Zeb

BEST DINNER EVER!!! Please pay no mind to the negative reviews, chef Alberto is WONDERFUL and we had the best time—we’re even coming back next week! Before coming, know this is not a normal dining experience. The chef has respect for the culinary craft (he’s not Michelin recommended for nothing), and as a customer, you have to go with the flow of the restaurant. There are no printed menus: the chef reads the menu out to you, and you are expected to pay attention and make a decision when he is done. Do not ask for recommendations or “his favorite”—they are all his creations, so just choose one and find comfort in the fact that each thing is carefully crafted and DELICIOUS. Service was excellent, we were well attended the entire time and the pacing of our meals was great. The wine pairings were also spectacular, and every single thing we ate took our breath away. We gave the chef his well-earned praise after each plate!! He warmed up to us after the first dish, and we left the restaurant with friendly goodbyes and a “see you next week”!!! This is an elevated dining experience—do not expect the same service as a random restaurant off the streets of Florence. The chef knows exactly what he is doing, and we’d come back here a thousand times over! Hope he gets that Michelin star next year!!

The best way to describe our experience at Zeb was unique. I’m glad I read the reviews beforehand, as they helped me better understand Chef Alberto’s eccentric style. The environment feels quite cold and formal, almost school-like, while his authoritative approach draws you into his particular world of dining. There’s little time for pleasantries, discussion, or deliberation over the menu, though he may show more patience for Italian-speaking guests. Despite this unusual style of service, there’s something novel and enjoyable about it if you approach it with an open mind and a lighthearted attitude. I can understand the review of some diners who were clearly caught off guard. Above all, the food was excellent. We chose a mix of classic favorites and dishes new to us, and were very pleased with our selections. I also thought the pricing was fair.

My husband and I went here for our last night in Florence and we were blown away. Incredible dishes at a more than fair price with an eccentric, but laid back atmosphere. This place is ran by a mother and son duo that has exquisite taste in cuisine. I had the pear ravioli to start and cow tongue for the main. I’m usually not that adventurous with meat, but that was one of the best beef dishes I’ve ever had. Be sure to make a reservation here on your next trip to Florence, you will not be disappointed!

The best meal on our trip to Italy from first dish to last dish! The ravioli with ricotta and pecorino cheese and a pear sauce aroused my tastebuds, it was that good. We also thought the pesto was mouthwatering. The meatball was delicioso! Perfectly prepared and made with lemon zest. No sauce needed just some olive oil. The eggplant parm was also perfectly prepared. The finish was the best cheesecake I have ever had. Not too rich and a little light with a berry sauce that complimented the cream filling. The owner and his mom were such gracious hosts. The Mom was so sweet. She runs the kitchen. When we complimented her, she was so humble. “This is what I make at home.” Well, I volunteer to be her son, pool boy, or whatever else allows me to dine in her house! My wife and I can’t wait to come back and enjoy the warmth of the owners and staff and dine again at Zeb!

A great evening in the ZEB restaurant, sitting relaxed at the bar, the chef explaining the handwritten menu on a blackboard to each guest. We were completely thrilled when the first course arrived, perfect, no frills, and so it went through the whole menu. The champagne fridge is well stocked and also carries Jacques Selosse. The wines are perfectly selected and very well sorted. We were absolutely thrilled and came back the next day. Many thanks to the team, it was a great experience.

Zeb is not for the faint of heart. When I put it on my Firenze list, my hyper organized friend armed with spreadsheets and reviews started mumbling about “mixed feedback”. I gave her a look: We’re going. Period. I don’t care what tourists or other reviewers think. If it’s on my list, it has earned its place. Zeb is the kind of spot where you surrender to the experience. There’s a board menu: pay attention, make your choice fast and know your flavors. This is no hand holding, no “what would you recommend?” type of place. It’s very Bourdain - raw, unfussy, bold. The owner himself told me to sit down before he’d even bother reciting the menu. No coddling, no nonsense. Decide quickly, earn his trust and you’ll unlock the good stuff. Seventeen years strong, Zeb doesn’t survive by catering to picky tourists. The vibe is direct, unapologetic, but laced with a kind of old world charm. At first, we got the skeptical “you are a tourist” stare, but once we proved ourselves, the owner cracked the tiniest smile, the kind of approval that says, yes, you get it. And I did. The service was sharp, no pretense and the boldness hooked me. I’ve eaten around the world, worked in the industry as a server, cooked, cook, tasted …I have standards. Zeb delivered! I kicked things off with Cappellacci di Fiori di Zucca in burrata sauce, pillowy clouds of flavor, luscious and creamy, ethereal yet grounded in simplicity. My friend’s Capellaccini di Ricotta e Tartufo with shavings of fresh black truffle were an earthy decadence. One bite and my soul was elevated. We weren’t even hungry, but the first course was so good we had to dive deeper. I went full hedonist as per usual with Lingua in dolceforte, a beef tongue in balsamic reduction with pine nuts - sultry, bold and definitely unforgettable. Paired with Zeb’s own red blend, I was in pure heaven. My vegetarian friend devoured her Melanzana alla Parmigiana with equal satisfaction, and finished with tiramisu that was air-light and balanced for me, though she wanted more sweetness and density. The wines the owner handpicked for me were spot-on and I left with a bottle of his red blend to hopefully recreate the magic at home. Zeb isn’t trying to please everyone and that’s exactly why it works. It’s direct, unapologetic and passionate, the kind of place that doesn’t need to prove itself to you. I left impressed, satisfied and already plotting the Firenze inspired dinner party at home, where I’ll open that bottle.

