Ristorante Il Profeta Firenze — Restaurant in Florence

Short review: please give your hard earned money to ANY other restaurant in Florence, including McDonald’s. In such an awesome city with incredible restaurants (and people), please do not fall for this trap like I did. I have never been taken so badly in my life.

Google has a character limit on its reviews, so I created a lengthy review that is available on Yelp & Tripadvisor if you want to read the full thing. Below is a quick summary.

Long review: Before I get into it, I want to try to build some credibility with the people reading these reviews. I am very hesitant to write a bad review. My wife and I travel a lot and the number one thing a tour guide or a restaurant owner will tell you is that a single bad review can really hurt their business. A single bad review can negate hundreds of good reviews. I am also from NYC, so I am familiar with sky high prices. Said another way, if we have a bad experience or something was not worth the cost, we usually just shrug it off and move on. Hopefully that gives me some credibility and explains why I almost feel compelled to write this ridiculous review.

Not sure where to start? Maybe at the 7 pieces of asparagus for 21.50 Euros…Or the 4 raviolis for 23.50 Euros…Finally, the restaurants “speciality” and “most famous dish”, the John Travolta pasta. A pasta that is so good, Johnny T had it one night and came back the next day and had it again! It was 6 pieces of rigatoni for 44 Euros...Of course he came back, he made eating two slices of pizza at once famous. He probably wanted to enjoy a double digit number of macaroni pieces before he agreed to let the pasta be named after him…You might be thinking, well maybe these were appetizers? These were main courses.

What makes this robbery worse is that the owner comes over to your table after each course and asks you how the food was with a BIG smile on his face.

I paid my 126.50 Euro bill in cash and walked home with my wife as we laughed out loud talking about that 45 minute heist. You read that correctly, we had a three course dinner in an Italian restaurant in 45 minutes. It could have been 35 minutes, but they take 10 minutes of your time to walk you through their menu.

Why I felt compelled to write this review when I would normally walk out the door and laugh, is I have never experienced this level of egregiously bad behavior before. To charge people 67.5 Euros for 10 pieces of pasta, ask them how it was after with the big “I got you” smile on your face, and tell them that they should have ordered more food is criminal.

And COMPLETELY AVOIDABLE, if there was a double digit number of pasta on our plates, I would not write this review. I would say the restaurant business is a tough one and they have to make money to stay open. But that was not the issue here.

Last thing - I am not telling you not to go to this restaurant, I am simply just trying to warn you that this is a complete scam. And despite this incredibly over the top review, I am not really mad at the restaurant because there will always be places like this wherever you go in the world. I am mad at the hundreds of positive reviews across the various platforms (Yelp, Google, Tripadvisor, etc.) from fellow tourists. I could understand going to the place, getting ripped off, and laughing it off as a tourist trap, BUT to give the place a 4 or 5 star review after they just took you for 6.75 per piece of pasta (67.5 divided by 10 pieces of pasta), charged you a sit down fee of 6 Euros per person and a 10% service fee on top is astonishing. This place also appears to have won an award from TripAdvisor in 2023…

I am going to be posting this review on every single platform there is.

P.S. the restaurant owner will most likely text you about making a reservation. In the text (after he asks you to bring cash because they do not accept credit cards), he says that he loves hungry...

If I could, I would give the restaurant 4.5 stars. First of all, the service was some of the best I have ever experienced in my life. The owner/waiter was incredibly attentive and was quite aware of all things. Most importantly, this was one of the first fancy meals we have treated our children and he was superb with them; they thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Now to the food. We ordered the Tuscan speciality plate, the bread with the worlds “best olive oil” and bruschetta. All were absolutely delicious; excellent. We then moved on to our primary courses. My wife and children all ordered pasta that they each found some of the best pasta they have ever eaten. I ordered a steak and the potatoes. The potatoes were fantastic and on par with potatoes I have eaten at some of the best steakhouses in the United States. The steak came out underdone. The waiter immediately recognized this and took it back. By the time I received my steak, the potatoes were not very hot and the steak probably lost some of it’s flavor. To compound the issue, I had an old lady sitting at the table very close chain smoking while I was trying to eat. It was quite irritating and definitely took away from the meal. The waiter did bring out free dessert as I think he realized my meal was not up to the experience of the other dishes. The dessert was great. I give everything a solid 10 and my meal a 7 and the service a 10. Next time I will just order pasta; I wish I had gone with the gnocchi and requested that we move tables when the chain...

Ristorante I'll Profeta is a hidden gem in the heart of Italy. Tucked away in a charming corner of a small town, this restaurant offers an unforgettable dining experience. And among their many delectable dishes, the "John Trivolta" pasta stands out as a true masterpiece.

From the moment the plate arrives at your table, you can't help but be captivated by its vibrant colors and enticing aromas. The pasta itself is cooked to perfection, with a delightful al dente texture that melts in your mouth. The sauce, a perfect blend of rich tomato and savory herbs, complements the pasta beautifully.

But what truly sets the "John Trivolta" pasta apart is its unique presentation. The dish is artfully garnished with fresh basil leaves and grated Parmesan, creating a visual feast that is almost too beautiful to eat. Each bite is a symphony of flavors, a harmonious combination of tangy tomato, fragrant herbs, and the subtle saltiness of the Parmesan.

The service at Ristorante I'll Profeta is impeccable, with friendly and knowledgeable staff who are passionate about their craft. The ambience of the restaurant is warm and inviting, making it the perfect place to indulge in a truly memorable dining experience.

Overall, Ristorante I'll Profeta and their "John Trivolta" pasta exceeded all expectations. If you're a fan of authentic Italian cuisine and crave a culinary adventure, this restaurant is an absolute must-visit. I guarantee you won't be...