Trattoria da Benvenuto — Restaurant in Florence

The WORST Dining Experiences in Florence!

My friend (a young Asian woman with long, straight black hair) found a short, curled, dark brown hair in her black truffle cream pasta—definitely not hers. She pointed it out right away. The waiter brushed it off and said, “That’s just truffle.” Her friend even picked the hair out with a fork and placed it on the plate edge to show him clearly.

Then the chef (or maybe the owner) came over. Instead of taking it seriously, he tried to wipe the hair away with his finger like he was trying to cover it up!! After he wiped off the hair, he looked her in the eye and questioned her, “Where? There’s no hair.” We were all SHOCKED. Nobody said a word. It was only after seeing our silence that he came back and said, unwillingly, “I’ll get you another one.” Still no apology, no explanation, nothing.

We all supported our friend, who stayed calm through it all though she couldn’t speak any Italian. She even had a photo of the dish before eating—the hair is clearly visible.

The way he treated her—like she didn’t matter—felt incredibly disrespectful. Would the response have been the same if she were older? Or even not Asian? It really made us question their attitude toward younger travelers and people of color.

This wasn’t just about finding a hair. It was about how badly the situation was handled. No basic respect, no responsibility. Just denial and blame.

If this happened to your friend, how would you want it handled?

Think twice before...

Stumbled upon this amazing location when walking to one of our city tours. Super accommodating team who spoke english to give their recommendations. Hands down, our best meal since coming to Italy. Authentic dishes and so much food! Our family enjoyed the classics that they are known for, the Bistecca "Alla fiorentina" Fiorentine T- bone, day's special of grilled sea bass, Tagliatelle funghi* porcini (Tagliatelle with mushrooms*), Spaghetti alla carrettiera (Spaghetti with tomato garic red chilly pepper). The server brought the sea bass to the table in the roasting pan with a fresh plate to debone and serve in front of us. What a flavorful dish. The legendary Bistecca Alla Florentina was a show stopper. I chose the zucchini flowers as my side. Everyone enjoyed the side, simply delightful. How full and fulfilled we were at the end of our meal. Thank you for such hospitality and amazing...

After a disappointing experience at a nearby restaurant where we felt judged before we even sat down, this place was a refreshing change.

There was no pretence, just genuine, down-to-earth hospitality and food that felt thoughtfully made. As Asian travellers, we’re aware that not every place treats you the same, and unfortunately, we’ve felt that before. But here, we were treated with basic respect and fairness, which made all the difference.

The T-bone steak was excellent, and while I’m not sure if the pasta was handmade, the sauce was rich, comforting, and full of flavour like something cooked with care in a family kitchen.

You get the feeling this place is run by people who truly care, and that warmth comes through in the food.

Highly recommend if you’re looking for traditional, home style dishes in a place that treats all guests...