This place was not swamped but faitly busy. We had the fruit and cheese which was flavorful and fresh. The melon was sweet and the cheese buttery. The quich was moist and hot with plenty of ham anf cheese flavor. We had the pesto ravioli which was the best meal I have had since I have been in italy for thr last 5 days, very cheesy and plenty of basil flavor.
Adele L.
Rating des Ortes: 2 Huntsville, AL
Expensive and poor quality. The veal scallopine, one of the featured daily specials at 13 euros, was fatty and barely edible, but in a thankfully small portion. The wine was acceptable, but for 8 euros a glass, it should have been wonderful. All our plates were delivered at the same time, overwhelming the small table. Why two stars? The pane: it came in two varieties: a lightweight garlic bread and a tasteless standard crusty white. The only other attractive feature was the décor. Go anywhere else.
Irene L.
Rating des Ortes: 5 London, United Kingdom
My last supper in Florence. Initially we went to another restaurant but it was closed for the Christmas and New Year period. So we decided to try Il Cantinone instead. The restaurant is located in the basement. As we entered the restaurant, a customer was leaving. He spoke to us in Italian. We did not understand. But I understood his hand gestures that the food was delicious! Life is indeed full of surprises. I saw the guy who sold me a bag at the leather market in the morning. He works as the kitchen helper at this restaurant in the evening. What a coincidence!!! I had rabbit ragu with spaghettoni(thick spaghetti). Spaghettoni was slightly undercooked but no, it is called al dente. That is the way pasta should be eaten! The aroma of the truffle adds to the flavour. The service was good although it was very busy on a week day evening. Dinner was € 15 including tax. There were Renaissance paintings on display in the restaurant. I imagined we were savouring our food in the Renaissance era… What an ambience!
Dave ..
Rating des Ortes: 3 Milford, CT
I don’t believe that this restaurant deserves the negative reviews. Our experience was very good. The atmosphere was excellent, the wait staff was very attentive, and the food was very good. The cheeses were excellent, the bread soup was really fantastic, and the pasta bolognese was delicious. The prawns were not a big hit, and the bread was bland. The house white wine was very good. We had a great time, and I would not shy away from this restaurant based on previous reviews.
Robyn J.
Rating des Ortes: 1 Memphis, TN
This place is terrible. I’ve been in Italy for a week now, and it’s the only bad meal I’ve had. I had better food from the free buffets in Bologna. This is the only restaurant I’ve been to in Italy that had salt on the table, and now I know why(although no matter how much salt I put on the food, it still wasn’t good). The is one of the only places I’ve eaten in Italy without a Unilocal review or personal recommendation, and I regret it! Fortunately, I was able to stop at Grom on the way back to the hotel to save the evening. I will say that the staff was nice and friendly. I didn’t let them know that I didn’t like the food because I didn’t think I would be able to communicate it to them.
Kale L.
Rating des Ortes: 2 Sacramento, CA
If this restaurant were in the middle of Kansas, it would be good Italian food. However, it’s in Tuscany. Which means that not only was it mediocre Italian food, it was the worst food we had eaten during our entire trip. I only blame myself. I should have looked online first for reviews before settling. Having very little wi-fi, we looked at the outside menu which seemed like a great deal and nice offerings. This restaurant confirms a few things I’ve learned while traveling in Italy. If the menu has pictures, avoid. If the menu comes in languages other than Italian and limited English, avoid. The only exception to this is Za-Za’s. Perfectly touristy and delicious. We ordered the Bolognase and the risotto. Bolognase was surprisingly decent. If I was in small town USA, I might not have been as critical but I was expecting amazing. It’s not amazing. The risotto was inedible. Artichoke Risotto had the whole leaves in the dish! You cannot eat the leaves! No artichoke hearts, just chunks of leaves. We then ordered the grilled swordfish. I was excited as I know that the area is known for it’s grilled meats and I haven’t had swordfish in years. I can’t even begin to explain how gross this dish was. Chewy, full of cartilage. It was supposed to be served with«grilled vegetables». We got a pile of wilted arugula and greasy vegetables. Go to Il Santo Bevitore just down the street instead. A 5 star place with great prices.
Robert S.
Rating des Ortes: 1 San Clemente, CA
Avoid this place! This is perhaps the only restaurant in Italy besides MacDonald’s that uses a micro-wave oven to heat their food! When I asked why I could constantly hear the beep of the microwave, I was told it is to heat the Bruschetta, which made no sense, and I kept seeing different shaped plates coming out of it. If you are looking for a great Tuscan meal, look somewhere else!
Kenny N.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Denver, CO
One of the best streets for culture and food is Santo Spirito. Here I found traditional Tuscany dishes, fine prosciutto, tango dancers, and mysterious beckoning doors. Osteria Il Cantinone finally opened and I was able to reserve seating for 1pm the following day. The next day I again filled myself on wonderful gelato at the Firenze Gelato Festival. That’s how I prepare for fine dining experiences in foreign countries. Dessert first. Brick stairs beckoned downstairs into their ample dining areas. I perused the menu, having already noted the chef recommendations which were posted outside. I started with their second item, the bruschetta topped with burrata, diced tomato, and anchovy fillet. These were simply huge. I immediately regretted having so much gelato earlier, if only because it ruined my appetite. I ate this slowly, savoring each bite. This combination of bread, fresh diced tomato, and burrata was so filling. However, you can’t just have one menu item at a fine Italian restaurant, correct? I feasted my eyes on the wild boar terrine with reduction mushroom and aspic of chianti wine. This is Tuscany here. Wild boar, mushroom, chianti wine. I mixed and matched and achieved a greater appreciation for boar and mushrooms. Cheers to another savory Tuscany experience.