We were two couples with two whirlwind days in Florence, en-route to a wedding, and were eager to experience an authentic “Florentine” dinner. With this in mind, we wandered the side streets near our hotel, where my wife observed a small restaurant. Dimly-lit with strung lights from the ceiling and candles on the table, Restaurant Giostra was PACKED and it was 1:00AM! Curious and hungry, we booked a reservation for the following evening: four people, second seating, 9 PM.

We had already spent the afternoon wine tasting in the hills of Florence and cooking in an Italian kitchen and had no idea the day could get better. Upon our arrival, we had ample opportunity to take in the hundreds of pictures of celebrities adorning the walls. Feeling adventurous, and holding true to our quest for authenticity, we allowed our waiter to select our courses, and carefully pair each with wine. We were not disappointed. It was the best meal of our trip, hands down: great wine, delicious food (at least 5 courses, although I can’t be quite certain of that thanks to the great wine), superb ambiance, and gracious and accommodating wait staff. Highlights from our meal were artisanal cheeses, fresh bruschetta, homemade ravioli and pasta, Osso Buco, and Goat Chops with Fried Artichokes.