Trattoria Gargani

We loved it. Ingredients are fresh and good quality. Steaks or pasta — can’t go wrong. Burrata and prosciutto was amaze balls. We asked for a wine recommendation and they suggested a lovely, affordable white wine that did not leave us feeling as if we were taken advantage of.
Ivan runs the place and he’s a gentleman.
Happily go back anytime!

I was wary given the mixed reviews, but very much enjoyed my meal. I also had this place as a recommendation from my hotel. I purposefully did not order beef as per the other reviews. I started with a secundi first because I never can have the secundi as I always fill up on the pasta. I had the veal with artichokes, avacado and cream sauce. It is a lot better than it sounds. Wonderful dish. They were initially none too pleased that I initially was ordering a single dish. The first dish was superb. Given the quality of the first dish, I ordered a primi. The secundi was a nice portion, but I’m in Italy! I love food. The primi — the citrus cheese pasta, was fantastic. Very very good. It was a lemon cream dream. Very savory. I would never have ordered it unless the waiter told me. You know the recommendation is good when it is NOT the most expensive! if they don’t offer it, ask for fresh black pepper on top. My waiter knew the drill. My server did not. It totally changed the dish. I liked it both before and after the pepper and am glad I had it both ways. I stuffed every ounce of it into my gullet and waddled home. What is not to like with cream, cheese and fresh made pasta?
The service was excellent — a little too hovering, but I guess they have seen these reviews and accommodated. My ½ American waiter knew how to please all the Americans. The others needed his direction on how to handle us. I was also off season but the resturant was busy on a Wednesday at 8PM in December. I think that is a good sign.

Even though we made reservation, we have to wait for 20 minutes. When we ordered florantine steak for 1, first they said they have but they said they only have for 2. Of course double the price. Worst of all, it was very chewy and tasteless. Dont order it if you are from US and are use to usda graded beef. It will have been graded b if in US standard. Paying double for horrible meat makes it even worst.

We came here recommendation of hotel concierge and were disappointed by the meal and service. We wanted to taste the florentine steak but was force order double the amount because it was the last one. I have to say it was rubbery and tasteless. A real disappointment. Don’t waste your meal here.

We came here on our last night in Florence per our concierge’s recommendation (we stayed at the Westin Excelsior). Of the week we spent in Italy this place had by far the worst service. Our waitress was temperamental and unfriendly. She had a sour face the entire time!
Service was one thing but the food was just ‘meh’ and overpriced. For 2 people, it was $ 135 euros (included a ½ bottle of chianti), steak florentine for our main, 2 pasta dishes and tiramisu. Skip the steak florentine /​tuscan style. If you’re used to eating at Maestros back in the states, you’ll be grossly disappointed at the quality of meat (not prime — that’s for sure). I wonder why this place is rated so highly on Unilocal.
I question whether the hotel concierge gets a kick-​back for referring customers! He mentioned that it was a place with both ‘tourists and locals’ … but when we went that night, the place was 85% tourists! Go somewhere else and save yourself the money. You can eat way better elsewhere in Florence for this kind of money.

I really loved this restaurant and I would highly recommend it to anyone visiting Florence! The staff was attentive and friendly, and the food was amazing. I have some dietary restrictions and they made me something for me that wasn’t on the menu! I had a yummy linguine with mushrooms. :)

Not a huge tourist restaurant which is great. I was searching for Bisetecca alla Fiorentina without a reservation and they were happy to accommodate us.
Other restaurants needed them but sometimes difficult when you’re traveling without a phone.
Service was great, wine was great, bistecca alla Fiorentina was cooked perfectly.
I’d head here again when back in Firenze if I couldn’t get to the other highly recommended restos.

Trattoria Gargani came highly recommended by the concierge at our hotel and it exceeded expectations. The service was excellent, as was the quantity and quality of our food. The staff was friendly and helpful, seating us at a very nice table, and visiting and laughing with us throughout the evening. Our server recommended an excellent local wine and we enjoyed our starter and pasta course. However, these were eclipsed by the amazing Beef Florentine. It was advertised as being for 2 people (at 70 Euros), but at 1 kg of beef, we think it could have fed 4 (although my husband gave it the all-​American try). But the beef was perfectly prepared and had a flavorful herb coating that we will never forget. This may have been the best beef either of us has ever tasted.

Great food and friendly waitstaff. Wonderful start to a short stay in Florence. Plenty of locals and authentic florentine cuisine. It was pretty busy and the waitstaff did seem overwhelmed at times. But overall a lively place with reasonable pricing. Recommend it!

