscottis to go, definitely coming back here!

A nice restaurant on a small street away from the tourist spots of Firenze. We had a reservation but were running late (30 minutes late). They offered us an aperol spritz while we waited outside. What we thought was a nice gesture, was actually a 20 euro order. Although that was sneaky, the food was nothing short of perfect. I had the duck carpaccio which was so incredibly filled with flavor. The truffle was was also perfect: rich, creamy, decadent. Then finally, the florentine steak was probably the best I had. It was packed with flavor, tender and beautifully cooked and perfectly portioned for probably 3 people (they say it's for 2 people, but it's good for 3). I would definitely recommend this to everyone and absolutely plan on coming back!

Wow! Best meal we had in Florence! The wait staff was thoughtful, funny and attentive. They had lots of great recommendations. I'm gluten free (intolerant, not celiac) and was shocked at how many things that they could make to accommodate me. They brought grilled gluten free bread to the table (delicious), subbed GF pasta into the dish I wanted and made an accommodation to sub GF crumbs into a dessert! Wish I would have discovered this place earlier in our trip to Florence as I would have eaten here more than once! Beautifully decorated as well!

I love Italian food. I love Italy. But the bread here was just okay. I know, it's Pisa's fault that it's unsalted. But still. The bread bites are buttery and delicious. We sure did finished off the whole plate. The wine is also inexpensive and delicious. The truth is I should have ordered the Florentine steak. But it's so hot and that was tooo heavy!! We ordered pasta. I didn't love any of the pasta I ate in Florence. I know!! I'm embarrassed to admit it. We had truffle pasta and my daughter's sauce/gravy was a bit watery. We seasoned it with lots of cheese to soak to the liquid and salt and pepper, but still it was just okay. The staff was friendly and eager to please, the food was just okay. I did love the lemon granita they gave us at the end of dinner.

This was hands-down the best restaurant service we have received while visiting Rome and Florence. Our wait staff was attentive and thorough and our food came out with good timing and perfectly cooked.

Truly amazing!!!! The smoked duck app was beyond words! Out of this world! Next, the truffled pasta that my husband ordered was mouth watering...I'm still thinking about it! lol! I had the stuffed rabbit...I think that's what it was, anyway it was delicious too. From the moment we walked in to the moment we walked out...such an incredible dining experience!!!

Absolutely amazing! The service is first class and it matches the food! We were greeted by the manager, Gaetano, who was pleasant and professional. The fritelle (fried bread puffs that they brought out to welcome us) were addictive The appetizers that we ordered (asparagus salad and zucchini flowers) are local favorites and I cans see why! We both went with one of the specials (the beef stew and roasted potatoes) as the waiter described the slow roasting process to us He again, mentioned that it is a local favorite. It did not disappoint! The beef was so tender, it was easy to split it with a fork and melted in your mouth. We thought we were stuffed, so we figured we would skip dessert. When we asked for the bill, we were surprised to receive a little glass of frozen limoncello and biscotti. Stuffed as we were, it still was amazing! It has been our best meal in Italy so far!

We had dinner here a couple nights ago. Possibly the best restaurant experience ever. The owner and staff extremely accommodating. I had never had anything with real truffle before, only fries with truffle oil (which was horrible). Decided to take a chance. OMG!! So delicious. My companions had seafood pasta and tortellini stuffed with pear and pecorino cheese. Also delicious. GO HERE!!

I have visited Giovanni since my first trip to Florence unfortunately my father and Katerina's dad both have oassed. Katerina has done a great job at raising the bar my review from 8 years ago speaks volumes of what a great restauranter her dad was bull she is incredible . God bless both our dads and thanks for welcoming my family in 2024 for my 8'th visit. This is not the best restaurant in Florence this is the best in all of italia

Fantastic dinner spot. Made a reservation because other reviews said there was sometimes a wait and when we got there we were seated immediately. We were then welcomed with some Prosecco and fried dough that were both so good along with some fresh bread. The service was very attentive and there were several people waiting on us that made the experience flow very smoothly. To start we had the duck carpaccio (melted in your mouth it was so tasty), the fried zucchini flowers stuffed with ricotta and mozzarella, and the grilled octopus special. All were wonderful. The octopus was prepared perfectly and had great flavor. For mains we had the osso bucco (one of the best I've ever had), the ravioli with mushrooms and truffle (it was filled with potato which was very good and the truffle wasn't overpowering- tasted amazing), and the filet mignon (cooked perfectly but it wasn't our favorite dish). At the end the brought out complimentary lemon sorbet and biscotti. Overall an amazing dining experience and I would highly recommend going here.