Absolutely divine food and amazing wine. Grazie! Edit: We skipped trip to Pisa just to repeat the experience. The pork ribs were out of this world, peposo hearty and punchy, tiramisu light cloud of happiness. Wines were uncomplicated and spot on, and warmth of service was present throughout. We originally aimed for a fancy venue in different town, but Zeb delivered on the taste and experience without the fuss. Thank you for allowing us to enjoy Tuscany at its finest.

I had the pleasure of dining at Zeb recently with my boyfriend during our trip to Florence — and out of all our dinners, Zeb truly stood out. What struck me most was how the restaurant offers authentic, thoughtful takes on classic Florentine cuisine through a unique/modern dining experience. Every dish included high quality seasonal ingredients—prepared and plated with care, and served with genuine hospitality that felt uncommon coming from the USA. As an American accustomed to hurried meals, it was refreshing to experience true European dining; the pacing of the courses allowed us to really enjoy each moment. The staff and chefs showed clear passion for their craft, treating each guest with respect and making us feel welcomed into their space. If I were offering advice to future diners, it would be this: 1. Embrace the rhythm of Italian dining. Order a primo, then a secondo, and — if desired, a dessert and/or espresso. Let the meal unfold naturally. 2. Trust the chef’s vision. The dishes are conceived and executed with intention; resist the urge to tamper with seasoning or presentation, it’s disrespectful. 3. Enter with respect. You’re stepping into a space where the dining experience is very regimented and structured. Don’t get upset if this doesn’t match your process. Overall, I highly recommend Zeb. It’s a fine-dining experience that stays true to Florentine roots while achieving a modern and personal atmosphere.

I have been to many awesome restaurants- but normally Michelin starred food is just too fancy for me. But after seeing the front door of this restaurant... And seen the inside... Let me tell you it was worth every unbelievable fabulous bite.! Best pasta ever!! Super cool looking restaurant great vibe... Unbelievable wines!!! we only sat for lunch... The service was very good!

Arrived on time for our reservation and were told to wait. We asked multiple times for an estimate of when we would be seated to no answer from the hostess (appears to be Zeb's mother?). After 45 minutes of waiting with increasing hostility, dismissiveness, and snide looks, we left. Truly disappointing and infuriating! Why offer reservations if you cannot fulfill them? We wasted our valuable time in Florence when it would have been much simpler for them to take accountability and just tell us they could not uphold our reservation.

We came to Zeb on a recommendation. We had reservations and were seated promptly. The chef came with a whiteboard and explained the courses quickly, giving us no time to decide. The food was as you'd expect in a Michelin-rated restaurant--great. Let's get to the real issue, service was worse than I've ever experienced. A group of "friends" came in and at that point, the rest of the guests were essentially ignored. We ended up only getting 2 courses mainly because he never came back to us. I finally got his attention to have the audacity to ask for a 2nd glass of wine for us, he filled my glass and ignored my wife completely. We sat waiting long enough for me to finish my 2nd glass of wine with no food and I finally got fed up and asked for the bill. At that point, the chef looked astonished that we didn't want more food or dessert. Couldn't figure out why we'd leave early. Waffel House and McDonalds treat you better than this guy. His arrogance of being a Michelin Star chef was overwhelming. He forgets that its a service industry and that is as important as the food. I'd NEVER go back, nor would I recommend.

