Terra di Seta — Attraction in Castelnuovo Berardenga

Very disappointing experience. Having read previous reviews were we excited to book this restaurant but it was not the evening that we expected. From the attitude of the owner to the size of it's portions and it's charging for tap water it can best be summed up as ungenerous.

When we made a reservation we were sent details on google maps which were confusing and directed us to another town 45 minutes drive away. When we contacted the restaurant they sent us the same google details !!!

Eventually we reached the restaurant which is hard to find even when the full address was received. Slightly irritated, I asked to speak to the owner. Upon the second time of asking Danielle did eventually appear. Unfortunately he attitude was uncaring , unsympathetic, not to say rude. Grudgingly he agreed that he had problems with the address on google and offered an unconvincing apology. If he had spoken to any other of the diners he would have found out many others also found it difficult to locate the restaurant from his directions.

The menu is limited . Like many Italian restaurants there are three courses and a dessert. It would have been nice to have more than only two choices per course. However, it was too large for our waiter who had no idea which of the few wines would suit my order. He looked at me as if I was mad to ask such a question.

Another reviewer has advised diners not to arrive hungry since the portions are small !!! Have you ever heard of anything like this.They were not wrong. From the minute portion of bread, hardly a mouthful, the portions are ungenerous bordering on the mean. It is not helped by the large sized plates upon which the food is presented. I felt for my son's ricotta crepe that looked so lonely in the middle of it's oversized plate.

The food is nice but not exceptional. My tagliatelle was tasty , if a little over seasoned which I received on the chef's second attempt. My wife and I both had to return his initial attempt that was cold.

The tiramisu was nice , if small in size. Unfortunately, I was unable to taste any alcohol and so am not sure if it was present.

The service could best be described as brisk. I asked for tap water, was proudly told that I had received tap water and was then charged three euros !!!

You may miss this extra charge on your bill unless you have developed night vision or remembered to bring a torch.To pay you have to follow the mashgiach through the fields to a hut that can receive wi-fi. Since we went for dinner and it was dark he had to don a miner's hat with a davy lamp to show us the way.

Terra di seta is not a bad restaurant but it seems that it has begun to take it's Jewish clientele for granted and is not treating them with the respect that they deserve. Many of the reviews are at least 12 months old. It is not easy to find and from our experience I would say it is not worth the effort.

However, the evening was not a complete disaster. I was able to daven ma'ariv with a minyan and I met a lovely family...

Terra di Seta was singularly wonderful and entirely emblematic of exceptional Tuscan cuisine. From the moment we began our drive through the twisting Tuscan fields, surrounded by grape Vines, olive groves, and fields of sunflowers, to the time we pulled up to their picturesque winery, we were already primed for an amazing experience and we were not disappointed.

We were served a fixed menu of a delightful chickpea soup made from locally sourced chickpeas and rosemary. The soup was creamy and warm, plated beautifully and was the perfect subtle start to our meal.

Next, we had choice of a pastas and gnocchi. Both were incredible, but the gnocchi were next level, served in a light cream sauce with arugala from their garden and pecorino. I even had the chance to watch them make it from scratch, just for us!

They also brought over a fresh zucchini salad, made from zucchinis grown in their garden and dressed with olive oil made from their olives.

We then had a sea bream cooked en papillote with garden tomatoes and herbs. It was flaky and glistening and hurting with flavors of the bright Earth and salty sea.

We closed the meal with a perfect semi-fredo. A perfectly portioned, balanced chilled custard that closed the meal with a delicious sweet note.

In summary, the experience was everything you can dream of under the Tuscan sun, from ambiance to hospitality to cuisine.

My absolute highest...

Terra di Setta is a must visit location if you keep kosher! We rented a car in Florence and spent two days in Tuscany, almost a full day in the Terra di Setta winery. The tour was lovely, the owner Daniel, took us on a tour of the vineyards. He was very kind, passionate about his work, and knowledgeable. He told us the history of the vineyard and about how they make the wine. The grounds were gorgeous, every step was another breathtaking view. From there we went to the wine tasting room where we were served bruschetta with tomatoes and olive oil, some cheese (which was delicious!), and 3 of their wines. The wine was unbelievable- rich, flavorful, and just absolutely delicious! I was so disappointed that I was driving and couldn’t order another glass with my lunch.

From the tasting we went to the restaurant for lunch in a lovely garden, it’s really quite picturesque. The menu is limited, but it’s because they serve a few items that they have truly perfected. Everything that was ordered was super fresh, delicious, and different from similar dishes we had ordered in other restaurants. Both my husband and I kept saying what an amazing day it was. Couldn’t recommend this lovely...