IL VISIBILIO — Restaurant in Castelnuovo Berardenga

From the sublime… to the ridiculous

After many years of being fortunate to visit some of the world’s finest restaurants, my wife and I recently visited Il Visibilio. It was the first time we have ever left before finishing, and the first time I have ever thought to actively advise people to avoid such a place, in the vain hope it helps others to avoid the same fate as us.

“Do you trust the chef?” was the question posed of us before and after the first course. That’s an odd question for a restaurant to ask of its diners, since the answer is self-evident. Of course I trust the chef, otherwise I would not have entered the restaurant. Whilst the answer, after a first delicious course was a resounding “yes!” in fact, that very question planted the seed of doubt that later led to our early departure.

“What foods don’t you like?” was also asked of us before we began the blind tasting menu. Again, an interesting question when you think about it, and our natural inclination as polite dinner guests was to say “oh, nothing, we eat everything”. With hindsight, I suspect this question is posed so that the restaurant can say “you didn’t tell us you didn’t like that”, after serving from a list of some of the most obscure and unpopular foodstuffs imaginable. I can fully understand a restaurant wanting to serve delicacies from its local region, but what is a fine dining restaurant for, with all its pomp and ceremony and presentation, if the food is not, at a bare minimum, pleasant enough to eat? It may of course be that the dessert would have saved the day - but by that point we had indeed lost trust in the chef.

“What is your honest feedback?” was the question that, with hindsight, gave me the biggest issue of all at Il Visibilio. It was asked of me after I sent back a dish half eaten (unprecedented in my adult lifetime). After explaining how I felt about the dish, the demeanour of the staff changed. No longer treated as a valued customer, it was like being treated as a culture-less peasant, not worthy of dining at such an establishment. And therein lies the real problem - the menu is served blind because no commercial operation could function on a basis of liver, pigeon claw, pureed snail and sea urchin. People wouldn’t choose it, but that’s ok, it’s designed to provoke a response and take you to culinary places you have never been before. What is wholly unacceptable was the staff response to someone who tells them what they really think, if it’s not entirely positive. This is actually a major deficiency in what was otherwise an exceptionally well trained staff - they knew the story of each dish and articulated it clearly.

Best advice - dine in the next door Osteria, and speak to Luca for his wine recommendations. There, you...

My wife and I have visited many Michelin star restaurants around the world and have enjoyed them without exception; until visiting here.

The menu is a surprise which usually is fine. In this case we were served dishes of food that had seemingly been found on the side of the road; rabbit liver, raw pigeon breast, snail, sea urchin and oyster in lambs lard, among other things.

The most satisfying dish was the bread and olive oil served as a side, which frankly sums up our experience.

The service was fine up until the point where I accidentally dropped a wine glass and was then treated like a drunken criminal! The staff took 10 minutes to clear the glass leaving the shattered remains on the table as a trophy of shame. Not once did they offer to refill the untouched glass of wine that was smashed.

Overall a very disappointing, expensive experience that is not...

Il Visibilio was an unforgettable dining experience! My husband and I took a chance on the blind tasting menu and it completely exceeded our expectations. Every dish was a delight, showcasing Tuscan specialties, seasonal ingredients, and the chef’s incredible use of fresh herbs that elevate the freshness of each dish without ever overpowering. The sometimes playful but always creative presentations made the meal feel like a story unfolding. A highlight was a zero-waste dish that elevated the featured ingredient in a way I never imagined (and that sauce – WOW!). The service team was perfectly orchestrated yet engaging, making the whole experience feel personal. The view of the pristine property and dreamy Tuscany landscape was the perfect touch!

Our sincere thank you to the service team, sommelier and chef for your hospitality....