Boccadarno — Restaurant in Florence

Absolute Disgrace - Assoluta Vergogna

My wife and I where very much looking forward to try this restaurant today, unfortunately, we had a terrible experience. This was extremely disappointing and rightly so, the worst restaurant experience we have had in our life.

Firstly, let me address the absurdity of your waiter's euphoric recommendations, which turned out to be nothing short of a deceitful ruse. We were lured into ordering two dishes that were not even formally listed on the menu, with the assurance that they would be both flavorful and plentiful.

The waiter brought a plate to our table showcasing the available fish options. They where large fishes, each weighing approximately 400 grams. According to his explanation, my wife and I could share a single fish that would be filleted in half and cooked in the oven. However, this turned out to be a blatant lie, as when we received the dish it was no more than 100 grams per fillet and really no signs of the fish we where shown.

The first dish we received, was a mix of vegetables and seafood encased in soft bread crumbs, which was actually quite good. However, the second fish dish that arrived at our table was a bona fide abomination. The fish had a bad smell, which alone was enough to make one's stomach churn, and any semblance of taste was replaced by an utterly repugnant flavor that still haunts my palate. Furthermore, this pitiful excuse for a meal was accompanied by a side of limp, tasteless French fries that resembled nothing more than soggy cardboard.

I must stress that I, an ordinary amateur cook, possess the ability to prepare a fish dish and French fries of far superior quality. The audacity of your restaurant to serve such culinary incompetence is nothing short of an insult to anyone with a discerning palate.

What added insult to injury was the blatant disrespect and lack of professionalism displayed by the waiter. When I voiced my grievances regarding the atrocious fish dish, the waiter had the audacity to dismiss my concerns with a disdainful laugh and an apathetic shrug. This insolence further solidified my belief that this restaurant has no regard for its customers and takes their satisfaction as a mere inconvenience.

The disgusting fish we received costed 28 euros! This preposterous price tag for such a pitiful dish that could only be described as a tasteless joke is an absolute disgust and extremely ridiculous .

I implore anyone with a modicum of common sense and an appreciation for quality cuisine to steer clear of Boccadarno The ill-prepared, repugnant fish dish, combined with the laughable service and exorbitant prices, make it an establishment unworthy of anyone's time or...

We left the restaurant next door with its glaring, nostril flaring, earringed waiter and ordinary €3 coffee and happened upon Boccadarno and their friendly hospitable staff. The two restaurants may be next door to each other but are worlds apart in terms of customer service.

Boccadarno offer a €10 lunchtime menu which includes a first course, a main course and your choice of sparking or still water. The meal portions are generous enough to satisfy, regional dishes, made with good ingredients by someone who understands food.

Our waiter was very personable and sat with us to explain the menu, with helpful suggestions. I’m lactose intolerant so it’s always nice when people take the extra time to guide you through the menu.

I chose the Ribollita, a Tuscan bean and vegetable soup with bread which is fairness is not the most beautiful dish to photograph, BUT the taste was superb and the dish was returned mopped clean with delicious Tuscan bread.

Note: I read a few complaints about the bread in Tuscany. It is made unsalted with a hard crust and a dense texture. Personally I love it as it’s perfect for mopping up the sauce, or great with some grassy olive oil and a splash of balsamic.

My lunch companion had the risotto which was made with Zucchini flowers and looked delicious. We both chose the slow cooked beef with black peppercorns for our second course. It is served in the traditional way (alone) but was so succulent and tasty with flavours that can only be achieved by long slow cooking.

We chose a glass of the House red, a local Sangiovese which was a good accompaniment to the meal.

The waiters were friendly and naturally attentive (a rare combination) who encouraged us to stay and enjoy our wine even though it was clearly closing time. We both enjoyed our meal and I think the €25 bill was good...

This place is absolutely exceptional. It is located just off a little plaza so it wasn't obvious when we first looked for it. Our server, who is also the owner, was welcoming, funny, lively, and gave excellent suggestions. The female owner is friendly and kind. Communicating with them in English was not a problem. The interior is chic and comfortable, and they provide free Wi-Fi that is of reasonable speed.

Now for the food: No words can adequately express how much I love their food. They are so innovative! I had the tropical seafood salad for my first course, and the tuna tataki for the second course, as recommended by the owner. The salad was mixed seafood on top of sliced fruit. It was gorgeous look at, and that fruit and seafood combination was surprisingly wonderful! The tuna tataki was seared perfectly, and the sesame seed crust was a perfect compliment to the fish. It was also served with guacamole and caramelized onions. My companion had the seafood and gnocchi for first course and the octopus for second course. The gnocchi was so soft and pillowy, and in a seafood sauce that was out of this world! The octopus was probably our least favorite dish, but it was still quite good. I think I just like the flavor of grilled octopus better. Lastly, we had a Berry Charlotte that was very pretty and tasted like an excellent mixed berry trifle.

Boccardano is an absolute must eat place in Florence. I will definitely be back the next time I'm in Florence. TEN STARS...