We enjoyed to food at Zeb. Alberto's mother was a joy. I would have rated Zeb a 4-5 had it not been because of the service. Alberto (the Owner) was not very hospitable and seemed quite impatient with us. We had a few questions about the menu since it was only in Italian and he didn't want to explain much to us. We asked about wine and he pointed to all the bottles rather than making suggestions. He did not come over to ask us how our meal was. Maybe it was because we were at the window table because he seemed to socialize with other people. He did not smile and did not thank us for dining in his restaurant. It would be recommend Zeb but we will tell our friends the food was great but the owner Alberto was not as nice and appreciative as he could have been.

Zeb features great Italian classics that is worth coming back for... if only not for the service. A Michelin recommended restaurant, Zeb is the work of a mother-son duo who prepare and serve Italian dishes that are both rustic and delicious. Given they are both the cooks and the servers, it is not meant to be a big space for many people. Instead, it is quite intimate with diners sitting side by side. While the idea of this really cozy space seems great if you are entertained by an affable host, the main server here (the son) can be a little standoffish and can come off as rude. My experience was not so great and I could see it also rubbed off some other diners the wrong way. However, what I was really impressed with here was the food. For our primi, we had ordered the capellacci with ricotta and pears and the black truffle spaghetti. The capellacci with ricotta and pears was probably one of the best pasta dishes we had during our two week Italy trip! The slight sweetness of the pear paired so well with the rich creaminess of the ricotta. The black truffle spaghetti was also pretty good! In terms of secondi, we ordered the osso buco a Florentine classic of veal which was flavorful without the gamey taste expected from veal. Not as great as the pasta dishes, but still worth getting! Given the limited space, highly recommend getting a reservation if you would like to dine here! Otherwise, you may also suffer the utter dysfunction of the chaotic service here as mentioned before... Overall, Zeb offers great food that is worth checking out if you are in this area of Florence, but come with reservations and expect disjointed service.

Our recent attempt to dine at Zeb, sans reservation, was a lesson in how not to treat potential customers. Upon arrival, we were met with the maitre d's disinterested gaze, as he was too busy showcasing his menu narration skills to a captive audience. When he did turn to us, it was with a dismissive wave of the hand and a tone dripping with condescension. We inquired about a table and were briskly informed that nothing was available - as if our lack of reservation was a personal affront. When I asked about the reservation process, hoping for a modern, online option, he retorted, "Over the phone, of course," as though I had asked the world's most obvious question. While Zeb's culinary reputation may be stellar, their front-of-house approach could use a serious overhaul. Being dismissed with a wave and spoken to like an inconvenience isn't my idea of hospitality, especially when I'm ready to pay a premium price. It's a shame that such a reputed place lets arrogance overshadow customer service. ------------------------------- Il nostro recente tentativo di cenare da Zeb, senza prenotazione, si è trasformato in una lezione su come non trattare i potenziali clienti. All'arrivo, siamo stati accolti dallo sguardo disinteressato del maître, troppo impegnato a esibire le sue doti di narratore del menù a un pubblico rapito. Quando finalmente si è rivolto a noi, è stato con un gesto di mano sbrigativo e un tono intriso di condiscendenza. Abbiamo chiesto se c'era un tavolo libero e ci è stato risposto bruscamente che non c'era nulla disponibile - come se la mancanza di una prenotazione fosse un affronto personale. Quando ho chiesto informazioni sul processo di prenotazione, sperando in un'opzione moderna online, ha ribattuto: "Ovviamente per telefono", come se avessi fatto la domanda più ovvia del mondo. Sebbene la reputazione culinaria di Zeb possa essere eccellente, il loro approccio con i clienti all'ingresso necessita seriamente di una revisione. Essere liquidati con un gesto della mano e parlato come se fossimo un fastidio non è la mia idea di ospitalità, specialmente quando sono pronto a pagare un prezzo elevato. È un peccato che un locale così rinomato lasci che l'arroganza offuschi il servizio al cliente.

The most amazing food ever, our experience only dimmed by Alberto, the owner, who takes great pride in being surly. his mother on the other hand helps compensate by being very friendly and warm. If you can look beyond this, it is absolutely delicious, especially the Oso Buco.

Tip: menu is written in Italian outside, and you could either figure it out with translation app or take a photo and figure it out while waiting to be served inside. Food is wonderful traditional Tuscany food with a modern twist, such as homemade ravioli filled with cheese (ricotta I think) and topped with pear sauce, and perfectly cooked tripe with tomato. Portion is quite generous thus you only order the primi first. I enjoyed my food and conversation with other customers so much and forgot to take a photo except the dessert, lol. Price is beyond reasonable by American standard. Efficient no frills service. The owner/chef/son will hold up the chalk board with a daily menu and explain for you QUICKLY if you don't speak Italian. And then you are expected to order quickly given there is only one or at most two people working in the front of the house for about 20 seats. He will also recommend pairing wine for you based on the dish, but doesn't have a problem at all if you don't want to drink (my case). While they are busy, you can still get your napkins, wine refills, etc. as needed. It could take a bit to order each dish and could take a bit for the food to come out esp. fresh made pasta so don't go if you are in a rush - this seems to be standard in Italian restaurants. Ambiance is very modern and nice despite a bar setting. People talk in low volume so it is not too loud.

