Osteria Antica Mescita San Niccolò

Such a cozy place, the house red wine was great as well with the food, extremely delicious, even the starters are 100% recommendable!! Staff friendly they are Italians so it’s good to practice the language as they won’t switch to English! 👏🏼

Absolutely our best meal while on holiday in Italy. The food was superb as was the service. So happy to have been introduced by a local and to experience a more authentic and well priced dinner in very what can be a very touristy city. Bravo Chef Gigi and the wonderful team.

We stumbled upon this gem while staying in the San Niccolo area. And thank goodness! The food was great, the place is unassuming and not at all precious, but looks like it’s a haunt for the regulars. Very cozy inside and nice outdoor seating with heaters. The waiter was super cool, spoke 4 languages, and recommended I try the tagliatelle with cinghiale (wild boar). He had to convince me to try it, but I’m so glad he did. It was one of the best meals I’ve had in Italy! Highly recommend stopping by. (Also a very ample serving of house-made tiramisu- (see photo) five stars!!)

Waited for the place to open and got in when it did. I was alone and given a table for one for one hour. Waitresses spoke adequate English. I ordered the slow cooked beef with home sauces (bollito misto con le sue salse) and a 1/4 litter of home wine. The food was warm and filling and the wine was very smooth and a good portion for the price. Along with sparkling water it was a good meal.

Visited in March 2013 - Recommended by the likes of Fodor’s and Lonely Planet, this neighbourhood osteria delivers Tuscan fare at excellent value. I began with bruschetta al cavolo nero: earthy, iron-rich kale with a hidden chilli kick, soaked into quality toasted bread - a peasant classic worth remembering (8/10). Taglierini al pesto di rucola followed: peppery rocket leaves muted more than I’d hoped, but still a solid dish (7/10). The setting adds unique atmosphere: the tavern incorporates ancient food cellars uncovered after the Arno flood of 1966, accessible via stairs leading to vaulted spaces beneath. A blend of history, hospitality, and hearty Florentine cooking.

Delicious food, recommended by a friend who lives locally. Mainly locals in there. We had the Wild boar, Spaghetti Bacala and Chocolate cake.

This restaurant was great. We waited just a little bit to sit outside. The prices were very reasonable, and we ate one of the best pastas we had. We took crostini for starter, wine one papperdale and one rigatoni. The portions were big.

This place was recommended to us by a local. We got there at 2:10 and the owner made sure to tell us they close for the afternoon at 2:30 and we could only order one dish. He expressed we should hurry and then told us what to order. The food came out quickly, piping hot, and so delicious. Very traditional recipes and worth it even if staff doesn't handle tourists super well. They reopen for dinner at 7. Recommend you go earlier or later then we did and you'll be fine!

Su internet c'è scritto che chiude a mezzanotte e mezza: noi siamo stati buttati fuori alle 23.15. Il menu non è stato affatto deludente, purtroppo il servizio è stato molto frettoloso: non si riusciva a terminare una portata poiché veniva servita subito la successiva, il che ha reso difficoltoso gustarsi a pieno tutti i piatti.

Flavorful dishes with good sized portions. If you get the large spaghetti, just know they are like large udon noodles The location is just a short walk away from Piazzale Michelangelo, so plan finishing your meal and heading up the hill to catch the romantic sunset.

I recommend it 10000%. We walked in unknowingly, but this turned out to be one of our favorite meals during our trip. I am from Italy, so I am a bit skeptical of restaurants in Florence for how touristy they can be, but this place beat all the odds! The pici are typical of this area, and theirs were so fresh. The sauces were delicious, and the homemade bread for some good ol' scarpetta was fluffy and abundant. I could not speak more highly of this place. Service is also pretty quick and super friendly. Check it out and thank me later.

