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Ratings and reviews

Travellers' Choice2023
RATINGS
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere

Details

CUISINES
Italian, Tuscan, Central-Italian
Special Diets
Vegetarian Friendly
Meals
Lunch, Dinner, After-hours
View all details
meals, features

Location and contact

Florence Historic Center
0.2 km from Basilica of Santa Maria Novella
Reviews (1,462)
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865 results
Traveller rating
639
131
47
22
26
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Time of year
LanguageEnglish
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Traveller rating
639
131
47
22
26
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All reviews butter chicken meringue cake tortellini steak tortino di pie pollo bistecca fiorentina wild strawberries artichoke omelette no credit cards family style house wine small restaurant brodo trattoria pan
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Reviewed 2 weeks ago via mobile

A very special time capsule, apparently unchanged for a hundred years. As our first class immaculately presented waiters brought us perhaps the best Italian food ever, a T-Bone on the same scale of the statue of David I was detracted by the quiet always hard...working grey haired proprietor on the front counter. As we left I chatted to him, he followed his father who’d been there for 51 years. He then added that his partner was 3rd generation founder in 1933. SO SPECIAL - unforgettable.More

Date of visit: March 2024
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Reviewed 4 weeks ago

There is nothing more that I can say about the Butter Chicken other than do not miss it. It was fantastic. You may be seated at a table for 6 with others. At first this was a turn off, but we met nice people whose...visit was their first time to Italy, and gave them recommendations from our many visits over 50 years. We even bumped into one of them in Rome at one of our favorite places.More

Date of visit: January 2024
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Reviewed 10 January 2024 via mobile

My sister recommended this restaurant to us. I suggest that whatever you do, make a reservation. It opens at 7.30pm, we were in promptly and within ten minutes it was full. Whatever you do, order the butter chicken. Perfection. I also thought that their zucchini...fritti were the best I have ever had. Service is efficient and friendly. Perhaps the greatest compliment that I can pay them, apart from the fact that we had a marvellous evening, is that when we got up to leave we said good bye to three tables around us. Stunning atmosphere and cannot praise it highly enoughMore

Date of visit: January 2024
Helpful?1  
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Reviewed 25 December 2023

After reading all the great reviews we just had to come during our brief visit to Florence. Since they don't take reservations on line, we asked our hotel to make reservations for us. We came in at 7:30 PM and were promptly and warmly greeted....We had the steak and buttered chicken, which was to die for. It is in a small valley. Google had trouble pinpoint it and tried to send us another trattoria up the street.More

Date of visit: December 2023
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Reviewed 13 December 2023

Fantastic local spot. Great atmosphere (locals out to eat together who were very friendly to tourists). Saw photos of many famous previous diners About 3 different people told my wife (then fiancee) and myself to get the chicken, which on its face did not sound...that interesting. It was perhaps the best chicken I've ever had. I still think about this dish years later. Wild strawberries and raspberries with lemon and sugar were also great. Considered gatekeeping this but it is too good not to shareMore

Date of visit: May 2023
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Reviewed 10 December 2023

The service was first class and the menu had many good choices. Booking is essential as the restaurant is not large. The food chosen was excellent

Date of visit: December 2023
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Reviewed 27 November 2023

I walked in with my husband, nervous since we didn’t have a reservation, and found out they were booked up to a week in advance! Lucky us, they had a table of three not show up, so on the spot we were fortunate enough to...get seated. This is a Trattoria, please remember, so seating is minimal and the area is small, but the charm is endless and the food even better. Our server was charismatic and wonderful, helpful in speaking English with us despite our broken attempts at Italian. We were in close proximity to our table partners, but even they were lovely and social, and they even encouraged me to try the dessert (please get their cake with seasonal berries, it will highlight your week!). Our food was incredibly delicious, and while we didn’t have any wine (shame on me for drinking a bit too much the night before) I saw many enjoying it with a merry atmosphere. The food could have its own paragraph, but I’ve spent weeks here in Italy eating all over, and I was still blown away by how incredible the food was! Well worth the price, and surely the wait if you come here. I recommend a reservation, and of course showing up on time (or you’ll make someone lucky like we were).More

Date of visit: November 2023
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Reviewed 10 November 2023

A friend recommended this six table (!) restaurant to us and we're so glad we followed up on her suggestion. Reservations clearly required... and smaller parties may share a table. The four of us had another couple at the far end of the table... far...enough away that both of us had privacy but close enought o chat if we wished. The staff is very friendly, profficient in English and know just how to manage a full restaurant placing stress on their small kitchen all at once. They basically have two seating a night..7:30 and 9:00 pm... and have relatively limited menu.. a few pastas, salads and entrees so the staff can submit each course en-masse to the kitchen. We didn't know this but you can bring your own wine..their selection is Chianti. period. We had the Florentine steaks and pasta with meat sauce selections with some different slalds/apps. All were VERY good. The meringue desert is to die for!! strongly recommended by our waiter and we were so glad. Try this hidden gem.. but reserve early and consider bringing your own wine.More

Date of visit: November 2023
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Reviewed 3 November 2023 via mobile

This delicious restaurant was recommended by my dear friend. We ordered butter chicken, steamed spinach, white beans with olive oil. The staff is very nice, friendly kitchen. We ordered the meringue cake with raspberries.