The service with Hercules was amazing. The food was extraordinary. The ambience was beautiful, like being a true Italian family restaurant. There is a private wine cellar you can request if you want a private dinner in an old world cellar. Highly recommend!

This was our favorite meal of our trip to Italy and after all the amazing food we had, that is saying something! We were able to snag a table by calling earlier in the day and were quickly seated in the back in their second room. They started us with some fried dough which was amazing. Next we started with the tomato soup (€12) which was super hearty and flavorful. They were kind enough to split it into two portions. We then got two mains: pasta with porcini mushrooms and truffle for €12 and a tagliatelle with clams, shrimp, other seafood for €15. Both dishes were amazing! The mushroom pasta was excellently flavored, creamy, rich, and so fresh. The truffle sprinkling elevated the dish. The seafood pasta was perfectly cooked, fresh, flavorful, just a perfect dish. We were stuffed but opted for desert and got a chocolate mousse cake that was served alongside gelato for €8. While this wasn't anything I haven't really had before - it was still a delicious piece of cake. They also served cookies and limoncello to the end the meal. We lingered with our wine for a bit and weren't rush one bit to pay. Highly recommended for a fantastic meal in Florence!

Outstanding food. Extremely busy. We were lucky, showed up at 8:15 and got a table for two about 8:30 PM. The atmosphere is very loud. I had the pasta of the day, one of the best seafood pasta dishes I've ever had. Homemade spaghetti noodles. Fish of the day was filleted tableside and it was also outstanding.

I felt the need to try Florentine steak while in Firenze, so I was looking for a place to get an Italian dining experience. (Honestly, my first choice for dinner in Florence was the steakhouse Chianineria Trattoria dall'Oste. I walked passed this place twice already during the day, but didn't think to make reservations. By the time I got hungry for dinner, I realized they actually required reservations in advance. I didn't bother walking back to see if they could seat me.) Giovanni didn't disappoint! Their hours were 19:00-22:30, and I got there just after 21:00. I didn't plan to dine for so long, but I left around 22:30, oops! The servers were exceptional, and they were so patient with us trying to figure out the menu. There was an Italian one and an English one. They charge a cover fee of €4 per person, which included water and the "free" fried bread, which was surprisingly delicious! It was interesting that they served the food in order of courses: appetizers, primi (pastas), secondi (entrees), and then desserts. I wanted to try their faraona all'arancia (guinea hen), but the server told me it was seasonal. GIOVANNI'S ANTIPASTO: interesting selection of meats, cheese, and bruschetta. We enjoyed the meats the most. BAVETTE ALLO SCOGLIO (tagliatelle): This dish was very flavorful. Noodles were al dente. I was sharing this but ate a good portion of it, oops! BISTECCA ALLA FIORENTINA (Florentine steak): The server recommended half to one kg for one person. The meat was good; actually on the salty side for me. This wasn't my dish, but I would have preferred more medium than rare. CONIGLIO (rabbit): I was curious about rabbit meat, so I ordered this just to try it. I didn't like the way it was prepared with cheese and artichokes. We didn't order dessert because we were so full! But they served us some digestives anyway. I didn't have anything to compare this dining experience with, but hopefully I'll be able to visit Italy again.