Outstanding. We went twice. Location across the bridge from the larger shopping and high traffic area. In a beautiful neighborhood! A few bars, a local grocery shop, a brunch spot can also be found within a few steps of this place. Make a reservation. If you don't, you have to seat in basement I don't know what that looks like, but I was pleased to sit upstairs. This place is small but every single person is happy. I felt like I was being served by my uncles. As you can tell by my photos... I made the dish washers job easy. The food was impeccable. This place is known for their steak. I didn't know that but the other tables couldn't stop raving about it! The waiter for more than happy to allow me to grab the photo of the raw steak. Everyone was delightful and kind. Total bill was €44 would have been cheaper but I wanted to take my leftovers with me! I know, how America of me. Menu in English. Online reservation available. Waiter spoke English Food was some of the best we ate in Florence. A favorite in Florence, charming, romantic, cozy, and absolutely delicious! Please go here! You will love!!

Definitely a fan favorite! The staff are amazing. They offer their insights about different dishes and are helpful. The outdoor dining is nice and shaded, so great in the summer if there is a breeze. The inside is also a good choice. It's cozy. And the portions are pretty big especially if you're getting the steak. Huge!

Food is fair but the older waiter with glasses is an a$$hole... ate there twice due to convenience but same bad attitude... with so many choices in Florence, this place should be avoided.

Absolutely recommend. Our waiter was very personable (not the old azzhole am reading about). Had the Boar and Red Sauce - fantastic. A quieter part of the central Florence tourist scene so happy to be outside with a late lunch. Bravo!

Ok so first off you need to know that the inspiration for the "soup nazi" is real, he runs this restaurant and he is Italian or more accurately he is Florentine. That said, as long as you know how to order you'll do fine. Make your order in the normal order for dinner service and don't order pasta with steak. Also make a reservation, no reservation you're likely not getting in even if there's a table. It's a thing, they want to know that you actually intended to come and didn't just fall in off the street. Consider it like a date, girls don't just want some random dude off the street and neither does this place. Now for the review, if you want a real Florentine steak, get it here. It was stellar, I promised myself I wouldn't eat the whole thing but did anyway as it seem wrong not to. The starter was a crustini plate that was really well done, simple but ingredients were fresh and packed with flavor with excellent bread. The chicken liver truffle pate was full of flavor, nutty but not over powering - I don't even like pate but it was magically gone by the end. Service was spot on, all kidding aside, the staff was on top of the game all night, they worked together, teased each other, and made it all happen for every table. Pricing, not the cheapest dinner in Florence but if you want cheap go get a sandwich across the Arno. This place is good value for the service and food, it's mid range price wise but service, food prep and quality is above the pricing. Make a reservation and you won't be sorry.

By far our best meal in Italy. Staff was incredible and the food just speaks for itself. Emphasis on the meat and dessert options.

Great place! We ate after a long day on a crappy tour and this hit the spot. Loved the waiter and the food was delicious.

The food was decent, but the service was awful! The waiter was very rude and made comments not once, but twice during my meal. Other parties noticed and asked what things be said as it was so obviously rude. Food is not good enough to warrant suffering through this poor service. Avoid.

Avoid! Rude service, unfresh food, bland, expensive. Please don't get trapped here. Water is not free. Water is not free in Italy. Free bread - we had to ask for olive oil. We were all still working on our free bread when our main meals came and the waiter was taking it away! I was still dipping my bread in the olive oil and he took it away! If you don't call that rude, I'm not sure where you grew up. I ordered the mushroom soup and it was basically a lentil soup. It was room temperature and the portion size was better than I expected. I like lentil soup but I was expecting mushroom. My friends were extremely disappointed with their meal. One ordered spaghetti with green beans and it had zero flavor. He added olive oil. My other friend ordered beef and it tasted like high school cafeteria meat. Bathrooms are located downstairs. Please don't get trapped paying for food here.

Good food at descent price. Fettuccine with wild boar was quite good. The ossabuco was good, but not great. Small but okay beer and wine selection. Very good service. Tip: If it is a hot day and you would prefer to sit inside in air-conditioning rather than outside, you can find an air-conditioned room if you go inside, go down the stairs, and go to the back basement. It is well lit although there are no windows, but the air conditioning feels very good.

I've never had worse service at a restaurant. We called ahead, had a reservation, are very easy to work with and we were rushed by the waiter and talked down to all night. We came later in the afternoon but would rather have been denied seating than sat through what we did. We asked for the waiter's suggestion, and he was extremely frustrated and just blurted out a dish. We got our food five minutes later and the noodles weren't cooked all the way through. My friend and I ordered separate meals and they gave us the same food but added pasta to hers. We think it was because they were trying to close the kitchen early or we arrived late. If so, we much rather would have eaten late night junk elsewhere. Maybe the food is decent at 7 p.m., but don't go within the last hour and a half before they close.

