Culinaria Bistro De Gustibus

My friend and I made dinner reservations here on our last day in Florence. It was a bit out of the way from the heart of downtown Florence, but boy was it worth it.
We joked between ourselves during the trip that we were but a pair of «dirty foreigners» gallivanting through Italy; the owner Andre, however, could not have made us feel more at home in his restaurant. Andre patiently took the time to translate each item in the menu, as well as give us a brief history of the origins and influences of Italian food.
We ordered several courses to share: starting with cheese and jam and a plate of prosciutto and cold cuts, then tortellacci with ham, followed by spinach and sesame sauce, with a main course of tajine, and ending with a slice of strawberry cheesecake. The different courses thrusted these new interesting combinations of taste that I never before imagined. I did think that the salad was underwhelming compared to the other dishes, but overall the food was simply delectable.
In total, we stayed in the restaurant for almost 3 hours. Andre regularly came back to check on us even when the business started to pick up, which we appreciated immensely. Our bill ended up around a reasonable € 35 pp. Out of everywhere else I had eaten on that trip, I no doubt had the best experience here!
One final note: the hours listed here are not entirely accurate. When we went, the restaurant was open on Tuesdays (and closed Sundays). When we asked Andre about the discrepancy, he explained that the hours can vary depending on the month. Make sure to double-​check the hours before going.

A group of us were craving some tagine in Florence. So glad we found this place. Incredibly nice staff. Amazing food. The smells were incredible. I will go back for sure before I leave Florence. Grazie mille!

This new restaurant opened in January 2015 and I have been wanting to try it, so I created a Unilocal event so that our group could set out to taste most of the menu :). This was an excellent way to get a sense of the variety of dishes offered, and also to taste a few that I probably would not have chosen.
The place already promised well since it is run by a group of people I already know through a long-​running enogastronomical association called De Gustibus, though the restaurant is a business rather than an «associazione». The associazione organizes dinners as well as tours and activities, mostly at cost. There is crossover though: De Gustibus partners with local producers of all things good, from wine to salami and cheeses, not only in Tuscany but also further north (one of the partners is from Alto Adige and brings back the best apple juice ever). I was happy to find many of these products on the menu and for sale in the restaurant.
On our taster menu: a wonderful hummus with vegetables (they made it without garlic for me, so it’s the first time I’ve been able to actually eat hummus!); a very tasty «tortino» with scarola and leeks; platters of meats and cheese; artchokes sliced finely and topped with tartufo; cooked spinach rendered delicious with sesame oil; and then their «tajine», terracotta containers with either vegetables or meat slow-​cooked inside — we had lentils and zucca, which was interesting. I was impressed that by using all very natural ingredients (including no commercial broth, which crops up in more restaurants than you’d think), everything was extremely flavourful.
The atmosphere of the place is also adorable — it’s quite small and intimate, so I’d recommend reserving to make sure you get a seat.

Although the amazing company may had affected my opinion, I have to say, not only this place is very nicely furnished and attention to details is pretty evident — when you see the entrance gate or you hear background music in the outdoor threshold -, the food itself is spectacular.
Paintings and pictures hanging in each corner, plants, vintage hangers, wooden furnishings and warm red bricks following the curvy walls.
Dishes are served on a blackboard, bread straw baskets, lil plates
.
We had this deal where we got to taste a bit of everything: from the homemade hummus to sesame oil fresh spinach, to a breathtaking cous cous served with pumpkin and lentils, trimmed with caramelized oranges, cooked in a tajine to the truffled artichoke carpaccio that was unbelievable.
Food is fresh, tasty, light and the ambiance invites you to relax and enjoy the beauty of this experience.
Bravo to the staff!