We came here based on reviews from online searches for the best steak house in Florence for Bistecca Florentine. This place was on at least 3 lists. Food: ***** The food here was DELICIOUS! Though this is the first Florentine steak I have had, it was great tasting and had great texture as well. Outside with a light charred exterior and very tender inside. The appetizers and veggies were great as well. Staff: **** Extremely nice owner, manager and waiter. Everyone was very accommodating. The only downside was that it was super busy and we had to wait awhile for the check because of how many tables the waiter was serving. Misc: They kept throwing free drinks and food at us, it was a dream for me! I love free stuff :D We got some Prosecco, an appetizer, dessert, a house wine, and shots of Limoncello. It was AWESOME! Price: €€€ 100 Euros for 1.2 kg of Florentine Steak, Giovanna Antipasto, fried artichoke and a glass of wine. Worth it? Yes. Definitely not a meal I could afford to eat too often, but I'd definitely eat here again if I return to Florence.

Best restaurant that I've ever been to in my life. Yes, once again the best food you'll ever have in your life. If you can, make a reservation or show up the second this restaurant opens for dinner. Look at all of the pics I posted. You're going to love this place.

What a great evening in Firenze. L'Osteria di Giovanni is truly an evening in Firenze, starting with some nice fried bread & ricotta. Finishing with some nice desserts after an evening filled with uniquely impressive dishes accompanied by some great wines. Service is above average, never a hurried experience. Finally getting to return after a 3 year (you know). Great to be back where everyone is family

We walked in here on Saturday night with no reservation, and met Giovanni, a very short robust man dressed in all white with bubbly happy energy. He mentioned that without a reservation he had no availability upstairs but could seat us in the cellar, which made us happy because we did that at some other restaurants in Italy and it was more intimate, quiet and personal. When we got down to the cellar there were 4 total tables and we were the only ones down there. Our waiter, Andreas was extremely friendly and came to take our order. He put out a big serving of these mini crunchy dough pieces which reminded me of Zeppoli in the USA, minus the powdered sugar. We ordered the special, zucchini flower stuffed with ricotta, as an appetizer, and we split the pici pasta in kale ragu and a kilogram of the bistecca fiorentina. The pici pasta was amaaazing and made from scratch. The steak was absolutely delicious. At the end we ordered brownie a la mode with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, and Andreas brought us out some lemon sorbet with biscotti on the house. We wound up sitting next to a few other people downstairs which made for great conversation in a very quiet and intimate space. I would definitely return here again to try some different dishes!

How fortunate for L'Osteria di Giovanni that they have Manuele on their staff! From the moment we sat down until we finished, Manuele provided us with the ultimate care and service. He had such an engaging and welcoming personality and attended to our every need. He was our waiter extraordinaire! First, he brought complementary fried bread to the table. We felt so decadent eating those yummy morsels. Then, I savored ravioli with pear and pecorino cheese with cream of leeks and almonds and onion straws. My husband enjoyed the pappardelle pasta with Bolognese sauce. Both great! Afterwards, Manuele surprised us with glasses of frozen crèma di limoncello and a huge plate of almond biscotti. But, we were not done yet! During conversation with Manuele, I had mentioned that my grandfather was from the southern Italian province of Calabria. So, after the Limoncello, he asked me if I had ever enjoyed an after-dinner liqueur, Vecchio Amaro del Capo, which was made in Calabria. When I said "No," he promptly brought us two glasses. Our total bill for the two pastas, bottle of Chianti Colle Senesi, water and service was € 53. The restaurant is very large with 4 separate dining rooms. It is exactly what we want an Osteria in Italy to look like - vaulted ceilings, pizza oven, Italian artworks, wine bottles and oozing charm. Reservations are a must at this restaurant!

We dined here for our last night in Florence and we're still raving about it even though we've been back in the States for a few weeks now! My husband and I shared the potato raviolini with porcini mushrooms and cream of truffle pasta and the Florentine steak. The pasta had a light hint of truffle and they were generous on the mushrooms. The Florentine steak was perfectly cooked medium rare and the portion was ginormous and more than enough to share for the both of us. We were also provided with complimentary fried bread (!!!) which was the bomb.com and almond biscottis for dessert. I was also a fan of Giovanni's house red wine, which was a light red blend. The service was very friendly and attentive. I would highly make reservations because this restaurant gets filled extremely quickly! We made the mistake of not making reservations and walking in 5 minutes after they opened and their reservation book was already full! However, they were able to accommodate us by sitting us in the wine cellar with a few other small tables (there wasn't any music or background noise so there was awkward silence at some points and you could definitely hear what your neighbor was talking about, haha).