Wait the steak has to be rare? On the way to Piazzale Michelangelo, I had my eyes set on this local, antique-looking osteria and my minds set on trying out the famous Florentine bistecca. When the waiter informed me that the steak cannot be cooked beyond rare though, I hesitated a little. I never had steak rarer than medium rare...#american But at that moment, against my family's advice, I went for it because I didn't fly to Florence for nothing (I mean I saw the Duomo and the David but they aren't food) and it was the best decision I made, second only to my decision to choose Hemnes over Rissna in Ikea. This was my only Florentine bistecca so I can't compare, but it was really delicious! The tenderness melted in my mouth, and the Tuscan herb spices rubbed on the bistecca made it especially tough for me to resist the temptation to grab the bone and lick it. You can only order by kg basis and each kg of steak is about $50 USD, but you will get a lot more meat than a $50 steak in the US. Plus, this Florentine steak is so much more delicious than an expensive American steak! The free bread was dry and bland but who cares, the steak was awesome! If you are climbing up or down to Piazzale Michelangelo, stop by here for dinner. I hope you brought at least a +1 because you cannot finish that steak by yourself. --- tl;dr version: 1) Local osteria downhill of Piazzale Michelangelo 2) Strict adherence to how they serve their Florentine bistecca 3) Delicious steak!

This charming restaurant has become a favorite of mine for lunch. Everything I've tried so far has been delicious. The buffet is very economically priced and has a great freshly prepared selection. The staff are very friendly and are all bilingual (Italian and English). There is additional seating downstairs which is also the crypt for San Niccoló Church. Enter the name of restaurant into google maps search tab instead of the actual address. The address, when entered, takes you to the wrong location.

I was sad when I arrived because I encountered some difficult Florentine folks during my travels. However, the staff here was super friendly and even brought me a glass of Spumante to cheer me up (there may have been teardrops--not enough to mess up my mascara though). Anyhow, I ordered a Florentine Steak and they didn't even bring me the bone-in porterhouse because they said it was for 2-3 people. I was so sad. I wanted a steak that usually costs $80-$120 in San Francisco for €38. Instead, they brought me out some chopped up ribeye, no bone and no filet, because they thought I was eating for one. Uhm no, I am eating for 3: me plus both my ovaries. Gotta keep 'em spry. I'm on a porterhouse mission. I will try again tomorrow. I need my bone and I need my meat Tiramisu was off the chain (it was f-ing amazing)

The menu was all in Italian! Luckily the staffs there could communicate some basic English in recommending us the great dishes! We had a fish, mushom soup and the pasta with white pork! It was delicious. Even though there were a bit noisy but the environment and services were great!

Wonderful people watching and great food. Don't be intimidated by the menu that is not translated into English, sit down and enjoy the recommendations of the knowledgeable staff. The seafood risotto was among the best we've ever had. Our vegan had some good vegetable choices all well prepared and fresh. Don't go away without trying the panna cotta with chocolate! We followed with espresso and a lemonata. A fun experience.

Good food and service. Filet was great, 1.3 kilos enough to 2-3 people, just request a real steak knife since it's served on the bone. The smaller filet plates were delicious as well, had a balsamic glaze which was amazing. Roasted potatoes side was a hit with everyone.

The service at this restaurant is pretty amazing. Th people of Tuscany are very proud of their style, traditions and food. We took recommendations from the waiter and were beyond satisfied! Matter of fact, we reordered the truffled pasta twice!

We went about 9pm and it was packed. It was a ~10min wait for a table and service was a bit slow but the waiter was very nice and apologetic about it. The menu was in Italian so it was a bit like throwing darts for me, but I ended up with seafood and spaghetti- it had a light oil sauce that tasted seafood-y but not fishy.

Great experience. Excellent food. T-bone steak is rare but tasty. Potatoes were perfectly cooked.