Date of visit: November 2023
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Reviewed 24 October 2023 via mobile

This restaurant was recommended by a local who has been dining here with her family for decades. We had been craving chicken and their butter chicken was amazing! Unfortunately, I didn’t get any pictures because I dug into it too quickly. It’s two breasts and...perfect for sharing. My husband and I shared tortellini with meat sauce, the butter chicken, and a side of herbed tomatoes. House red was great. Prices are reasonable and you get a lot for your money. Be sure to make reservations, very small and only two seating per evening.More

Date of visit: September 2023
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Reviewed 2 October 2023 via mobile

One of our favourite meals in our two weeks in Italy. Get the ‘butter’ chicken - just the best! Fresh beans and artichoke appetizer were fabulous. So glad we got to eat here. A must in Florence!

Date of visit: September 2023
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Reviewed 21 August 2023

The chicken was the Best meal in Florence! The mouthwatering meringue desert was delicious! Outstanding service!

Date of visit: July 2023
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Reviewed 1 July 2023 via mobile

Our hotel helped us book this restaurant in advance. We were running late from our tour and asked our guide to call and let them know. We arrived 15 min late very apologetic and they were so gracious about it. The service was the best...we’ve had in Italy though I would come back for the food itself even if they were mean! We got the chicken breast in butter and it was simply the best white meat I’ve ever had. I usually avoid white meat because it’s bland and dry. This one was tasty and moist! For the reviewers who said it was dry, I wonder if the left it on the pan plate too long. We took it off immediately when it arrived. The tortellini and broth and meat sauce were both also good. The vegetable soup was really flavorful too, as were the mushrooms and string beans we got for sides. My least favorite was the steak- only because we had a better one the other night and because the chicken was so good. With all that aside, the steak is quite good. As I went to pay, I saw a slice of meringue cake on the counter and of course I sat back down and ordered one. It was wonderful and I usually don’t care for meringue. The meal was the best we’ve had in Italy so far overall. We tried to make reservations again for tomorrow night but sadly they’re not open. Definitely highly recommend and will come again if I’m ever in Florence.More

Date of visit: June 2023
Helpful?3  
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Reviewed 30 June 2023 via mobile

There aren’t enough stars to rate the place. Outstanding food and service. The artichoke omelette is to die for. The chicken cooked in butter is exceptional as is the pasta. The bread provided with the meal is like nothing else! You must also try the...desserts! Can’t rate this place highly enough!!More

Date of visit: June 2023
Helpful?1  
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Reviewed 29 June 2023

Trattoria Sostanza on via Porcellana in Florence has been fabulous for the last 15+ years we have been dining there - lunch or dinner (weekdays only - no credit cards). The seating is casalinga style 4 to 6 at a table with benches for seats....The waiters are there seemingly for a lifetime. The go to dishes for us are Pollo di Petti in Burro (2 chicken breasts cooked in butter) served in the cooking vessel -- super yummy. The chicken is so moist you look down and the chicken is almost gone. But then you take the great bread served and dip it into the butter on your plate and it is heaven all over again. Then you must order the meringue/semifreddo cake with mini chocolate chips and get the fragolini (wild strawberries) with the cake. More heaven. The family style tables lead to interesting conversation with the other guests seated with you. A Florence experience that you will probably repeat many times. We have.More

Date of visit: June 2023
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Questions & Answers
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rosannamalcottig
11 January 2024|
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Response from Q2822GTmelaniem | Reviewed this property |
Our concierge made the reservation for us. I would reach out to your hotel and see if they can be of assistance.
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Trattoria Sostanza, Florence - Santa Maria Novella - Restaurant Reviews, Phone Number & Photos - Tripadvisor

Frequently Asked Questions about Trattoria Sostanza

Yes, Trattoria Sostanza is taking precautions against COVID-19. A full list is available within the "safety precautions" section of this page.

Trattoria Sostanza is rated accordingly in the following categories by Tripadvisor travellers:
  • Food: 4.5
  • Service: 4
  • Value: 4
  • Atmosphere: 4