What were your first impressions when you arrived?
This is the younger sister of popular Osteria dell’Enoteca in the Santo Spirito neighborhood; the menu is similar, but the look is quite different and the atmosphere is a little more informal. It’s a cozy space done out in moody grays with a mod-rustic look, colorful paintings of Florence and its monuments on the walls, and a carefully curated jazz soundtrack.
What’s the crowd like?
Mixed age-groups, mixed nationalities, Florentines too.
What should we be drinking?
The wine list is short and sweet and changes often. Apart from a couple of champagnes, it is entirely made up of Italian labels, mostly from central and northern Italy. The hearty flavors merit a bottle of full-bodied red; a Michele Satta Bolgheri Rosso 2022 at $38 maybe.
Main event: the food. Give us the lowdown—especially what not to miss.
As in the Osteria dell’Enoteca, Nicola Chiappi’s Tuscan-centric menus here are based on market availability and local traditions and change with the seasons. You’ll find the odd old favorites common to both menus (the silky smooth chicken liver terrine with vin santo reduction, for example), but other dishes are different: vegetable patties with minty mayo, fried brains (rare in Florence these days), potato-stuffed tortelli with a rich mushroom ragù, cacciucco (traditional fish stew from Livorno), and beef tagliata.
And how did the front-of-house folks treat you?
They were lovely; helpful and well-informed about both food and wine.
What’s the real-real on why we’re coming here?
For the elevated Tuscan food, relaxed atmosphere, and honest prices.