Casa Ciabattini — Restaurant in Florence

Allow me to paint you a portrait of a truly memorable Florentine dining experience - one that began not in the restaurant itself, but in a quiet moment of foresight, asking our hotel receptionist for his personal favorite. Trust the locals, they say. And on this occasion, trust paid dividends in spades.

After a sun-drenched day weaving through the medieval marvels of Pisa, San Gimignano, and Siena, we returned to Florence weary but hungry - with appetites both sharpened and expectant. What followed was not merely a meal, but a celebration of Tuscan hospitality and culinary heritage.

From the moment we arrived, the service struck a perfect chord: warm, genuine, and effortlessly orchestrated. There is a distinct pleasure in watching a team that works not with mere efficiency, but with evident pride, affection, and an almost familial synchronicity.

Bread; so often overlooked, deserves special mention here. Rustic, freshly baked, and full of flavor, it was served alongside a silky olive oil and aged balsamic that whispered of vineyards and time. It was the sort of bread that reminds you how extraordinary simplicity can be when executed with integrity.

And then, the courses began to arrive like movements in a well-composed symphony:

Terrina di fegatini di pollo con nocciole, vin santo e pan brioche - a chicken liver terrine enriched with hazelnuts and sweet vin santo, served with toasted brioche. It was indulgent, yet perfectly balanced.

Zuppa di cipolle con crostone di pane e formaggio gratinato - the onion soup, molten with gratinated cheese, was comforting and deeply savory, evoking the rustic soul of Tuscan kitchens.

Tartara di manzo battuta al coltello - hand-chopped beef tartare, delicate yet muscular, elevated by a touch of mustard and a whisper of homemade mayonnaise.

The mains maintained this high note:

Fettuccine al ragù di casa - a rich and hearty ragu, though the pasta, just a breath past al dente - the only minor imperfection in an otherwise stellar affair.

Calamari alla griglia con crema di piselli freschi - the grilled calamari was smoky and tender, perfectly complemented by a velvety fresh pea purée that sang of spring.

Ossobuco alla Fiorentina - a dish that can so easily be heavy-handed, here executed with finesse; meltingly tender, robust in flavor, yet light enough to savor every bite.

The wine list was extensive, a true oenophile’s playground. I relinquished the decision to our charming waitress, whose selection was, without question, sublime.

In sum: a rare five stars from me, and a restaurant I would recommend without hesitation. A gem tucked away in Florence, glowing not just with good food, but with...

This is a delayed review (from November 2023) but I couldn't bear the thought of not leaving a review of how amazing this place is. We ate here twice off the recommendation of Aris our Airbnb owner. This place is INCREDIBLE, when I made the booking I stated I was vegan and it was totally okay if they didn't have many options as I really wanted my partner to try their food. They went above and beyond from sitting us down and straight away going through what they could make vegan, they took the time to explain some beautiful local wines and really took the time to make this the best dining experience we had in Italy. They went out of their way to make me a beautiful velvety pumpkin soup, truffle pasta and an off the menu vegan dessert consisting of dark chocolate, compote and fresh berries. We came back here a second time later on during the week and when they recognised us treated us to a glass of sparkling wine. The menu here is amazing just some really inspired young chefs creating beautiful food. My partner had the FETTUCCINE AL RAGU DI CASA and he said it was one of the best meals he has ever eaten. I can't wait to plan our next trip from Australia so we...

Where to start…. Firstly our waiter said he wouldn’t decant the corked wine he’d given us as essentially it wasn’t expensive enough for use of his vacant decanter. Food was average - tagliatelle was over cooked on both mine and my partners plate. Sauces were ok. About what you expect when paying for there.

The waiter said he would get us bigger wine glasses instead of a decanter, then never brought them over.

Ordered the bill very early, having eaten 1/4 of our meals and having drank about 1 glass of wine from our entire bottle. No question was asked about why we were leaving or what was wrong. Instead when we asked for the bill, he made us wait another 10 minutes until I got up myself and requested the bill from the bar inside.

CANNOT believe the rating of this place on google. Don’t go anywhere near it.

Also, when we arrived we saw another man who was moaning about overcooked gnocchi. At the time I thought he was a precious customer. Obviously now I can see he probably had a similar experience.

I imagine they are paying for ratings on google and...