Il Palagio

We came to Il Palagio because we wanted to do at least one night of fine dining while in Florence. If you’re looking for some very traditional Italian cuisine, this is definitely a pretty good place to visit. Unfortunately, the day before we came, I got sick (I believe it was from my days of continuously eating rich Italian food, which I wasn’t really used to). On top of that, I decided to go all-​out regardless of my weak stomach, and ordered the beef Chateaubriand with seared foie gras and gratinated bone marrow (this is a dish meant for two people to share) for my boyfriend and I. A warning, this dish is REALLY rich. I end up barely eating any even though my boyfriend will vouch that it was very excellent. The dessert was top-​notch. And my boyfriend said his favorite was their risotto. If you’re looking for a nice night out this would be a good choice. However, if you’re looking for light and healthy food, this is probably not the place.

This is an absolutely stunning venue with fantastic service worthy of its Michelin star, but anyone following me knows I’m all about the food and the value, and after some truly epic meals in Modena, I felt that Il Palagio could have performed much better.
From past experience I knew that the 110E 5-​course degustation menu was the only way to go, but the lobster salad (1^st course) didn’t «wow» me, the snail stew (2^nd) was a little slimy, the venison (4^th course: the highlight) was tasty but small, and if it weren’t for all the desert surprises I would have left hungry (and poorer).
The real disappointment was the pumpkin risotto (3^rd course). I have had some truly remarkable risottos in my time on earth, and the pumpkin version here should have been among them, but wasn’t. It was cooked properly, and looked great, but really lacked in flavor.
So my recommendation for a stay in Firenze is to eat simple meals (panini is king here), and to save your splurges for the smaller cities where the setting may be less formal, but the food impresses more (see my reviews from Modena, where 1-​star stretches much, much further)

The best buffet in the world, hands down. Attentive but nonaggressive waiters to take a la carte orders, bring things to your table (if you couldn’t bother to get up and fill your plate yourself), refill wine or offer cocktails/​champagne. Decked out bakery table with breads in all shapes, forms, consistencies to accompany cheeses and charcuterie from the region. A separate room just for fish dishes — marinated, smoked, steamed fish and shellfish of all kinds and a bloody mary bar. Stepping into the kitchen is encouraged, to get hot meat dishes straight from the grill: langoustini, fritto misto, grilled chicken, pork, beef. Fantastic poached eggs with delicate seasoning and shaved truffles.
Lastly, the most incredible dessert station with delicate mousses, fruit tarts, tiramisu, puddings. At 85 euro a person it’s more than worth it. Get ready to gain at least 5 pounds after visiting, and wear pants with an adjustable waist if possible!