Tuscan Dining in Florence Italy
Osteria dei Fiorentini
written by Anna Hunter, Daniel Schroeder, Brianna Cassese, Abigail Larson & Kaitlin Deans
Osteria dei Fiorentini is owned by Demetrio Libri and Antonio Bertacchini, who opened the restaurant with the idea of creating an intimate Tuscan tavern. It is located on Via Cimabue 1R, 50121 Florence, Italy. The restaurant is open from 6:30 pm -10:00 pm every evening with a fair number of seats, but it is recommended to get a reservation on busier nights, such as Friday or Saturday.
One of the things we’ve come to love about Italian culture is the tradition of long, laughter-filled dinners, and our visit to Osteria dei Fiorentini in Florence really brought that to life with its charming, rustic feel. The dim lighting and quiet environment made it easy to settle in and enjoy the slower pace of an Italian meal. We appreciated how the smaller size of the space made it feel more intimate. The menus, clipped to slightly worn clipboards and available in both Italian and English, added to the homey atmosphere.
For our appetizer, we chose a plate of tomato bruschetta. This Italian classic brings the simple ingredients of toasted bread, garlic, tomatoes, and basil together to create the perfect light starter. From the primi piatti section of the menu, we ordered the Pappardelle al Cinghiale which is a dish composed of wide, flat noodles accompanied by a wild boar sauce. The savory red sauce with the addition of herbs and vegetables, made this dish a hearty comfort meal with bold flavors. We also ordered the tagliolini with seasonal fresh truffles. While this dish appears simple due to a modest sauce, the earthly elegance of the fresh truffles allowed the dish to feel luxurious. Lastly, from the primi piatti section, we ordered the gnocchi with scampi. The soft potato dumplings and shrimp were tossed in a tomato red sauce simmered with vegetables and topped with creamy cheese that added a savory depth with hints of sweetness to the dish. From the secondi piatti section of the menu, we ordered the beef sirloin tagliata, cooked medium rare. The dish was topped with truffles and a creamy pecorino cheese sauce, creating a flavorful combination.
For dessert, we enjoyed the chocolate and coffee mousse. Each bite was delightfully sweet with a bold chocolate flavor. Additionally, we ordered the tiramisu, consisting of an intense coffee flavor and a rich mascarpone cream. While the flavors were delicious, we have to critique the over-soaked lady fingers, which resulted in a lack of consistent texture across the dish. At the end of the meal, our server brought a complimentary cinnamon liquor to aid digestion.
Based on the restaurants we have been to thus far in Florence and the menus we have looked at online, the prices for Osteria dei Fiorentini’s menu match the typical prices for those items. At Osteria Cancello dei Macci, which is located just inside the city center, for a dish similar to the beef sirloin tagliata sampled above it is 34.50 euro, whereas it is only 23 euro at Osteria dei Fiorentini. The tagliolini with truffles sells for 22 euro, which is slightly more expensive than the same dish found at restaurants near the Duomo. The dessert menu at Osteria dei Fiorentini is in the same price range as many other restaurants, with their desserts falling in the 7-9 euro range. Overall, the menu prices for the portion of food and the quality of food were very reasonable. Prices listed are sourced from Quodeup.
We found the service at Osteria dei Fiorentini to be fair, though not exceptional. The restaurant seemed slightly understaffed, as we noticed only two servers throughout the evening, one of whom was also managing the bar. As a result, the staff appeared a bit rushed and overwhelmed at times. Despite this, our overall experience remained positive with our server being friendly and welcoming, offering helpful notes on the menu, and answering our questions with patience. While the service could have been more polished, the staff’s genuine effort and kindness helped create an enjoyable dining experience.
Overall, our meal was of high quality, with each meal composed of fresh ingredients. While the service could improve, we would still recommend any of these meals for a dinner outside the city center. Dining there wasn’t just about the food; it was about enjoying the moment, sharing stories, and embracing the heart of Italian dinner culture. Our dinner at Osteria dei Fiorentini was a nice example of a Tuscan-style meal and gave us a glimpse of real Italian culture.