Our dinner here was fantastic (both the food and wine pairing), and prices were incredibly reasonable. Menu was written in Italian on a chalkboard. Owner walked around to each party, quickly translated the menu (if needed), and then took your order. Their pasta dishes were phenomenal. I loved my pear and pecorino cappellacci, which had the perfect hint of sweetness from the pear, and my husband his truffle and ricotta cappellacci. Also enjoyed my rolled chicken and my husband his rabbit (though he had a few bones). Ended our meals with tiramisu and cheesecake. Cheesecake was amazing and didn't taste like it was made with cream cheese (but maybe ricotta?). We were in the first seating at 7:30pm, and almost everyone had reservations. There was one couple who walked in at opening with no reservations and grabbed the last two available seats though.

We were brought here by Italian friends that live outside of Florence. Always a good sign. But the food?? As I said to the owner, this was the single best pasta I have eaten in my life. And I've eaten a lot of pasta! I had 'cappellacci del fiori Di zucca' - a pasta stuffed with zucchini flowers and at least two different types of cheese. The sauce was a very light cream with shredded zucchini for flavoring. The dish was so light, so refreshing. Others had the coniglio (rabbit) and the osso bucco. The house red was exceptional. The restaurant itself is super charming. You eat around a common bar, with the owner and his mamma engaging with the guests. We have already made plans to return on Thursday. Waiting an extra day only because they are closed on Wednesday. (For those reviews commenting on the service, see the photo of the smiling man below. This is the affable gentleman that has been accused of being rude and standoffish? That was the opposite of our experience.)

While visiting Florence a few weeks ago, my friend and I had the distinct pleasure of visiting Zeb for dinner one night. We called a couple of days ahead and were able to secure a reservation on a Thursday night. To start, I have to say that I do not understand why there are so many reviews indicating that the service is poor. My friend and I both found the owner and his mother to be lovely people. They were warm, inviting, helpful and grateful for our business. Onto the food...my friend and I shared the cappellacci di pera, ricotta and pecorino, the cappellacci di ricotta & tartufo, the melanzana alla parmigiana, and the peposo. For dessert, I had tiramisu. Every last bite was delicious, and I'd no doubt return to this restaurant on my next visit to Florence.

This place was awesome. We were able to be seated during lunch without a reservation. I hear a reservation is needed for dinner. The pasta dishes were perfectly cooked and absolutely delicious. I tried the simple but decadent butter pasta with truffles. The other dishes we ordered were also amazing. The owner and his mother run the restaurant. The owner is eclectic and a bit distant. He holds up the menu (greaseboard) and describes each dish. His mother, I believe, is the cook. Other wait staff buses the dishes. This was a very unique dining experience but well loved by all of us.

Condescending attitude. Terrible wine. Uncooked pasta. Unwelcoming. Couldn't wait to leave.

Extremely disappointing. They have a lot of nerve being so pretentious while having lackluster food. We felt unwelcome the entire time. The host seemed irritated during any interaction. We asked for recommendations and he pointed at the entire menu. We asked if they had butter for the bread and rather than just saying no, he just ignored us. Perhaps they could get away with this if the food was stellar but it wasn't. The spaghetti with truffles had so few truffles that it just tasted like plain spaghetti. The meatballs tasted like basic meatballs. This place needs to work on their customer service.

Me and my sister went to Zeb for lunch. The chef and his mother run the place and they are such sweethearts. The restaurant is laid out very neatly in 2 rows around a middle bar/ island area. The food was amazing. The chef explained the menu to us in English and was very patient with us. We had 2 pear sauce pasta and pici with meat sauce . Both came in piping hot. The wine recs went down very smooth. The desserts were cheesecake and tiramisu both divine..

One of the best dining experiences of my life! Details - this restaurant is all about the details! Everything from the chef walk thru of the menu, every last bite, everything was simply AMAZING! Go early, but do not hesitate or miss one of the best meals you've ever could have!

Very cool atmosphere loved all the pictures on the walls. The food was very fresh very good. The waiter was very friendly. Everybody enjoyed their meals. The pasta was al dente. The raviolis were delicious. They have some cooked to perfection.

