All’Antico Ristoro di’ Cambi

A great meal, the steak filet was huge and perfectly done, an incredible vale at 20 EUR. The roasted potatoes were also a highlight. Do not skip desert, everyone at our table raved about the pistachio ice cream and the chocolate torte.

Probably my favorite meal on my entire trip to Italy (which included Rome, Florence and Venice). I got there a bit early, about 6:30, with my group, as I couldn’t get through on the phone number (it was going to their fax machine) but honestly, if you get there at 7:30 I don’t see them running out of room.
Be warned, the menu is all in Italian but the waiter can help interpret. If you are meat eater, get what they are known for, the Florence steak, and ideally, get it as they cook it, which is on the rare side — it is $ 45 Euro a Kilogram which is 2.2 pounds (includes the bone) — it is an aged beef steak and it is amazing — it comes to the table on a round wooden chopping block, sliced up into large pieces (and t is tender, wonderfully tender), with a little mound of rock salt on the side which you can rub the slices of steak through as you pull them onto your plate for further reduction into bite sized pieces and consumption.
They have a large wine selection but the house wine goes well with this meal. Do note that the house wine is served in the regular table glass so the one you use for water you would use for the house red.
I also recommend the roasted potatoes and the cooked spinach — they do have other cuts of beef but the Florence steak is the specialty and this place is recognized on the social networking sites (TripAdvisor, Unilocal,etc).
Oh, I would also star the meal with antipasto plates of a mix of meats and cheeses. If you can get through on the phone, do make a reservation a head of time — Italy is big on those and it is a nice gesture and helps to make sure you hae a table.
If and when I go back to Florence I’ll go here again, just a bit later in the evening, ideally with a reservation and I’ll happily drink the house wine from the water glass on the table, just like the regular Italians and do note, I saw a good mix of locals along with my fellow tourists in this place as the evening went on, always a good sign

I love all the food here especially the beef steak！you have better make the booking before go there～

Come for the steak florentine (bistecca alla fiorentina). Share with one other, and order nothing else. Alright, maybe order a pasta starter, a side of veggies, or their mashed potatoes. If you’re up for it, grab one of those cute bottles of chianti as well, but that is seriously ALL THAT YOU NEED for a fabulous meal here.
I’m not trying to downplay the rest of the menu, but the steak was fabulous. Florentine beef is typically served VERY RARE, and the meat is unseasoned except for a dash of salt/​pepper immediately after cooking. While it sounds too simple to be true, it was actually really flavorful on its own.
I’m almost ashamed to say I didn’t truly appreciate just how great this was while I was eating it. I was a bit jealous of the (probably) local guy at the next table over who had a whole steak to himself and it came uncut. Apparently they chop up the steak into slices for tourists… and I felt like the pre-​chopped steak made it cool down faster. Anyhow, I went to another super fancy schmancy place for a prix fixe dinner the next night and their version of this was so horribly chewy that I couldn’t even swallow it! I’d happily get steak here instead ANY DAY.
There was no wait when we arrived, but it might be a good idea to make a reservation if travelling in the middle of the summer. If weather permits, opt for the outdoor seating as well!

2.2 pounds (1 kilo) of Florentine steak, cooked to perfection, amazing flavor. Now you know why Americans love this place. Gotta order sides separately; I would go with the spinach and potatoes. Add a bottle of house wine and you are in heaven. It’s a bit pricey, but no more than a upscale steak-​house in the US. And believe me, this is WAY better. Only tip, they will offer to cut the steak up for you before serving. Do not let them do this, cut the steak yourself like a grown adult and preserve those precious steak juices!

I’ve been in Italy for about 2 weeks so far, and the indulgent meal we shared at di’ Cambi was by far the best I’ve had yet — and that’s no easy contest!
Being typical Americans, tired and hungry after a day of sightseeing, we arrived around 6pm, long before the locals began filtering in. Despite not having a reservation (low season), we were seated immediately. While we did survey the menu, we already knew why we’d come — that fantastic Florentine steak. Our server’s English was far better than our Italian, and together we figured out our simple meal plan — one steak for two, a side of the beans, and a half litre of the house wine.
I couldn’t have been happier with anything we ordered — the steak was worth every euro, as it was cooked perfectly and the flavor of the meat shines through. You certainly don’t need any oil, any salt… anything. Just enjoy one of the best steaks you’ll ever have! While you do that, enjoy the wine, the ambiance, and all the other patrons who are marveling over those massive pieces of meat.
In case any other Americans are reading this (and thanks to RS, I know you will be), I really would disregard the one star review below by the guy from Illinois. Every person we encountered in this restaurant was friendly and went out of their way to be helpful. Bread, water, etc will show up when it does (ours all came quickly, though you may be well advised to arrive at 6pm or soon after, when they reopen)… and the fact that you showed up with a «starving» child isn’t the restaurant’s fault. Anyway, off my soap box!
We finished with an apple pastry and cream dish, which was also wonderful. We enjoyed di’ Cambi so much that we would have happily gone back… had our time in Florence not gotten away from us! So, go, enjoy, and savor every bite and every moment! You’ll love it!