We just arrived and this place was around the corner from our hotel. I actually booked l’osteria de giovanni, which has earned very good reviews. In my tired sloth like state I accidentally walked in here. I then walked out again clocking the name of this place, went to giovanni but the atmos was a bit stark and the lights were a bit bright hosting a slightly older demographic, so I turned around and went back to the laughing, tactile and colourful gargani. The staff were very pleasant and spoke fluent English, which made life easy without the judgement. This place was busy so service was slightly relaxed, but wasn’t an issue as we had wine, bread and lots of locals to watch. The prawn saffron pasta was very tasty. I would highly recommend this. It more rustic charm than fine dining but everyone there was happy and enjoying themselves.

Food was exceptional. My table ordered the Florentine steak for 2 and it was a major hit. We also had the trufle pasta and OMG!
Ambience was very nice and the décor is very pretty.
It’s a bit pricier than the restaurants in the area, but it was definitely worth it.
The only con is since the restaurant was so busy, table service was a bit slow.

Fabulous service, fun but warm atmosphere, local delicious food and prices that are hard to beat make this a place we would recommend to many! The citrus and mint pasta is earth shattering, as is the cheese cake!

Saffron pasta was unbelievable !!! Duck Ravioli was also delicious. My husband and I had an amazing time here ! The service and food were great! Best restaurant in Florence :)

Our best meal in Florence. Mind blowing, truly. Everything we tasted was fresh, robust, and wonderful. From the homemade pasta, to the succulent pork, chicken, and by far the most delicious tomatoes we have ever tasted — we just stared at one another in disbelief. Coming from 2 people who live in San Francisco and eat out quite frequently and quite well, this means something! On top of the first rate meal — the restaurant is fun and lively atmosphere — DO NOT MISS!!! We are going back tonight for a 2^nd time. If you love and appreciate good food-​this is the place for you!!!

We asked a local for a good place to eat and this is where he sent us. It has a great charm setting the perfect mood for an enjoyable dinner. Bruschetta was excellent. The homemade ravioli was simply the best I ever had and the veal was superb. I have another week left in Florence and I will be back before I leave.

I went here for my birthday dinner based on a recommendation I had for the owners former restaurant Garga and had a great time. We tried the zucchini and Garga salads which were excellent. Next we went for the spicy pasta which was also very tasty. Lastly, we had the veal with avocado and truffle which was just ok for me. The veal was overpowered by the other flavors.
We sat in the back room which opened up directly to the street. The restaurant is very eclectic and has a Hipster vibe. The wait staff were all very nice and attentive. We decided not to have dessert but our waiter insisted and brought us free cheesecake (which was delicious and not too sweet), sang me happy birthday with the rest of the staff and threw flower petals on us. They certainly went to the effort to make me feel special which was not at all expected.
I enjoyed the people watching too. Overall great experience, yummy food and our waiter went out of his way to make the night memorable. Be sure to make a reservation!

This is the original «Garga». And it is one of the best meals you’ll have in Florence. Incredibly friendly service, and bold flavorful dishes. The veal and avocado dish with truffles originated here, not the «other Garga». The saffron pasta with prawns is outstanding. It isn’t cheap, but a great experience and excellent food.

I second the sentiment that I regret listening to the hotel concierge to steer us here. The food was subpar but worse, quite expensive. I had the saffron pasta with prawns as our primi and even though the prawns were perfectly cooked, the pasta was bland and had no salt in it whatsoever. Then I got the filet in green pepper sauce (their florentine steak is for 2 and is 75 euros) as a more reasonable option. It was «fine» but nothing great. The best part about the meal was the bolgheri wine (though was expensive for a bolgheri) and the chocolate soufflé (which is a lava cake in America). It had nice flavor. However, at the end of the night, the total was 125 euros which was the second highest meal cost of the entire trip and I felt like I got totally ripped off.
Later someone recommended Lungarno Bistrot which was what we wanted Gargani to be and at much better prices and better style. Although I do have to admire the unusual murals like the Darth Vader Shakyamuni Buddha or spider obelisk. Crazy!

On my 10^th work trip to Italy in 3 years (ie. not new to this), the waiter at Gargani told us that only uneducated people do not leave a tip in Italy. Not only is this inaccurate, and against what my Italian colleagues have told us, it is offensive. I am absolutely disgusted at the conversation we had at the dinner table.
The guy obviously thought we were tourists and would take us for a ride. So disgusting.

When you walk in you will find an unusual eclectic décor. The other diners appear to be regulars. The excitement in the kitchen and among the staff comes through as you order and dine. They are proud of their food and are happy to serve it to you.
We started with a delicious Parma ham with burrata cheese. Both were fresh and tasty. The ravioli and the delicious Veal with Porcini mushrooms were both fresh and meticulously prepared. The waitress was rightfully excited to serve use each course. She recommended and accompanying wine, NOZZOLE LA FORRA CHIANTI RESERVA 2009.
A reservation is a necessity.