Unfortunately we had awful service at Zeb. We were super excited for this spot and got a table during lunch - the waiter/maitre d' was incredibly rude to our group, made a comment because one person wore a mask and was upset when I asked for a new glass of wine because there was a bug in the glass. Awful experience, would neither go back nor recommend to someone else. Ruined our lunch.

First of all, the owner and all of the staff are very customer friendly and explain the menu to each of them. After the owner explained me the menu list, I chose as a first course the Cappellacci stuffed with pear, pecorino and ricotta served on a pear sauce. This tasted so great that I was tempted to try a second course. This time I chose the Peposo a Tuscan speciality which consists of meat marinated in oil and spices and pepper corns for several days. This course gets you stuffed by just eating it with bread. It was delicious beyond words. I ended up adding two glasses of rose and a bottle of water. This was a great lunch ! I can highly recommend this place.

We had lunch (May '22) at this counter-only seating, smallish, but efficiently designed restaurant. The food was inconsistent (pasta w/ truffle was super, the ossobuco was a little chewy), the perfunctory service (basically one man) was arrogant and ungentlemanly. I can excuse arrogance, but not bad manners. 3.5 stars for the food and -1 star for hospitality. In the end, I not only want to enjoy the food, but the whole experience, and willful rudeness is off putting.

I will never visit Florence again without walking to Piazza Michelangelo and stopping at Zeb on the way back. The chefs table layout is bustling on the inside while laid back bar height seating is surrounded by shelves of wine. The owner/chef demands his customers eat well as he knows no dish will disappoint. One of our more memorable and unexpected meals in Italy.

Very good food paired with the absolute worst service I experienced in this city or on this vacation. If you go, and you don't speak Italian, I recommend that you do not ask for clarification because they get upset and express a disgusting negative attitude. I find servers everywhere in Italy commonly speak multiple languages, however the servers here only speak Italian. My fiancé and I speak four languages combined (Spanish, French, and Russian), so I'm shocked they would treat us with such poor regard. It is sad when an otherwise enjoyable evening is ruined by extremely rude service.

We had a reservation yet they had us standing by the door for an hour after our reservation time. They were extremely snippy which eventually led to outright hostility (because we kept asking to be seated) . Extremely rude Cannot speak to the food unfortunately because horrible service and disrespect of reservation led to us leaving

The truffle raviolis at this mother-and-son run elegant spot were one of the top meals of our 10 day trip across Italy. Sumptuous, right, creamy, doughy, divine. This family twosome whips up magic and they're both so warm and lovely. Just get the truffle raviolis for your first and second course (or the incredible bolognese pasta, they let you do that, these dishes are better than the squash blossom raviolis and meat courses), and then get the chocolate cake and the vanilla torta, this airy, eggy, custard of a cake that I've never tasted in my life. I'm so tempted to go back to Florence sooner than I would, just for this meal. What a restaurant: what a twosome! 5 stars!!!!!!

Do yourself a favor, and keep walking. The chef, whose mom gave him a job, seems frustrated to have to interact with humans. Make sure to follow his (unwritten) rules on how/when/what to order, or you are in for a scolding. Plus, the food was just OK. Really, the only interesting dish was spaghetti (whatever) with ragu. And that's not why I go to heralded joints in Tuscany. Paper napkins? Snooty service from chef (who got the job from his mom, did I mention?). Wine was fine. But chef had such a sneering attitude. If you make the mistake of going, avoid the pear/apple pasta. Weird concept, but even creepier presentation. Osso buco was not reminiscent of the satisfying dish you've enjoyed before. Meatball tried to be interesting with lemon, but was dessicated on the plate. Then there's the smirking chef.... His mom gives him a restaurant, and he presides over the place like Cosimo I. We love staying in the San Niccolo neighborhood, but this experience felt like stepping on a snail on the patio--weird and unpleasant. The best part of the meal was that my friends and I (who have dined at starred restaurants) will always have a great story to tell (about haughty chef, who got his job from his mom). No soup for you!

Zebs is a fantastic wine bistro. I go there at least twice every year when I visit Florence Italy. the restaurant is clean neat and the Service is an experience only to Zebs. I highly recommend that you give it a try.

The food was absolutely incredible. It's a mother/son duo and they treated us great. It's a small place, but has a very intimate seating arrangement. My wife and I hardly talked during our meal, it was so good! It was so good that we went back for dinner. Please, do yourself a favor and stop by, you won't regret it.

