Organika — Restaurant in Cortona

Had high expectations for this restaurant based on the reviews so decided to treat ourselves to the 10 course tasting menu and wine pairing. It was a very mixed bag. We were seated on the terrace and whilst it had lovely views of the sunset, the area lacked the ambience and style of a restaurant positioning itself at the higher end of the market. The music was dreadful. The waiting staff lacked cohesion in appearance and performance. At one point we had to move all of our uncleared plates and glasses to the end of the table before they were collected. Some of the food was absolutely excellent. Interesting selection of amuse bouches and excellent freshly baked bread with delicious flavoured butter. The pigeon dish was a standout. Other dishes felt thrown together at the last minute and didn’t feel like they belonged on the menu. Desert was utterly forgettable. Half a peach plonked in a bowl of wet cream. We were excited about the wine pairing but were sadly very disappointed. All wines served were ‘cheap and cheerful’, which is fine when you are not paying €50 a head to taste 4 very average wines. We have had far more refined and delicious Tuscan wines at a fraction of the cost in all restaurants throughout the region. The wine pairing felt like a blatant attempt to extract money from a less discerning tourist. This meal was expensive but we were nonetheless charged for the round of limoncello on the bill which just left a bad taste in our mouths. Some of the food at this restaurant is very good but, on the whole, the experience was very inconsistent and not particularly enjoyable. To continue charging these prices, lots of changes...

We had dinner at Organika on a “Vini and Vinili” night and it was a mixed experience. On the one hand, the staff were absolutely lovely: warm, accommodating and genuinely kind. I’d accidentally booked for the wrong date (a week later than intended) and despite being fully booked, they still found us a table and went out of their way to set it specially. That gesture set a really positive tone for the evening.

The food itself was exceptional. We did the tasting menu with three starters, two mains and a dessert - every dish was thoughtful, seasonal and beautifully prepared. Easily some of the best food I’ve had in the area. The setting is also gorgeous, with a peaceful, tucked-away location (with amazing views!!) that feels special from the moment you arrive.

Unfortunately, the “Vini and Vinili” format didn’t quite work for us. A local winemaker paired natural, unfiltered wines with each course, which I really didn’t enjoy - the smell was off-putting, the taste average and it distracted from the food. The live music element was also challenging: a very loud mix of country, rap and pop (Eminem followed by “These Boots Are Made for Walking” gives you a sense of it), combined with a large white projector playing music videos that blocked the view and overwhelmed the space. It was disjointed and honestly a bit stressful at times.

It’s a real shame because the food and service were faultless. I’d go back in a heartbeat - but only on a regular night without the wine pairings...

The whole experience was absolutely wonderful. Very intimate setting with only four tables inside, it felt like being invited into a friend’s home and being treated to a multi-course dinner. We didn’t even see the menu prior to showing up nor upon our arrival, there was one tasting menu available and the dishes just kept coming. We did however receive a call from the restaurant a couple of hours before our reservation to ask about our dietary requirements and preferences. Everything was delicious and every dish was explained in detail by a kind and warm waiter who paired the wine with each dish perfectly. I still think about the pasta from Organika and I had a lot of pastas during our stay in Tuscany. We were late by 20 mins and experienced no animosity, we were welcomed with a smile. We even received a loaf of their delicious bread at the end because we mentioned how much we loved it. We really enjoyed the music as well. Truly one of the best dining experiences I...