This place is fantastic. The service was exceptional from the moment we arrived. The menu was in Italian, but (who I assume to be) the owner walked us through it all and made wonderful suggestions. We really felt at home in this cozy restaurant. My 11yo son and I shared the Steak Fiortino - it was more of an experience than a meal. My mom had the pork chop and artichoke - which she loved. My wife had the wild boar papperelle pasta and that was also great. We all had various delightful desserts. We will try go back before our short trip ends.

do not come to this place. lying servers, terrible steak, shitty pate... stay away, away, awayyyyyy!!!! And yes, fuck you too Mateo - ruined our experience in Florence and will keep all my friends away from your establishment.

Very good food great location and service, patient and kind to foreigners. Gabriel was very helpful and genuinely told us what he recommended from the menu.

This place is on the way to piazalle Michaelangelo it's a very cute little restaurant and very local... it is not in a tourist trap. The menu is pretty simple and small and food was just amazing!!!! Even their cheesecake and cappuccino was finger licking gooooood!!!!! If I was staying in Florence longer I would be coming here everyday!! The food was soo soo good I didn't even get a chance to take pictures :)

I've been here twice on this trip to Florence. I got excellent recommendations from waiters both times. I highly recommend it!

Nice place to stop by and have lunch ! Family owned and managed! Food is ok but atmosphere is nice and stuff is helpful !!

We ate here and had two pasta dishes and 1L of their house wine. They had great service (perfect translation to English) and good food. While the food was good, it was nothing that blew me away for Italy. If you are thinking about going here, you should. I recommend the gnocchi.

The service was great the food is great and they make great dessert. This place was just across the river from where we were staying. We sat down since a nice table was available but had no idea what to expect. The food was delicious and not expensive. Our waiter was friendly too. We sat outside this cool street where we ate delicious food, enjoyed each other company and did some people watching in between. Great spot!

This Osteria, located in the very nice neighborhood of San Niccolo, has now entered my dinner place top 5 in Florence. The two dinners i had here were totally convincing. Before going into what truly matters (FOOD), a few words on the overall atmosphere: it is a very nice place, very authentic and warm. In summer you can eat outside in the nice terrace, but to earn that privilege, you better book ahead. The small piazza is very calm and nice. But if you eat inside, you won't be unhappy at all either as the surroundings are very cosy with lots of woods everywhere and ham hanging from the ceiling. The Osteria offers the usual anti pasti and the crostini we had were really good, with lots of vegetables that were tasty - I was a bit disappointed at first that those vegetables were not cheese or paté instead, but they were so tasty that i forgave them at once. The primi change all the time, they generally offer two different types of pasta, so that ingredrients are very fresh and evolve according to the time of year, which is nice. We had a delicious, delicious pasta whose title might not seem particularly appealing at first: pasta with cabbage. But trust me, it was delicious and we both love it. We also had pappa al pomodoro which was also very good (and served very generously). So far, a great success. Then, we shared a meal of beef that was cooked with pork grease on the top and it was also very good - again. We had some beans to go with the beef : and again not so seducing at first, but excellent and tasty. So i highly recommend for good and authentic food. Prices are average, but a bit higher than the classic trattoria - we paid 50 euros for 2 including a quarter of wine and a beer. Service was really kind and when we left, we were offered a glass of Sauternes which sometimes happens in the city, but which is more rare we also got a piece of apple cake that was very good!!

My husband and I had steak Florentina style and loved it and were told this restaurant was famous for it and we were in Florence so we figured it would be a good choice!! The flavor of the bistecca was fine, a bit bland, but lots of parts were impossible to chew! We had to spit out quite a few pieces into our napkins :( not sure if we just had a bad steak or if that's the way the steak is here? Wine was okay and salad was simple but fresh. We had a great dessert-apple fruit crumble (generous portion) and a delicious local liquor shot for dessert-amoro del capo. (Tiny shot, but good). Overall experience was fine but for $42 Euro we had high hopes for the steak. Ultimately, not worth it..