'd like to preface my review with a note that I write this review to give you a feel of the restaurant, rather than just the food. While I understand that the initial thoughts of someone going into this restaurant are of pretentious staff peddling overpriced finger food, the actual experience is far different. I was very lucky to stumble into the opportunity to try the food at Zeb. We'd just finished a long stair/hill climb to the top of the overlook and were hungry, but when we looked around the options were dire. A lot of pretty facades or beautiful locales that likely made the owners think would make the tourists gobble up their awful food. We found Zeb, with excellent reviews and Michelin ratings, at the base of our little hike and decided to try our luck knowing there'd likely be a long wait. When we arrived we were lucky to be greeted and get a seat in the inner corner of the room then were almost immediately attended. The gentleman, whom I presume to be the restaurateur, walked over and his presence felt confident and commanded attention as he began giving us choices on drinks. His thick-framed glasses that glinted with flashes of Royal Blue in the light, were a welcome distraction to my ADHD brain as he read each item on the menu and described every dish in detail. He set the table for us to begin enjoying one of the finest meals we had in our entire trip to Rome, Florence, Edinburgh and Amsterdam. As he read the menu, I will say that I was a bit overwhelmed with the choices, as he explained the dishes I attempted to picture in my mind and 'digest' it, so to speak, when suddenly we were at the next option. The first course that stood out to me, however, was the Capellacci di Pera, Ricotta e Pecorino in Salsa di Pere. I'd never ventured far past the 'standard' when it came to the flavors and possibilities of pasta so, to me, a savory pasta with pears was definitely intriguing. It was a light,  perfectly cooked dish and had a great balance of flavors that worked so well together that every ingredient felt equally represented. Other restaurants try to cover up mediocre food with lots of unnecessary truffle-this or beautiful-view-that, but this dish was simple and elegant. I was feeling particularly entranced by the food and vibe in the room that I decided to continue with a more adventurous choice for my second course. Being that we were in Florence, we'd been told to try a Florentine Steak numerous times and it felt obligatory by the last day of our visit in this city. On the other hand, I thought to myself, if I am dining at a Michelin-rated restaurant I may as well allow myself to try something different than the 'safe' options. I opted for a Trippa alla Florentina, as it satisfied my appetite for something adventurous and my need to try something 'alla Fiorentina' before our train departed Florence. The dish was reminiscent of a similar dish in Mexican cuisine and had me longing for those cold days with a bowl of hot soup made by my mother. There were additional notes of herbs that were likely locally used that elevated the dish into a more refined experience. The dish felt light with bold flavors from the aromatics blending into the broth -- and while it was soup-esque, it definitely satisfied my hunger. After our meal, I left the city with a more cozy and welcoming memory than when I'd first arrived. Watching the gentleman describe the menu to other patrons of the restaurant while I ate my food made me appreciate his craft more. As he described the menu you could almost see the glimmer in his eyes fade bit by bit as tourists flocked in and were (in my eyes) more concerned about drinking cheap alcohol or an instagrammable view than the array of wonderful choices before them. Or maybe that was me projecting my own feelings onto him, as he never disparaged or turned away any customer or even looked at them differently no matter how they appeared, me in particular in sweaty clothes and loud USAmerican everything about me. I sadly never got the name of the restaurateur but he looks like a younger, fitter, bearded Colin Firth, and he provided excellent service that made the entire experience so intimate and feel catered to the individual. If you are in Florence and have time to go on a bit of a gastronomic adventure, in an otherwise saturated market of tourist traps, I'd definitely recommend Zeb in a heartbeat.

Excellent stuffed ravioli with pear sauce on top! I can see why this restaurant was recognized by the 2018 Michelin Guide. The stuffed ravioli was fresh and the pear sauce added a slight sweetness to the dish. With three pretty stuffed raviolis, it was a good size dish. My friend and I enjoyed it with an aromatic white wine and a full bodied red wine. We were in a bit of a food coma when we were asked if we wanted a second course. Given all of the walking we did, we thought we were hungrier than we actually were. So when asked about a second course, we agreed. I got stuffed meatballs and my friend got veal with carrots, celery and onion. We took a few bites of each and were sooo stuffed. The were both good but didn't measure up to the first course, the pear sauce stuffed ravioli. Would I come back? Absolutely! The service was excellent, the wines excellent and the pear sauce ravioli has still been the food highlight of our trip.

We noticed that the locals were ordering a "mixed plate" for lunch. Three reasonable servings of your choice. I wish I was aware of that option before ordering! I could have enjoyed more of a variety. Excellent food but expect some serious attitude and eye rolls from Alberto until the rush is over. He seems to be green and gets overwhelmed easily. Ignore his vibes and focus on the amazing food that is presented. Take away only the positive!

