Ristorante Gilo' Firenze — Restaurant in Florence

I very rarely feel compelled to leave a review but I was so deeply upset by our experience. My boyfriend had been wanting to try this place for ages and we finally managed to book a table with a group of friends intending to go for drinks. He spoke on the phone and booked a table for us and there was absolutely no mention of dinner or food only. We arrived at gilos albeit slightly late and we were welcomed in a friendly manner and apologized for being late. We asked for the drinks menu and they handed us a menu for food and drinks. As we were intending on having drinks and listening to music we had already had a small meal, so we weren’t hungry for a full meal. We explained this to the waiter and while we were talking about ordering a few bottles of wine and some appetizers the waiter turned completely sour, extremely patronizing and rude and told us we had to leave! Had we been told on the phone that it was dinner until a certain time we would’ve not have eaten before or we would’ve come later for drinks. But even if they did not communicate this prior, they could’ve nicely and politely told us that we had to eat. I have never been spoken to in that way by servers ever. I am most upset for my boyfriend who had been so excited to come and if upsets me that you ruined his experience, we would have liked to order some appetizers, drink wine and come back another day for dinner if we liked it. Someone from the restaurant called us on the phone after we were asked to leave to ask us about it and invite us back but we couldn’t because it was SUCH an awful awful experience and I felt sick for the rest of the evening. I’ve been served by waiters who have an unfortunate attitude before, but this was different, I have never felt more uncomfortable offended and hurt by such disgusting behavior from waitstaff. There’s no reason to talk to anyone the way we were spoken to! You need to do better guys, I hope you can take my feedback and whoever attends in the future has a better experience...

Our apartment was right across the street from this elegant little restaurant, so we decided to give it a try after reading some of the reviews. We were not disappointed! The restaurant is only a year old, so not very crowded. We were able to have our pick of table, and chose one indoors, but with a view of the street. Unfortunately, the traffic rolling by does diminish the atmosphere, but I suppose that’s a problem with any restaurant in Florence. Our servers were exceptional. They spoke good English and we were able to easily converse with them. Our food was lovely. The asparagus risotto, in particular, was a stand out. Our party also ordered a caprese salad which was generous in size, and enough for four people to share. My husband and I shared the sirloin with pecorino sauce and sage. The combination of flavors truly popped. My husband ordered the sea salt caramel cheesecake for dessert and it was possibly the best cheesecake I’ve ever had. Be warned that it has more of a pudding texture - made with marscapone instead of ricotta? - but so, so yummy. I ordered a limoncello for dessert. It’s not on the menu, but ask for it. It was a generous pour, offered in a chilled glass. I wish we discovered this restaurant sooner rather than at the end of our trip. We would’ve eaten there twice. Their sister restaurant is Olivieri, which has been around since 1962. The proprietors know what they’re doing. Glio is...

The ambiance inside Ristorante Gilò was a tasteful fusion of Art Nouveau, Art Deco, and contemporary Asian influences—classy, yet welcoming. The service was seamless and attentive; and our servers were the epitome of professionalism. They graciously walked our group through the menu and explained the preparation of the dishes.

For a first course we shared the Burrata, it was simplicity perfected, with the richness of the cheese balanced by a very delicate and earthy shaved truffle.

As a main course I ordered the Sausage and Asparagus Risotto, a harmony of robust and fresh flavors. The sausage meatballs were a surprising burst of flavor, and the risotto was the perfect texture. The dish was artistic and meticulously plated.

The grand finale, a Panna Cotta with Fruit, was a visual sonnet. The striking splash of sauce brought an unexpected energy and drama to the dish, making it as thrilling to the eye as it was to the taste. The dessert was a fitting end to a meal that was nothing short of a masterpiece.

Every dish at Ristorante Gilò was finished with an artist's touch—vivid, photo-worthy, and packed with flavors that danced delicately on the palate. This restaurant is...