Ostaria dei Centopoveri — Restaurant in Florence

During my recent visit to Florence, I had the pleasure of dining at Ostaria dei Centopoveri. It was an exceptional culinary experience that left a lasting impression. From the exquisite food to the friendly staff, this restaurant truly surpassed my expectations.

Food: The food at Ostaria dei Centopoveri was nothing short of exceptional. I opted for the set 3-course meal, and it was worth every penny. The highlight of the evening was undoubtedly the steak, which I can confidently say was the best steak I have ever had. The meat was cooked to perfection, tender, and bursting with flavor. Each bite was a delightful experience that had me savoring every moment.

Generous Portions: The portion sizes at Ostaria dei Centopoveri were generous, to say the least. The quality of the food was matched by the quantity, and my dining partner and I found ourselves unable to finish everything on our plates. We ended up taking some of the delicious food home with us, ensuring that the delightful flavors would continue to linger even after leaving the restaurant.

Staff: The staff at Ostaria dei Centopoveri were not only attentive but also incredibly friendly. Among them, Thomas stood out as a shining example of excellent customer service. He was extremely helpful and a joy to talk to. Not only did he provide us with outstanding service, but he also went above and beyond by giving us recommendations of places to visit in Italy and other must-try dishes. His warm and welcoming demeanor made our dining experience even more memorable.

Overall Experience: If I could rate Ostaria dei Centopoveri higher, I would. The entire experience, from the remarkable food to the friendly staff, was truly outstanding. The restaurant offers an ambiance that is both cozy and inviting, allowing guests to relax and enjoy their meal to the fullest. Whether you are a local or a visitor to Florence, I highly recommend dining at Ostaria dei Centopoveri for an unforgettable culinary journey.

TLDR: Ostaria dei Centopoveri in Florence exceeded all expectations with its exceptional food, generous portions, and friendly staff. The set 3-course meal, particularly the steak, was a highlight of the dining experience. Thomas and the rest of the staff provided impeccable service, making us feel welcome and valued throughout our visit. I cannot recommend this restaurant highly enough. If you're looking for a memorable dining experience in Florence, make sure to visit Ostaria dei...

I know I'm going to sound cliche about another one of their 5 star reviews, but please hear me out. I promise you'll know what I mean when you decide to eat here.

So we had one big starter meal with a mussel dish. I'm from New Zealand and I know my mussels so I wasn't jumping up and down ecstatically when I saw them.. They were a bit small and could be fresher in my opinion... Sorry I said it! However! - the sauce it came in really made me feel better. So good.

The next came my seafood pasta and my partner's ragu dish. So my seafood pasta was really salty... Like REALLY salty. But there I was.. opposite to my partner's ragu choice.. and I was banging my head why didn't I just get a ragu dish?! I stole one big bite of the ragu. Please do yourself a favour and just get that please...

Then... We thought we should get a meat dish. So the steak fillet arrived in medium. If I can suggest you get the steaks on the rare side as long as it's not the Florentine steak? Now I normally like my meat on the medium rare side but seeming that the other restaurant gave us a rare Florentine steak.... I didn't want to risk another rare steak.

So I was a little bummed out that my partner won when it came to his choice inthe menu... Because I'm normally the one who wins.

So the kid deep down inside my soul was pouting like a kid. I wanted to leave but my partner couldn't get enough of feeling like a winner. We wanted desserts. Now, here is the main reason why I gave this restaurant 5 stars! We started with the chestnut pudding and I couldn't get over how light and aromatic the flavours were. So by the time we had our last bite, we remembered someone else's review about the ricotta cheesecake with cranberry sauce. I've never had such a smooth and silky ricotta cheesecake with a unpredictable cheesecake base. It's not your typical new York style cheesecake but rather the opposite. I assumed they whisked the ricotta to the point it's the texture of a whisked cream but since it's ricotta, imagine a little denser than that. Is curdling the word I was after?

I honestly didn't want to review because I didn't want to battle for tables, the next time I decide to visit Florence... But here...

My wife and I stumbled on this place one evening as we explored Florence. It is somewhat unassuming, and we were about to walk on by when the incredibly charismatic Claudio suddenly appeared. They had no tables available, but his friendly demeanour caused us to stop for a chat. He assured us a table would be ready soon and in return for waiting a few moments, he offered a free cup of wine! After a brief wait Claudio brought us to our table and we were introduced to our server, Dovi. He is a very friendly young man, originally from the beautiful country of Albania. He provided us with a level of service that goes far beyond what one would expect. To say we were treated like royalty would be an understatement. I know a few reviews mentioned feeling slighted because they did not speak Italian but that was not our experience. We are from Canada and do not speak a lick of Italian. If anything, they made is feel like we were locals who had been coming there for years. Beyond the exceptional service, the food was equally amazing. Despite very reasonable prices, the portions were huge, and the quality was top notch. My Florentine steak was absolutely massive and was prepared perfectly. We also had pasta, wine, charcuterie, and a bean side dish, all of which were excellent. We finished off this memorable meal with a nice dessert accompanied by cappuccino which Dovi made extra special with a shot of Amaro Nardini. I do not usually spend this much time on a review, but I feel compelled to share just how excellent this place is. We dined at many great restaurants during our time in Italy, some much fancier, but this one is at the top of our list! If you find yourself in Florence please drop by and experience all this wonderful restaurant...