This review is long overdue, but we happened to be discussing our experience at Osteria do Giovanni with friends and I remembered I hadn't added a review anywhere for it. Hands down, this was the best dining experience my family ever had. We only learned about osteria do Giovanni of thanks to a nice couple we shared a taxi with coming down from Piazzale Michelangelo from a suset viewing of the city. They didn't want to wait out the long wait, but we did and ironically were seated within 30 minutes thanks to them placing us in the wine cellar. That location made the experience memorable, dining in an an ancient wine cellar next to very old bottles of Italian wine. We were seated next to a long banquet table for a celebratory dinner for a Florence police detective that just got a big promotion and those people knew how to eat and have a great time. The camaraderie of that table (including singalongs) only enhanced our experience. But the food? Simply amazing. I had the raviolini with truffle sauce and it was exquisite. They kept bringing us new delights, on the house, to sample, because they actually felt bad they sat us in the "basement", not realizing we were having the best dining experience of our lives. When we visit Florence again, this will at the top of our dining list, knowing both the food and ambience were top notch. Next time we'll ASK to dine in the wine cellar!

This is the first place we go every year when we come to Florence. There are plenty of fine osterias but this one feels special. The people are wonderful, the atmosphere feels very homey and the food is excellent at a very Fair price. So for the food tonight- the stuffed zucchini flowers and artichoke salad were great appetizers. Then had the tortellini stuffed with pear and pecorino with leek sauce. Also wonderful. Then the sea bass(Bronzino) and grilled veal chop. Both as good as it gets! Coupled with a bottle of Luce and cantorni and vin santo for dessert. Really couldn't be happier and the bill was way below what we anticipated. Please give it a try. I think you will Love this place as much as we do!

Fantastic food with even better customer service. They have lots of daily specials that are not on the menu that are delicious. Prices aren't too bad and seems like lots of locals eat here.

After reading so many great reviews about Giovanni's, we knew we had to make it a priority during our short visit to Florence and it absolutely exceeded our expectations. Would highly recommend making a reservation since this place is a pretty popular hidden gem and doesn't have that many tables. The service was excellent, the food was phenomenal, definitely our best Italian dinner experience thus far. We got a bottle of the house red wine to share, the fried bread that comes with the cover charge (it tasted like a funnel cake it was so good), and a special appetizer to start. For dinner, we shared the seafood pasta and the steak Florentine. Both were amazing! The pasta was cooked perfectly, mixed with shrimp and calamari pieces and tossed in pesto. The steak was my boyfriend's favorite: you order by the kg and there's a 1kg minimum which is plenty to share between 2 people. We skipped dessert because we were SO full, but our waiter brought us complimentary lemon sorbet and biscotti. Literally the best biscotti I've ever had. Ever. Our bill was €122 which wasn't bad considering how much food we got. Definitely on the pricier side but WORTH IT!

During our stay in Florence, we went to this restaurant twice... and that was only because we had three days here, and didn't know about it until our second day! A local friend brought us and absolutely nothing disappointed. The food, atmosphere, and staff all exceeded our expectations as first-timers in Italy. We walked in and felt like family, and the food was beyond exceptional. We had incredible seafood, pasta, duck, stuffed zucchini flowers (absolute favorite!!) and of course, tiramisu and limoncello (the best of both that we had during our whole stay in Italy). Currently back home and still dreaming of the food we had at Giovanni.

This place was great. We arrived late and they were packed. The owner gave us 2 glasses of champagne while we waited for a table. The food was amazing. Service was great. Family run. You cannot go wrong here.

Great food, great service, very friendly. Would go there every day if I could. Came in with our jet lagged kids. My son passed out and they went above and beyond to make him more comfortable.

I dream of the day I can return to Florence to go back to this amazing restaurant. The customer service is unparalleled. While we were waiting in line, the hostess brought us a glass (multiple glasses) of Prosecco. Once you're inside, the waiters treat you like family, providing the best service and recommendations. We had the Bistecca alla Fiorentina and it was incredible. Probably one of the best meals I've eaten. My boyfriend and I had an unforgettable time here! I plan to return here each time I visit Florence, my favorite city.

