Ristorante Arnolfo — Restaurant in Colle di Val d'Elsa

If you’ve never eaten at a Michelin-star restaurant—or done so while traveling abroad—Arnolfo can feel both exciting and a little intimidating. My partner and I had lunch here while living for a month in Colle di Val d’Elsa, and it was one of the most memorable food experiences of our lives as it is designed to be.

We walked from our Airbnb in Colle Bassa to the restaurant, which sits in a modern building surrounded by olive trees and a nearby highway. (It used to be located closer to Colle Alta, the historic center.) The walk was a bit tricky—there aren’t sidewalks the whole way—but it’s possible to come through Colle Alta instead for an easier route or to drive and park there (but we didn't have a car).

When we arrived, we weren’t sure where the entrance was—there’s a path that wraps around the building—but someone quickly greeted us. I was very warm from the walk and never quire cooled down as the restaurant is all inside without an open air space. I wore long pants and a blouse as most women there were dressed in October, but warm nonetheless. The staff had confirmed our reservation several times in advance, and you do need to provide a credit card to hold your booking. They were waiting for us, so it felt nice to be welcomed.

We chose the 2 p.m. Thursday lunch service since no evening reservations were available during our stay. We thought lunch might be more affordable, but that wasn’t really the case—it’s still a luxury meal and discounts aren't really a thing. You seem to get the same experience lunch or dinner, which seems fair---only a different view of Colle, which is stunning.

Once seated, they offered us water, and throughout our three-hour meal we shared two bottles at €6 each. For wine, we opted for a single glass instead of the €140-per-person wine pairing. My glass was €30, and I made it last the entire meal. We love wine and deeply appreciate their sommelier, but we had the walk back to consider and our budget. We planned for about 500 euro.

We each selected one of the menus: I chose the vegetarian menu, and my partner had the contemporary menu. Both were extraordinary—beautifully plated, creative, deeply respectful of ingredients and tradition, and full of flavor. The meal included around 16 small courses and tastings between our menu and chef complements, each one artful and distinct. We were in awe of the care, imagining the preparation and skill in eat plate. We savored every bite and we're grateful we planned and could be in this place at this as time of our lives.

We did experience some uncertainty throughout—like whether the bread selection or the cheese cart were included in the fixed-price menu or extra. (We politely declined both, just to avoid any surprises.) Everything is exquisitely presented, and knowing the details up front can help you feel more relaxed and fully enjoy the experience. We know there are people who may say that money shouldn't matter or that we should care if bread is an upcharge, but it is. We scanned the menu from a QR code, so this information may have been in the fine print somewhere, and we also could have asked up front. I was a little embarrassed 😳 .

The service was gracious and professional. Multiple staff members attended to us—a sommelier, a lead server, and assistants—and while we weren’t always sure who was responsible for what, they worked seamlessly as a team. Everyone spoke both Italian and English.

When it came time to leave, we remembered that in Italy, you have to ask for the check. The staff guided us to the bathrooms (hidden behind a seamless wall door with crisp white towels) and saw us out through the tall woodeb doors, saying warm arrivederci.

By the time we stepped outside, the afternoon light over Colle Alta was glowing, and the restaurant looked stunning against the hillside.

This was a once-in-a-lifetime meal for us—a teacher and retiree traveling for a year, living one month at a time in new places. It was expensive, yes, but also extraordinary. We’ll remember the art, the care, and the sense of...

I would have given it 5 stars if it wasn't because I didn't like the service so much. The waitresses took my cutlery and dishes EVERY TIME from the right side (because it was more comfortable for them to take both plates and cutlery all from the same place, not for you, because they were crossing their arms in front of you) when you're supposed to take it ALWAYS from the left. They serve you water constantly without even asking if you wanted more, the same with the wine. The "sommelier" was ALWAYS serving the wine first to the men (when it should be first to the women), and she was serving EVERY TIME more wine to my friend than to me. First of all, it should be the same amount for ALL the guests, but if you consider that usually the men are the ones driving, if you're gonna serve more it should be to the person that doesn't drive (by logic no by protocol)... The cutlery wasn't polished. And the waitresses didn't take the bread crumbles from the table until almost the end, when they were ready to bring the dessert. This is obviously a little details, that diminished an amazing experience. Because the place is great, the view couldn't be better, and every dish is a piece of art itself. The tastes are heavenly combined to perfection, balanced and carefully chosen. I order a vegetarian and gluten free option, and it was taken care of in an amazing way. I haven't tried such good gluten free breads before. They really take a very good care of the allergens, and that show the professionalism of their kitchen staff. They have a beautiful place, with an open kitchen. One of the most beautiful ones I have ever seen. The price for the experience is more than reasonable for what you get in return. You can choose 3 different experiences (with meat, fish or vegetarian), and the wine list is big enough to find great wines at a very good price to combine with the meal. It was worth every cent, we spent 3 hours and a half of an amazing experience. The owners come to say hi (to each table), and ask you how everything is during the experience, and I consider it is such a...

Outstanding. Someone give Gaetano Trovato his 3rd michelin star already.

Food 10/10: The food is outstanding, and prepared to perfection. I went in a group of 8, and we had the seafood tasting menu which was incredible, very precise presentation, great vibrant colors and also delicious and fun to eat. The wine pairing, mostly from local Tuscan wineries, was also perfect. Unless you really know your stuff, don't try and select your own wine from their 10,000 bottle cellar. Let their nice sommeliers pick for you.

Staff 10/10: Super attentive servers, extremely professional, but also capable of humor! They made us feel welcome, and were confident and knowledgeable. The kitchen is open to the dining room, and I didn't hear a peep coming from there. Very disciplined and stoic lot.

Ambience 10/10: The building itself is striking, the interior super clean and beautiful, the wine cellar something to behold, the kitchen immaculate and silent. Though the grounds are immaculate, the place will only grow more beautiful with time since the trees are currently young.

Opinion: Mr. Trovato definitely knows how to make delicious food and how to present it well. His precision and meticulous nature really comes through in all aspects of this place. From the architecture to the glassware. His kitchen, and service staff are also superb. I think the only reason this restaurant has 2 michelin stars is because it play safe somewhat. But I don't think that's a bad thing. A lot of it has to do with politics, and I think it's only a matter of time until they get recognized for...