Can't believe I never reviewed this place!! This is my husband's favorite place to eat when we're in Italy. We make it a point to come here and one other restaurant and have done so the 3 times we've been to Italy in the last 2 years. We first came in 2015 when we found a place close to our hotel on the other side of the water from Florence. The next time we made a delivered stop for 1 day to frequent both places during our honeymoon, and then most recently in October 2017. We were happy to meet Alberto and eat his delicious food that has been just as intoxicating each time we go. The first time, we were able to bring home some wine and that has proven difficult these past 2 visits! We always get the pesto pasta with ricotta and sundried tomatoes, the truffle ricotta ravioli and the house red wine. We do double portions and I've have had the ragu and pork shoulder which are all amazing as well. It's a small place that probably fits about 20 people in an open kitchen bar type feel. They sell their own wine as well as others and we also bought their pasta to try! It was also very nice that the Chef remembered us from past visits. It can feel like it takes a little bit for him to warm up, but throw some Italian in there you'll crack a smile :) Looking forward to the next time we're back and tasting these heavenly dishes again! :)

An absolute gem. This meal was truly incredible. Highly recommended. Would come here again and again!

Best meal in Florence. Every bite was fantastic. Wonderful staff. The stuffed ravioli with truffle is spectacular. Wish we could have tried everything on the menu.

Wow. Absolutely loved our experience in this restaurant. The room is modern and comfortable, with a space in the middle for the servers to attend to you. The owner and his mother are warm and inviting, giving excellent wine pairings based on your dish and taste. The osso bucco was unreal, as was the pear and ricotta cappellaci - I describe it as a party in your mouth. Would recommend this restaurant to anyone visiting the lovely city of Florence!

This is a slightly higher end restaurant located close to the base of Piazzale Michelangelo, so it's a nice place to come for lunch or dinner if you visit Piazzale Michelangelo. The seating is all at the bar/counter, and feels more like a wine bar than a restaurant. The portions here are large, and they are reasonably priced. A lot of the other reviewers complain about the service here, but I didn't have any problems - the menu is on a chalkboard (very typical in most Italian restaurants) and the pasta dishes for the primi piatti are all explained to you. You don't have a ton of time to choose after he explains the choices to you, so you may want to look at photos online ahead of time, or take a look at the menu if you can see it, to be able to make a decision in real-time. I got the pasta with shaved black truffle for the starter and it was a pretty decent sized portion, with freshly shaved black truffle on top. The dish is pretty simple as to not overpower the truffles - it's just served with butter. For the second course, I got meatballs and they were huge - each one was probably the size of a softball. They are not served with sauce or anything, so it's just 2 meatballs served on a plate. The meatballs themselves were really delicious - soft, moist, and flavorful. I was dining solo, so it was a bit much of the same thing for me, but if you're sharing with one or two people, this is a great dish to try. Overall, this was a nice place for a slightly more upscale dinner. My dinner was around 30€ for myself, for the 2 dishes. It's slightly more expensive than some of the other places in Oltrano (the less touristy part on the other side of the river), but if you're looking for something in this area and have just gone up or descended from Piazzale Michelangelo, this is a good bet. I didn't have to make a reservation on a weekday for dinner, but during weekends and peak tourist season, I'd recommend a reservation.

I came back to Zeb after first visiting years ago. It has, like a good wine, improved with age. It is a small restaurant that offers a pasta course, second courses that are displayed before you, and desserts. The meal isn't cheap (we spent about 65 euro for two with pasta/second/wine but it is fantastic food. The ravioli I had was amazing. The rabbit second was equally incredible. I'll be back and continue to point others who are visiting Florence here.

Loved it. Cute countertop service. Best ravioli I've ever had, and an amazing chocolate torte for dessert.

I came here eight years ago and loved the food. It was very charming and the mother and son staff was nice. Upon my return to Florence on this trip, we walked several miles across town to go here. We arrived at 3:10 and they close at 3:30. They turned us away because, as they said, "there are only two of you." Apparently our business wasn't good enough for them, and furthermore, upon explaining that our flight leaves tonight and I was looking forward to this meal for eight years, that wasn't valuable enough for them. I've referred SO many friends to this place over the years and will stop now. Y'all should value your customers more!

One of our fav spots so far in Florence. Felt like 5 star dining without a whiff of pretentiousness and at incredible prices. For 100 euros, we had 3 courses each and I had 3 glasses of vino. Limited seats, so be sure to make a reservation. Earliest slot is at 7:30 pm when they open. The chef takes you through his menu for the day - we chose form 8 types of fresh pasta, 11 main dishes & 3 sides. He helped select individual wine for each person. I had the zucchini flower ravioli with burrata and stuffed zucchini, and a dry sparkling & custard torte for dessert. The portions were very generous so it was an eating marathon, and many stopped at the first course of pasta.

