Regina Bistecca — Restaurant in Florence

Atmosphere: Regina Bistecca is situated in a convenient area. However, despite the potential for a warm and inviting atmosphere, my experience was overshadowed by numerous service issues that detracted from the overall ambiance.

Service: The service at Regina Bistecca was highly disappointing and marred by multiple problems from start to finish. Upon arrival, with a reservation, I was asked for my name three times within 10mins by the same staff member, indicating poor communication and attentiveness. 15mins later, I was shown to a table that was missing a chair. Despite The waitstaff appeared disorganized, with one staff member bumping into the table next to ours, causing a candle to fall and burn a napkin.

The situation worsened when the neighboring table added two guests, leaving no gap between us, and no staff attended to help or relocate them, resulting in a cramped and uncomfortable dining experience. Additionally, when a share plate was placed on my table, it was set on the napkin with the restaurant’s logo upside down—indicating a lack of attention to detail.

The staff frequently ran around the restaurant, creating a chaotic environment, and one even knocked over a side table. The dessert cart, which included perishable items like tiramisu, was left unrefrigerated in 35-degree weather, raising concerns about food safety.

Service lapses continued with a steak knife being thrown onto the table when changing cutlery and staff mumbling dish names as if speaking to themselves.

In one particularly unprofessional incident, a female staff member cutting our steak was interrupted by a male colleague, leading her to throw down the cutlery and walk away in frustration, rolling her eyes. But our steak was not cut properly.

Meanwhile, a table of 6 guests complaint about the weak AC, they insisted to change table, the server was arguing with them in an unpleasant voice. Also, there was another table of 3 guests left angry with their dissatisfaction during their main courses.

Food: The food at Regina Bistecca did not meet expectations. The Bistecca alla Fiorentina, the restaurant’s signature dish, was not only improperly cut but also lacked the tenderness and flavor one would anticipate from a well-prepared steak.

Wine List: The wine selection at Regina Bistecca might have been commendable, but our experience was tainted by the poor presentation and lack of guidance from a sommelier. This significantly diminished our enjoyment of the meal.

Desserts: Due to the service issues, decided to leave without having the desserts that was part of the set menu, and no one enquired about our satisfaction.

Overall Experience: Despite being listed among the world’s 101 best steak restaurants, Regina Bistecca fell significantly short of expectations. The numerous service failures and the poor quality of the signature steak overshadowed the positives. The chaotic and inattentive service, coupled with unprofessional staff behavior and a poorly executed main course, made for a highly disappointing visit. If this restaurant is representative of the world’s best, then it seems the standards for such lists may need...

Food: excellent

Service: poor to the point we felt we were almost intentionally ignored.

Everything was delicious. We were a table of four and we ordered one of each the preset steak dinner options.

First, our server was pretty friendly and seemed attentive, then as time went on we realized other tables had their cut of meat shown to them before cooking while ours was just brought out and cut before us. We weren't asked if we wanted extra salt or pepper although three tables around us were. Nothing too bothersome or worth making a fuss over.

My wife asked three times for a negroni.

After we finished the entrees, we waited about a half hour after asking twice for dessert. Tables around us however were consistently well-tended to. Our server was clearing empty tables and more attentitive to newly sat tables whose meals seemed to move much more fluidly than ours.

We asked for the bill twice. Another nearly half hour wait for the attention.

We still left 30 euro tip on a bill that we felt deserved none. I have worked in the food industry nearly my entire life and I understand the service dynamic; I feel this experience was unacceptable.

Tables next to us ordered and finished their meals in significantly less time than we did.

We had told several different members of the staff of our requests. Clearly none of them were relayed because after waiting we had to remind our original server, who would constantly walk past us, of what we needed and the reaction was of what seemed to be feigned forgetfulness.

Other than those concerns, everyone else in the establishment clearly were better served. The steak was delicious as were all the sides. The potato au gratin and creamed spinach sides were amazing. And despite everything else the wine suggestion by our server was excellent as well.

I acknowledge my experience is probably the rarity and before anyone asks why I didn't seek redress with any manager, he seemed too busy wooing a clearly wealthy couple...

STOP LOOKING - GO HERE!!!! I know you. You are an American heading to Italy/Florence and you want to have this bistecca thing you've heard so much about. You are sitting on your couch, or your desk at work or probably even on the toilet. You feel overwhelmed. It seems every square inch of Florence is either a basillica or bistecca. How to choose? How to know which is best? I know this, because I was once like you. Stressed, worried, annoyed.

STOP LOOKING. GO HERE. This is a fancier place, but it is a little whimsical. The staff is amazing. All dressed up, bow ties, most speak English better than I. The host knew how to pronounce my last name, which in all my years only 1 other person has been able to do. (I was smitten). Funky art on the walls. Some classic paintings, and is that... Batman? And what's sitting high up on that window - a little plastic figuring of the rat from Ratatouille? Not a stuff place but super nice. Good restrooms too. I know- the food. Just shut up and go here. First you get bread. Then you get a starter of meats and cheese and honey. Then they give you more bread, but this is their fresh homemade and it's excellent. Then - the meat! Buckle up! They have 2 choices - Fiorentino and Toscano. The Fiorentino is a little more expensive but you really must get it. It's solely from the breed of cows only found here. Do not tell them how to cook it. It will come out fairly rare / raw. Shut up. Eat.

The meat is so tender it's shocking. For something that looks uncooked, it is super tender and buttery. It's a true delight to eat. And - if I may say - a lot easier to digest that your typical American steak slathered in sauce or rubs. We Crushed this meal. We both declared this was the best meal of our lives. And that's saying something. Expensive but hands-down worth it. This is what I was hoping for and dreaming about. Get off your...