We wandered into this cute little spot after trekking up to the Piazza Michelangelo shortly after sunset - no reservation, and a bit on the early side in classic "we're tourists" fashion. We were warmly greeted, and from the get go, it was clear that what little Italian we had learned would be needed - which we welcomed as an indication that this meal would be closer to the 'real deal' than touristy counterparts. We fumbled with Italian, and they assisted with English superior to our Italian but still we were communicating on a very basic level with lots of arm movements and pointing. At least everyone had smiles and was trying! As it is a very small, cozy space (but apparently with a basement!) we were seated at a small table that sat inches away from another small 2-top, which was soon occupied by a very pleasant older Italian couple. While we caught them giggling at our inability to understand some of the menu items, we later were caught oohing and ahhing at their bistecca alla florentina - all in good fun and ending in smiles all around. A language barrier is easily overcome with laughter and smiles. Our waitress was a great help in recommending several items to order and informing us that some of our selections either weren't available that evening or were outshone by other items on the menu. We ended up with a fantastic plate of meats and cheeses to start - a standout being what I believe was a stellar finocchiona (?) but whatever type of salami it was, it was truly outstanding. My husband and I now agree that it was the best we had on our trip. Next up was zouppa - my husband with I believe the tomato-less version of my Pappa Pomodoro. The stars aligned for me to happen upon the Pappa Pomodoro, since my original selection was the creamy chickpea soup that I was informed was not available that night. While my husband's chicken-stock based version of my soup was good, the tomato version was truly outstanding. So hearty and with so much flavor! Finally, the entrees. We had a slight miscommunication apparently, since I never got my mushroom pasta dish and my husband's pork was served with an additional plate (it's clear they thought we were going to split his selection). And although it wasn't what we had intended, it was a blessing in disguise since I hadn't really had my heart set on the pasta and it allowed us to save room for dessert - the best tiramisu I've ever put in my mouth. Amazingly light and not nearly as heavy or filling as other versions, it was short-lived. While the service tended to be somewhat relaxed, we weren't in a rush, and the timing was relatively on par with the rest of our dining experiences. Neither me nor my husband wanted to feel rushed during our vacation and we were happy to sit pleasantly soaking up the atmosphere and sipping on our vino rosso della casa. As a note, they take credit cards, but not AMEX. All in all, a fantastic spontaneous evening with some of the best food we had on our trip, even despite the small miscommunication! Molto bene!

We had lunch, just ordered off the special menu. We had pasta and cheese, chicken and mushrooms and their rabbit dish. Service was very friendly, they helped us with the menu. Food was fantastic.

We dined at an outside table of this restaurant that I understand is a converted church. It's a nice place to grab a bite on the way to see the view of florence from the top of the hill. fair prices, we had a prefixe menu of a sausage pasta and steak.

Great restaurant! Went here for dinner one night around 6:30 and was seated right away. Entree was a yummy pasta with red sauce. Service was friendly to and took about 15 minutes after arriving 10 after 6pm. Nothing blowing my expectations but good quality and good environment!

We had reservations here and were seated at an outside table where we could enjoy the music down the street and a nice jovial atmosphere. My husband was initially unhappy with the selection on the menu. Our waitress was friendly but did not speak good English. Luckily I speak some Italian so we got by. The service is indeed profoundly slow and haphazard. It didn't take too long to receive our antipasti and water, but took ages for our entrees to arrive. When they did, we found that they had brought my husband the wrong pasta dish and had not given me a spoon for my soup. Additionally, there was not enough room on the table for both my soup and salad so we had to put the salad on a little stool next to the table. Luckily they only took about 10 minutes to bring him what he ordered, and the food was good. I especially enjoyed my soup: cream of garbanzo beans with faro and a few porcini mushrooms. I also had the arugula, brie, pear salad. The ingredients were fresh and good quality but I felt it could have used some sort of dressing. My husband had the fettucini al ragu and seemed to enjoy it. It took more effort and time to get the dessert menu and order, but we were glad we did. I had the raspberry mascarpone and my husband the creme brulee. Delicious, but we had to endure another delay to get the check. In short, only eat here if you have patience and time to spare. Visited September 2011

Wonderful little trattoria that is located well but not too pricey. Menu is very simple and rustic and very hearty portions. I highly recommend starting with the fennel salami and burrata antipasto plate! I also suggest their pasta of the day, currently they are making taglierini with porcini! I had a pecorino flan with honey and pears. There was a small pile of arugula on the side that was a nice fresh compliment. Good spot if you have to dine in the center.