Another predictably great place to eat in Florence - unassuming front that has a main dining area plus another cozy room at the back. They start with a welcome toast of sparkling wine and you can request a bowl of shelled walnuts(!)- and they will provide the nutcracker thingy. Really goes well with the sparkling wine! Friendly server had a couple of good veggie options for specials. Recommend try their Ribollita veggie soup (confirmed it was 100% veggie) - really yummy. Castigiolini Cianti was a great accompaniment to the artichoke salad. Wine good - salad not so much. Fairly unique salad - but a bit bland and plain. The two veggie pasta (potato ravioli and maccheorini) dishes we ordered were fully of flavors and perfectly prepared and served. To top off the meals, they provided liquor with biscuits (you dip the baked goodies in the liquor) on-the-house as dessert.

This place is absolutely amazing and a must for dinner. If you want to experience true Florentine steak and everything else Tuscan, then this is the spot. Not only is the food phenomenal, so is the service. We had other plans for a steak house, but the owner at Palazzo Tempi (another great restaurant) recommended this place. We ate like Queens and Kings, such a wonderful experience.

This was, by far, the best meal we had in Italy. In fact, it's one of the best meals I've ever eaten. We waited about 30 minutes at 9:00pm with no reservation, but the food was worth it. We started with an amazing caprese salad, the I ordered the truffle & fungi pasta, while my girlfriend ordered the Florentine filet. Her steak must have been 14oz; it's one of the best I've ever tasted. My pasta was probably the best ice ever eaten and the Sangiovese was phenomenal. Our server spoke English and took very good care of us. The atmosphere was lively until the end of the night. We stayed until closing. Our meal, before tip, was 114EU. If you're ever close, don't miss the chance to eat here.

We had walked by this place on several occasions and it has a warm hue from the alley street its located. We were at another event with subpar food and decided there was no way we were going to waste space in our tummies for that, so we ducked out and headed to the warmth of this neighborhood restaurant. We didn't have reservations, but we were seated immediately. The place was busy with locals & non-locals. Giovanni, himself, was on the scene, ensuring everyone was happy with their food and keeping watch of his place. Once seated, you are brought complimentary glasses of prosecco. Nice! However, we then ordered a bottle of wine. The food is more traditional Tuscan fare. Started w/a Caprese Salad. Artichokes, olives, burrata & tomatoes were excellent. For my entree: Rabbit braised in local red wine w/green olives & sauteed swiss chard. This was Very Good. I enjoyed every bite. Husband had a pasta w/Bolognese and there wasn't a bite left. Server was friendly and kept bringing little extras of bread or treats throughout our dinner. As if that wasn't enough, as we were leaving, Giovanni came running after me to hand me a bag of Biscotti. Awesome. (Brought it home and enjoyed it with my coffee.) Would definitely return.

Greeted at the door with flutes of Prosecco, we immediately knew we were in the hands of pros. After a hellish train ride from touristy Nice, this place oozed authenticity and comfort. A glance into the kitchen as we walked to our table promised a beautiful spread, and we were not disappointed: pasta with truffle sauce, steak Florentine, filet mignon, black truffle pasta paired with a crisp house white, all perfection. Finished with tiramisu, crème bulee, apple torte. Impeccable service, food, atmosphere. Deserves more than 5 stars.

First stop in Florence and I'm so impressed!! The service was great and the food was amazing. Matteo was our server, he was very nice and explained the menu in full detail. The steak was prepared on a charcoal grill and was cooked perfectly to your preference. The other servers also checked in on us constantly and brought water without asking which was very nice since there's a heat wave in Italy! Come here! you won't regret it!

We arrived without a reservation at they took us right away. I ordered the most delicious caprese salad. Our dinners were all delicious but my son had a mascarpone dessert and said it was the best dessert that he's ever had. The server was very nice and attentive.

This was a fabulous meal with great service from the minute we entered. Food was sooo good. The wait staff paid attention to us all the time. Great place to dine!