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| My Review |
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I was browsing through some old notes the other day and realised that I had not added this to the site. My impressions are now very old, but I add this entry in case anyone would like to give a more recent view.
Annie Feolde is the long established cook here, and had 3 Michelin stars back in the early 1990s, which is when we went. The restaurant lost its third star in the late 1990s, then (most unusually) regained it in 2004, all with the same chef at the helm as far as I am aware. I have to say that, based on our experience, Michelin got it right when they demoted it. We had some extremely expensive but deeply ordinary food, including a pasta dish whose texture was distinctly on the hard side. Stella's fish main course was cooked adequately but did not seem to be of particularly great quality.
I was even more surprised by a chocolate dessert that featured grainy ice cream. quite bizarre when you can throw a stick in Florence and hit a nice ice cream shop. Service was rather stiff.
If anyone has been recently I'd be interested in your experiences. |
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14/08/2010 11:14:06 - Colin and Marie (Australia)
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| Ah yes.... rich trap for tourists! We were delighted to get a booking on short notice... but... the adventure began with a water menu that had prices in excess of many quality wine list we have seen. The food was good enough but our memory of this restaurant were around stiff service ("no sir you cant begin with a beer... this is an entoteca") and the price. The food was good enough but the small culinary "gifts" from the kitchen between courses were consistently more interesting than the actual ordered courses. Dessert at a jazz club up the road was the best part of the meal. |
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10/03/2010 - Piet ()
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| It is at moments like this that I am *so* grateful for sites like this one. I had intended to eat here later this year. Not only have you (all of the posters) saved us a boat load of money, but more importantly, a wasted night of our short holiday. Thank you all! |
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09/07/2009 - J Arrowsmith (UK)
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| I visited the restaurant last week and whilst I really enjoyed all the food, I am at a loss as to how the cheapest starter is 70 euros and wines start at 100 euros (with very little choice at this level). Even Pinot Grigio was 150 euros! The overall cost of the meal for two of us was 650 euros and we didn't go mad - we couldn't afford to! A minor compensating factor was the gift of a bottle of red wine that we were each given as we left. Never again! |
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18/02/2009 - Eyck Zimmer (England)
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| I fully agree on the 4/10 for the food but at 250 Euro a head this is not acceptable.
I ate there in March 2008 ( I am a decent Chef myself) and found the overall experience of food not what expected of a restaurant with this reputation.
I then was introduced briefly to the Chef who cleary was so full of himself (in my opinion) for no reasons.
Two things stick in my memory: one the choices of various different salts they offer ( which is a nice touch) and a dessert plate that was arranged in a clock form on the plate, apart from that it was off not much substance flavour or texture wise, it was kitsch and something I wouldnt even do for a 5 year olds birthday....over all 2 people for 550 Euro...go and eat at any of the other very goods restaurants in Florence!! |
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31/12/2008 - Massimo Mariani (Italy)
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| I have visited the restaurant in late November 2008, I feel the price is far too expensive for the required price.
I share the view that service could be better. |
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31/12/2008 - Aldo (Italy)
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| Dear Andy
I live in Tusany and I believe that Enoteca Pinchiorri is just a trap for rich tourists, that's all.
If you really want to enjoy Tuscan dinner, just go to a simple Trattoria or Osteria, anywhere in Tuscany you'll be more happy surely.
Happy New Year! |
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12/09/2008 - Greg Brozeit (United States)
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| Dear Andy, I wanted to write and say I wish you had posted this earlier! I took my wife here last November on our first vacation away from our kids in 6 years and this place was shockingly overpriced and overrated. I've come to trust your insights and would never have gone had I read this review first. 4/10 is a bit generous. Have been mostly to German restaurants and couldn't agree more with your comments on Waldhotel Sonnora, perhaps my personal favorite. Thanks for the website, I enjoy it very much. |
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04/07/2008 - Jeff (USA)
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| My wife and I joined two friends & went to Enoteca Nazionale Firenze restaurant, on June 4, 2008 and had a few laughs. This is the only way I can describe our dining experience. They served us sparkling wine when we entered and seated us promptly. My friend, Mauricio, a native Italian, was in charge of the wine. The wine list was intense, a large book. After perusing the wines and realizing most wines came from small local vineyards, he smiled and stated no thank you. This is the first time, this proud Italian gentleman said no to his beloved ITALIAN wines. Why you ask? Because a glass was 50 euros and a bottle averaged 600 euros. The menu was consistent: 60 euros for a side of veggies, 95 to 300 per entree. The food was very good, but not the best of the best: 3 Michelin stars. So why was the night so funny? Well, the next table was trying to celebrate a birthday. Four servers came out with a sparkler in a cake and stood in front of the Asian man and his wife quietly. They just stood there. Finally, the Americans in the restaurant started singing happy birthday. Afterward the server took the plastic cake away from the birthday table and this man’s face dropped. We looked at each other and asked for the check. Since we did not order desert or wine, the restaurant had no need to grant us our departing chocolate box. Afterwards, we enjoyed some wine and sweets and laughed the whole night. |
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