One of the most enjoyable full course meals I enjoyed during my stay in Italy.
Located in a building that dates from the 1500s, the interior has a traditional, unmistakably Old World feel to it.
Like most good restaurants, much of their menu changes with the seasons. During my visit, together with a friend I shared:
Prosciutto and Buffalo Mozzarella
Gorgonzola & Asparagus Penne
Florentine Steak
Apple Strudel
On entering the restaurant, you notice a counter of fresh meats and cheeses – an instant sign that their tagliatelle (meat & cheese antipasti) will be good. And the Prosciutto and Buffalo Mozzarella was phenomenal! The prosciutto had so much flavor, getting more intense as you chew it. The mozzarella was perfectly smooth and creamy, and among the best I’ve had.
The penne was rich and smooth, cooked slightly al dente, with substantial chunks of chopped asparagus. You could tell the pasta was home-​made, and the gorgonzola cheese was fresh.
One of Florence’s culinary claims to fame is their Bistecca alla Fiorentine, or Florentine-​style beef steak. It is served thick and traditionally rare at the center, flavored very lightly. The smallest cut they had was 1.5 kilos – a sizable chunk of meat for 2 people. They brought out the steak prior to cooking it for visual affirmation. We sent it along its merry way, and it came out cooked perfectly, flavored only with a few sprinkled crystals of sea salt. Each bite was amazingly succulent, the rareness and minimal preparation only possible with high caliber meat.
Ordering up a steak properly done in this manner won’t be cheap, but I wanted to try it at least one of my days in Florence (as you should). Most restaurants in town offer it, at varying prices (and levels of quality). Do not expect any place offering it for under € 20 to serve it at worthy quality. I’m not going to claim that Di’ Cambi’s is the «best steak in Florence», because this was the only time I tried it. However, I can say that the steak was amazingly good and totally worth the price which, mind you, was a mere € 40 per kilo. I saw the same dish offered at other places for upward of € 45 – 50, which made me feel like getting it here was the right choice.
We concluded the meal with an Apple Strudel. It initially was not my intention to get what is traditionally an Austrian dessert to punctuate this traditional Tuscan meal. It was written in Italian, and the name did not openly suggest it was Apple Strudel – just that it was an apple («mele») dessert served with «calda crema». I actually wanted to get something with fresh fruit, and the hot cream fascinated me further. Nevertheless, I was happy with this choice, as the cream was amazingly smooth and the pastry and apple filling fresh. Their website claims that their best desserts are their tiramisu, chocolate cake, and a «traditional oven honey with hot cream». Based on the strength of their Apple Strudel, I’d be up for ordering any of these during my next visit.
A highly memorable meal – definitely worth crossing the river for!

Goodness… Possibly some of the best food I have had in all of Italy.
Excellent steaks (bistecca or filets), pastas (lasagna al forno, tortelli), desserts were great. We also got crostini (Tuscan chicken liver — authentic!) as a starter with some prosecco.
Wine selection was excellent!
A small note, the menu is completely in Italian, so unless you can read somewhat or have someone to help you, you may have issues.
The staff speaks a bit of English, but not much and they don’t make a huge effort to… That said, they were very friendly and their amazing food makes up for any language barriers.

Local Oltranro (south of the Arno) neighborhood restaurant with outstanding beef. Best bistecca Firorentina I had in Florence (bettering Buca Mario and La Giostra, both of which were in all respects quite excellent). My wife had pasta that was disappointing. Wines by the glass were adequate. If you want outstanding bistecca Fiorentina, this is the place ! Prices are moderate, and dress is casual.

