La Giostra
La Giostra is a family run restaurant with photographs on the wall showing the father (with celebrities) who is the chef and his son, who was serving out table.
The atmosphere in La Giostra is cozy and charming. It is bustling with a mix of locals and tourists. The staff was very friendly and attentive. When they sat us at our table, they handed us a complimentary glass of prosecco (Italian sparkling white wine). It was such a warm gesture and from there the night just kept getting better.
After we placed our order, we were given a free platter of antipasto. It had Prosciutto di Parma, salami, roasted red peppers, olives, peperoncini, mushrooms, artichoke hearts and various cheeses. What a surprise La Giostra sends all of its customers, it was all very nice and very welcoming.
The pear and ricotta ravioli was definitely different yet an extraordinary dish. The ravioli was soft and rich in flavor. You could taste the subtle flavors of both in the freshly made pasta without one overwhelming the other.
We also had spicy seafood pasta. The pasta was cooked just right. The seafood was quite generous. It was very flavorful and it had just the right amount of spicy. We had an outstanding steak cooked with garlic and rosemary. One of the best steaks I have ever had, and I’ve had some amazing steaks. I really enjoyed the perfectly cooked oven-baked sea bass with grilled vegetables. It was very fresh, flaky and moist.
The dessert was mouth watering. We had cheesecake with fruit toppings and complimentary limoncello. It was a perfect end to a terrific dinner.
We enjoyed all our selections. We had a terrific time and felt it was a lively experience.
If you decide to go, you should make reservations ahead of time unless you’re willing to wait at an hour or so.
I am so glad we went to La Giostra and will definitely come back for more when I visit Florence again.
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Phone number: +39 055 241341
Address: Borgo Pinti, 10, Florence, Italy
Hours: Monday through Friday 12:30 to 2:30 pm, 7:00 pm to 12:30 am
Saturday and Sunday 7:00 pm to 12:30 am
