Osteria da Divo — Restaurant in Siena

We had a reservation at 1p.m. which I had made based on great reviews I had read for the restaurant. We arrived at 12:50 and were seated promptly. This was the only thing prompt in our experience at da Divo. We were brought down to the most bottom level of the restaurant which was very musty. If you have lung problems, you will have problems with the air quality on the lower levels. The hostess was also our server and she was visibly stressed with her section. She was running the stairs and looked harried. We were brought a bottle of sparkling water and then proceeded to wait until 1:35 (45 minutes from being sat) for anyone to come and ask if we wanted wine, to take our lunch order or to refill our empty water glasses. Not even bread at the table. Another table was sat down at 1:30 and they were some sort of VIP table. They received a lot of the waitresses attention as well as bar drinks... before we did! Their food also arrived before ours and they had table side truffles and the whole show. The server finally told us that she would be with us shortly, but after that VIP table arrived she gave them all her attention so eventually a young male server came to take our order. We were served the wine promptly and warm bread came to the table but with no olive oil or butter. Yummy but very odd. The food took another 25 minutes to arrive. It was after 2p.m. and we were all famished. We changed our appetizer order and opted to just do main courses as we did not intend to spend two+ hours at lunch. The food was decent. Small portions but tasty and the kitchen had done the meats well. We asked for the bill instead of having the desserts we planned to have. They sounded delicious but we had no faith in the staff. I had made this reservation to have a special lunch while in Siena as we were celebrating my mother-in-laws 80th and my husbands birthday the day before and I felt like I really let them down. It was a waste of time and money. And my husband's breathing was laboured afterwards due to the air quality in the lowest level of the restaurant. I should mention that I worked in fine dining for more than 20 years and was a manager for the majority of it so I know when a restaurant is understaffed. And when the wait staff do not have their priorities in check. Also- to be treated as second class beside a table of VIPs is just never a nice feeling. Not at all. Do NOT recommend...

We found this place looking for somewhere away from the crowds. The location and atmosphere in the restaurant are excellent. Very old architectural features, some apparently dating from Etruscan times! Service was very good with staff speaking English very well if needed. We had two appetisers and two first courses. My wife chose the Fresh Pecorino di Pienza cheese soufflè, kaiser pear, balsamic vinegar reduction and walnut crumble (really enjoyable) and the Risotto Carnaroli with parmesan cheese aged 36 months, spinach emulsion, saffron reduction and grated fresh truffles (quite good). I ordered the Rolled zucchini filled with ricotta cheese, tomato concassè, parmesan wafer, black garlic cream and fried zucchini flower (don’t bother, all appearance over flavours) and the Egg pappardelle with salmi of braised hare, juniper and almond powder (quite good). We also had two glasses of Chianti Classico red wine. We finished the meal with two espresso coffees, mine a caffè corretto alla Sambuca (excellent! Made by someone who obviously drinks it. Complimenti!). The bill with a bottle of water and cover charge: €107. As today is my wife’s birthday, I do not begrudge splashing out for lunch. She enjoyed herself, chose well from the menu, and was pleased to eat in such a charming venue with good service. The place was busy, so they are doing something right. I think that they need to improve certain aspects of their menu to charge the prices that they do. I also realise that the location is a short walk from the duomo and the campo so is targeted at tourists. I live in Toscana and I know I can eat equally well for less. The location, ambience and service are what makes the place, the food is good but not great. I’d say 3.5 out of 5, but there are no half marks, so 4 because of that Caffè corretto!

Edit: Out of interest I had a look at the photos the restaurant provides of the various plates they offer. It is disappointing to see the difference with what I received for my appetiser (first photo) with what they publish as being the plate offered (second photo). There is artistic licence but that Parmesan wafer has been reduced to a few measly pieces and the smear of black garlic cream is not a good look on a plate. I’m amending my rating accordingly...

I had a very poor experience here.

First, I was seated in the very back of a completely empty room at the bottom of their multiple levels of tables. It was freezing cold and a couple entering later than me was seated at the front of that same room, where it was warmer. The restaurant had no more reservations due to the lunch hour, so it was strange that they put me in the back. However, I wanted to enjoy my meal and my book so I did not complain, but it went downhill from there. When I was seated, the waiter asked if I would like water, to which I said yes. I was not brought water until a good 15 minutes later when another waiter came by to (finally) take my order. In contrast, the other couple who arrived later were immediately brought their water after sitting down...

The rest of the service was very curt and made me feel unwelcome. Hoping that the food would make up for the poor service, I was again disappointed. I ordered the wild boar entree and at its price I expected something much more enjoyable. Unfortunately, it was bland and not as tender as was described to my by the waiter. My one star comes from the bread which was served fresh and hot; that was a nice touch at my freezing cold table.

Finally, I was asked to pay in cash instead of credit card, which surprises me given the high price point of this menu. I’m not sure if that’s the restaurant wide policy but it was strange.

I would warn all solo travelers to avoid this place; the service was terrible and the pricey food did not make up for it. It did appear that couples and groups were treated better but I would say that there are other restaurants in Siena with better food for...