Being treated like crap on vacation is the worst feeling. Indifference and slow service is tolerated especially in Europe. But feeling hated and ignored should not be tolerated. If you want to take a chance and eat here after spending 20 Euros on round trip taxi ride, please read this. As much as we were looking forward to this dinner, we had a horrible let down. We felt hated and ignored by our server the entire time. Not just any server. But the owner’s daughter. Which means she is not going anywhere and there will be no action taken against her horrible service and attitude. With so many great places to choose from in Florence, why take a chance with the potential misery and disaster that exists here.
We arrived 5 minutes early for a 9pm reservation, my wife, 7 year old daughter and I. We were offered a table inside right away but with such a beautiful night we opted to wait for an opening for the outside seating. It was a Tuesday night and we figured that the wait should not be bad. About 9:15pm we were given our table.
Unfortunately we received the owner’s daughter as our server. Several times she walked by the 3 of us at the table without as much as a glance. We finally were able to waive her down confirming we were not invisible. Since our 7 year old was hungry, we asked for some bread, olive oil, bottle of water, as well as some help with the 100% Italian menu. She walked away without confirming or denying that she understood our requests with a roll of her eyes. She returned with only bread and water and we politely asked for plates and olive oil. I discovered there were only 2 cups on the table. The Italian table behind us was served by her as well and was receiving prompt service despite us getting seated 10 minutes prior. We would try to shag her down each time she passed on the way to them but could not. She simply avoided us! There we sat with a bottle of water, no plates, no oil and 2 glasses. I went inside to try to find out waiter. I thought this woman was just a hostess of some sort that could not take our order. I was assured inside that this in fact was our waitress.
Right after I inquired, she came with the oil and a 3^rd glass. It took another 25 MINUTES of waiting until she came to take our order. But still no plates! Her lousy attitude was obvious. We felt her total disdain towards us. We sensed that we were not welcomed. When we ordered, she just wrote down what we told her. No feedback when we asked.
We ordered lots of food, appetizers and wine partly because we trusted Rick Steve’s recommendation on this restaurant and partly because we did not know when we might be able to get her attention again. Meanwhile the table behind us was getting appetizers, wine and plenty of her attention. They were approached 7 times while we were ignored over and over again. Each and every time we tried to flag her down, she would not make eye contact. Our daughter was eating tasteless dry bread because she was so hungry. She kept asking us why it was taking so long for us to get service. No meal is worth being mistreated like this.
After 45 minutes of waiting and her horrific attitude that suggested that we were responsible for the fall of the Roman Empire, we finally had enough. No plates, no appetizers, no food or wine. Nothing but bread and water! We did what we never did. I went inside and asked for the check. We were able to communicate to the only English speaking waiter. We wanted to pay for the bread and water and to speak to the owner. The owner was a 60 something man with gray hair. Unfortunately, we soon learned that it was his daughter who was waiting on us and responsible for our misery. Why? We are nice people and were nothing but patient and respectful. We were getting the hateful attitude mixed with indifference the whole time.
After complaining about the service to the owner, we were surprised by his lack of questioning to the waitress. He just shrugged it off suggesting to me that he already knew he had a big problem on his hands. He never once questioned her as we explained our immense displeasure. The attitude was definitely directed at us. And we were the only Americans there. We had plenty of time to observe this fact.
So if you choose to eat here, take into consideration that you are at the mercy of your server’s mood or prejudice. I hope Rick Steve’s is reading this and will promote instead the many great Italian restaurants that treat Americans well. We have had a great time and lovely experiences thus far in Rome and Florence. This restaurant withstanding, we have had a perfect score with the wonderful people and establishments of Italy. And by the way, we had a glorious dinner with a beautiful and perfectly cooked steak at Parione. Great service, super friendly and delicious food.

Make a reservations here! The Florentine steak is gigantic, and so tasty. A lovely switch from pasta.

Came recommended and didn’t disappoint. Waitstaff was most prompt and incredibly helpful to a non-​Italian speaking American – helping construct a meal perfectly. Everything was divine. The steak was even more so. While one might see € 40 for a 1kg piece of meat and pause, this easily fed two people as the Secondi along with a light Primo of greens with tomato and olives and a dessert. Wine selection was vast but was steered well to one for ones on a budget that was more than ample in taste (always Chianti… for the regional pairing)

Best meal I’ve had since getting to Italy last week. Steak was simply melt-​in-​your-​mouth perfect. We also got a couple of sides: pasta with ricotta and arugula, and spinach. No complaints at all.
The restaurant itself was very beautiful, with stone and brick columns, culminating in a beautifully shaped brick ceiling. And to top it off, our waitress was efficient and I liked her personality (not normal for me — I am a misanthrope). Just a great experience all around.

Fit us in on short notice on a busy Saturday night. The food was hearty and delicious, the staff friendly. Delightful neighborhood restaurant. Unilocal has not steered us wrong on this trip.

«BEST STEAK in ALL of Florence, Italy»…
That quote wasn’t said by little olé American tourist me but by the gentleman and his wife from Genoa, Italy, who happened to be sitting next to us. I had heard from another source that no one Italian eats in Florence…(?) but this place was filled both nights by many locals and a few lucky tourists.
The menu is completely in Italian but the servers there are not shy about telling you what things are and what you should and shouldn’t get. Trust them.
We just happened to stumble across this place one night and we loved it so much we came back a few nights later. Not just on any night but my effing 40^th bday. We ordered the 40 oz steak and don’t you even think about not ordering any steak yourself. Great sides, great wines, great ambiance.
I would love to visit them again someday.

seriously, seriously delicious bistecca fiorentina. Great service, perfectly cooked meat, lovely terrace. And I think it was also quite good value for money. We had fizzy water, a beer, a salad, a side of potatoes, a bistecca for 2, and split the peaches & gelato dessert – all that for just under 60 euro… compare that to meat prices in Paris, and, well, I want to cry a little that I don’t live in Florence.