La Leggenda dei Frati — Restaurant in Florence

A very disappointing experience and waste of a night (and money) in Florence.

The positives were: amazing and lovely staff, and the Chef came out to meet us and was extremely nice. A few of the dishes and all of the starting bites were great. I feel bad leaving a negative review and didn’t complain at the restaurant, mainly because it was supposed to be a special night for my wife and I didn’t want to ruin it by complaining, but owe it to anyone looking for reviews to be honest:

Negatives: Due to off season (first week of Feb) it was only my wife and I at the restaurant for a honeymoon dinner and they still didn’t let us check out the balcony for the view. I was told they’ll check with the manager but it never happened. So the “ambiance” was just a boring corner table with plain surroundings you can experience at your local coffee shop for free.

We both had 3 course ala carte. The first courses of beetroot starter, duck ramen and red shrimp dishes were the highlights, very delicious. My wife enjoyed her pigeon main course.

Unfortunately for my order the food got worse with each course. My second course of pumpkin risotto with herring had a weird after taste and smell perhaps from fermented herring, but I couldn’t have more than a bite.

Perhaps more criminal is the inedible main course of lamb I was served. The lamb shoulder was over cooked to the point that it had texture of foie gras. Completely dry and tasteless. I literally couldn’t swallow a bite and had to gulp it down with water and leave it on the plate. There was also two strips of grilled lamb which were ordinary.

I think it’s absolutely inexcusable even for a home chef to screw up cooking lamb, let alone a Michelin star restaurant. I was so upset it ruined the whole night for me, and left my wife consoling me that my gesture of taking her to a Michelin star restaurant was worth it all. Doesn’t matter if we didn’t get the advertised view or enjoyable food.

Imagine paying $400 for two and needing consolation that the thought behind it was worth more than the food or experience. Wish I had bought her a Florence souvenir...

I cannot, in good conscience, give this restaurant a good rating. This is the worst Michelin-star experience I’ve encountered; in fact, it’s the most disappointing meal of my entire trip to Italy. The presentation is beautiful, but the flavors missed the mark completely.

The sweet shrimp dish is the only one I somewhat enjoyed, but it was merely scraps in the soup. It feels ridiculous to be served such a minimal portion for such an expensive meal. Can I please have a full shrimp? The tiny bits in there do not constitute a full serving.

Then came the pasta, which was bland, and the stuffed pasta resembled mush—what was that?

I completely lost it with the next dish: chicken liver. First off, another bread heavy dish after a few bread dishes already. The balancing and pace of this meal is completely off. Secondly, I usually relish, as I love pâté, foie gras, and similar delicacies. However, this dish tasted overwhelmingly bloody, making it inedible.

The pigeon, which I am familiar with and grew up eating, also had an unpleasant taste, oozing with blood. I love a medium rare steak but this dish literally tasted like blood. At this point, I felt nauseated and decided to ask for the check before dessert.

As for the bill, the waitress initially told us the drinks were complimentary, so we decided to give them a try. That turned out to be untrue. We were charged for everything, bringing our total to a staggering $450, which is excessively high, even by US standards.

We left feeling robbed, and I even experienced stomach pain afterward.

If you think you’ll enjoy a nice view during dinner, you are in for a disappointment. We were greeted with trees completely blocking the city skyline, only getting a glimpse of it after our meal.

Additionally, I noticed there were only three tables occupied in the entire restaurant on a Friday night, which was quite telling.

I wish I could have my time and money back. This was for our wedding anniversary and truly completely ruined our day. It’s an incredibly disappointing experience, and I can’t help but feel frustrated...

As a lifelong foodie who has eaten my way through Michelin-starred temples and hole-in-the-wall gems, I can say without hesitation that La Leggenda dei Frati is one of the most memorable dining experiences I have ever had.

The setting alone is breathtaking: Villa Bardini sits high above Florence, with gardens that make you feel like you’ve stepped into a dream. But it is what happens at the table that truly defines this restaurant. I chose the nine-course tasting menu, and from the very first bite, I knew I was in for something extraordinary.

Each course was a story in itself, balancing artistry, innovation, and deep respect for Tuscan tradition. The pacing was flawless, the flavors precise, and the plating so beautiful it felt almost criminal to disturb it. Standout dishes included a course that reimagined seasonal vegetables as if they were jewels on the plate, and a main that struck the perfect harmony between rustic soul and modern finesse. Desserts were whimsical yet elegant, a finale that left me smiling like a child.

The wine pairings were masterful, elevating every course without overwhelming it. The sommelier’s knowledge and warmth made the experience all the more personal. And I must mention the staff: attentive without being intrusive, passionate without pretension. They guided me through the evening with such care that it felt less like dining at a restaurant and more like being welcomed into a world designed to delight every sense.

By the end of the evening, I realized this was not just a meal, it was a journey—an immersion in Florence’s culture, flavors, and artistry, all seen through the lens of a visionary chef. If you love food, beauty, and the kind of experience that stays with you long after the last sip of wine, La Leggenda dei Frati is simply unmissable.

Five stars feels like an...