Had a great experience at Zeb. It's an interesting and different service flow - the gentleman comes to you with the menu and explains one course to get your order for that course. After you get it, eat, and lick your plate wishing for more, he comes back to explain the options for the next course. He will ask for some preferences for wine and pick one he thinks works well, which worked great for us. I'm always hesitant to leave wine choices open, but he is well trained in recommending and pairing. The squash blossom ravioli was amazing, and I heard great things about the Ragu and the Osso Busco.

Best place we have eaten thus far in Florence, which says a lot because the food here is amazing! This is a five star restaurant. Small and modern decor. No wine list but they have huge selection. Owner will ask you your taste and pick wine accordingly.

Four stars for a nicely prepared food. We came to this place highly recommended by some friends and we liked the food. But I have to agree with many others reviews that weren't very content with the service. Some people have better experiences. Don't try to go without reservations. The wine selection is good. No a place for dessert. It would be a much better ambience with a different host.

From the friendly and knowledgeable owner, to his mom working tirelessly in the kitchen preparing the amazing dishes, Zeb is a perfect spot to stop by and have lunch. Besides the great hospitality of the owner my favorite part was to be able to eat in a wine and cheese shop, with many of the dishes displayed right in front of you so you could make your selection. This sounds like the food may get overcooked or old tasting but the dishes the chef selects are prefect for this type of dining. Of course the pastas are prepared fresh to order. Don't miss the Truffle pasta or my favorite the amazing Pesto pasta. From the warmer we tried the Lasagna and the Rabbit stuffed with Liver. Both dishes were superb especially with the Chianti chef recommended. Zeb is across the bridge and not in a super touristy area which brought even more joy when casually enjoying our prefect lunch. I can't say I will be back to Florence anytime soon but if I were to make it back Zeb would be one of my first stops.

Had one of my favorite meals here after spending 2 weeks in Crotia, Rome and Florence. The menu changes every day and we got 4 pastas and 3 secondis to share between 4 people along with a bottle of wine for 105 euro (it was only that much because we got 2 truffle pastas). The other pastas and secondis were 9-10 euro each. Not huge but still good sized. The pastas were glorious! 3 out of the 4 where cooked perfectly al dente. 1 was still cooked well but not quite as al dente. Definitely try to pici shaped pasta with any of the sauces as its made in house (shape wise it's like bucatini or a thicker spaghetti). My fav was the ragu, but we also tried pesto, white truffle ravioli and black truffle pasta - and all were super delicious. The secondis were good as well! My fav was the meatball which was so soft and tender. Also got the ribs which were well flavored but not quite fall of the bone and the eggplant parmigiana was good but not as notable as the other dishes. He recommended a fantastic bottle of wine as well. This place only seats 15 so you might want to make a reservation to be safe.

What a great find! This is my favorite place so far not just in Florence but in Italy. The food was amazing with so many different, unique, and delicious options that it was hard to pick just one. The atmosphere was also very unique but enjoyable. The owner was so very nice and informative. The one tip I can give is to make a reservation otherwise you will not get a seat. Definitely if you have time try this place and you will thank me as I have thanked the person who told me about it.

We ordered three dishes which were all amazing and filled the both of us up! The prior reviews are consistent with what we experienced, the chef is "an artist" and passionate about his food. FYI don't dare to try and order a first course pasta after you have eaten your second course. Almost felt like an episode out of Seinfeld........ If you're in Florence you should come here.

The food is amazing, the mom makes up for the son who is the waiter, cashier, etc. He's not the friendliest but he's not rude either. Just straight faced. We still dream about the truffle ravioli and spaghetti with meat sauce.

This was our favorite restaurant in Florence! We had pici and the ravioli, and the burrata with mixed vegetables. Delicious! It's good to make a reservation to ensure you have a spot at the counter.

This restaurant is the ideal example of a place that differentiates proper clientele from dumb American tourists. Treat the owner with respect, and he will treat you back in kind and give you nothing to write a bad review about. Be loud and obnoxious and have no real idea what Italian cuisine and hospitality are about, however, and suffer the proper consequences. The food here is phenomenal. I had the ravioli stuffed with ricotta and pear sauce, while my mum had the fresh pasta with black truffle shavings, plus a peposo (traditional beef stew) and a slice of nut egg cream cake for dessert. Both pastas were incredibly good, the ricotta and pear being slightly better, and the peposo was solid Florentine fare. The cake was clearly homemade and very tasty. Kudos to the mom of the restaurant for making exceptional food!