Local, local, local, local. What more can I say. The menu is local as well as the clientele. Great service. Great ambiance. Any time of the day in a nice quiet area of Florence.

Delicious! Great service and ambiance. We had the seafood spaghetti and arugula pear and brie salad. Very fresh and our order came out very quickly. Get the cantuccini con vin Santo for dessert!

We started with crostini - one with lardo and sun-dried tomato, the other with a slightly melted brie-type soft cheese with honey and pine nuts. Neither tasted exceptional in any way but both were tasty enough. My plate was Tagliatelle Bolognese, which was a perfect fresh pasta with a conventional bolognese meat sauce - unremarkable but excellent eats. The companion had spaghetti with a vivid green rocket pesto. She said she enjoyed it, but I had no desire to sample. The final dish was a pan-seared and oven-roasted rabbit prepared in a conventional manner - herbs, white wine, hot pan. Nothing robust in flavor; but, if you've been following the obvious, it's like everything else here, a 'conventional' preparation. I also found it dry, but the companion ate from the saddle (I ate the thigh) and thought it was moist. Mostly picked at and not devoured down to the bone. Overall, the meal was good. Addendum: Apparently this area is supposed to be like the Brooklyn of Florence (i.e. it's hipstering against 'convention'). So if that's your thing, you can do worse than traipsing the streets and sitting down here for a meal.

Osteria Antica Mescita San Niccolo' is a nice restaurant option after an evening watching the sun set over the city of Florence from Michelangelo's plaza. The restaurant was not overly crowded and we didn't have to wait to be seated. The service was very friendly and attentive. We sat outside to enjoy the evening breeze. The waitress helped us translate the italian menu. We had the following for dinner with the dishes noted as "excellent" as my recommendations: Salad with pears Green pea soup (excellent) Rigatoni pasta Pork chops (excellent)

Fantastic meal with friendly helpful service. Our waiter did a fantastic job of pairing a wine for us with the tagliere Leopoldo--which was massive and delectable. One of our most memorable meals in Italy.

We had the best time last night . 7 of us . Kids parents and grand parents . The food was amazing and the service impeccable and so friendly . Seriously thinking about going back !

My wife and I planned our day around trying this restaurant out for lunch, given its proximity to our hotel and its lunch menu. However, we waited near the open doorway after their scheduled opening time for about ten minutes. When I asked someone if they were open, they told us that they opened at noon. Of course, this was at ten past. We waited for a few more minutes before deciding to eat next door, at Boccadarno, which we highly recommend doing. That was the best meal of our time in Firenze, and the service (in addition to the food and the prices) was fantastic. Sorry to say that we can't say how the food was at Osteria Antica Mescita San Niccolo. A restaurant becomes much more appealing when it welcomes its patrons and even allows them to sit at a table to wait if they arrive slightly early, as Boccadarno seemed to be doing when we initially arrived. Cheers.

FYI the pinned help point is off. It is further to the right and at the center of the Y of the alleys on the map. The wait staff was awesome! They made room for us at a table in the basement. They helped us with the translation of the menu. The food was very well prepared and appropriately priced. You can't go wrong with a good bottle of wine for €9. If you make it to this spot, enjoy!

I walked here from where I was staying (near Ponte de Vecchio) to see the Michelangelo piazza. Oh the way to the piazza, there were a few restaurants to choose from but this one had a menu that piqued my interest- none of it was in English, but the waiter enthusiastically informed me that they are willing to translate any questions we had. I had a delicious veggie pasta and prosecco meal ending with a wondering dessert wine with biscottis! Especially needed all that sustenance after hiking up to Michelangelo plaza in the sweltering heat. The dessert wine was definitely noteworthy to me, because I did find a lot of other restaurants I ate at had offered a dessert wine (usually just a couple reds and whites). Service here was really good, I loved the waiter's personality. Seating was great, we got to sit outside in the evening shade and people watch. There was the cutest puppy ever at the grocery store across the street. As usual, needed to ask a couple times for our check...but we weren't in any hurry.

Great real food, limited pasta and no pizza, more classic meat and vegetable dishes and salads