Osteria Cinghiale Bianco is located in the Santo Spirito section of Florence, near the Ponte Santa Trinita. This restaurant is serving up some of the best food in the city. As you walk in, the first thing you’ll notice is the history inside this 13th century building. It will also most likely be very busy because of how great of a restaurant this place is. I went to Osteria Cinghiale Bianco twice and walked out really happy both times.
I ordered the same dish both times: the signature pappardelle with wild boar ragù, hence the name Osteria Cinghiale Bianco which translates to the Osteria of the White Boar. This pasta is simply fantastic. There is a hefty amount of wild boar meat in the ragu, so you really get your money’s worth. There are also olives on the dish, which is an interesting touch, but I thought it enhanced the flavor of the ragù. The pappardelle itself is incredibly fresh. All in all, it is just an amazing dish. In fact, they won’t even let you put parmesan on the pasta. They know that their pasta is one of the best around and they will laugh if you even think about putting parmesan on it.
For the main dish, I tried different something different each time. The first time I ordered meatballs. They were very good, but nothing crazy. The red sauce was fresh and had chunks of tomatoes in it. You can get awesome meatballs at an Italian restaurant in America, so I would recommend trying the other dish that I got which was the petto di pollo pecorino e tartufo. When I went the first time, I saw other people eating this and was pissed that I didn’t order it, so knowing me I had to order it the second time around. I am so happy that I ordered it because it was ridiculous. The chicken was really tender, but the best part is that pecorino sauce that the chicken sits in. I don’t know what they put in it, but the creamy pecorino sauce on the chicken was addictive. The combination of the thinly sliced fresh pecorino mixed in with the cream sauce was unbelievably good. If that doesn’t sound incredible enough, there was a generous amount of shaved black truffles on top. The truffle added even more flavor to the dish, and pairs well with the pecorino. This is what makes Italy so great, you can get truffles on your meal without breaking the bank. The only thing I’ll say about this dish is that it is really rich, so be ready for it.
I couldn’t finish this review without mentioning the house wine. As with other places, it is affordable and high quality. Definitely take advantage of the house red or white wherever you go. It’s always good!
Takeaways: Osteria Cinghiale Bianco is at the top of my list when it comes to Florentine restaurants. If you have 1-2 days in the city, this place should be on your list. The wild boar pappardelle is one of the best pastas I had while in Florence, and the pecorino and truffle chicken is equally as amazing. Make sure to make a reservation.
Score: 9.4/10
a dude eats abroad 