Essenziale

Unfortunately do not understand the hype. Very subpar dinner. The vibe was bizarre (awful music the entire time, like Jack Johnson songs that haven't been cool for 15 years) and the food was off (weird flavors served at weird temperatures, weird combinations etc).

Absolutely fantastic 4 course dining experience especially after the mostly mediocre local food options we found elsewhere in Florence city. Everyone in our group agreed it was very creative and delicious food as we were leaving the restaurant. .

Got the 8-course blind tasting menu, and what a totally bizarre experience it was. Some of the dishes were inspired and delicious. The beef tartare was a highlight. The squid pate with grapefruit on toast was excellent, as was the risotto with shrimp. But then other dishes were total misses in their combination of flavors. They weren't necessarily BAD, but they certainly weren't good. The onion with hazelnut butter was mushy, the endive with cheese sauce and coffee left you with an unpleasant aftertaste, the spaghetti with white tomato was syrupy and too sweet, the potato chip ice cream with apple for dessert tasted like nothing when you ate everything together, as the salt from the chip cancelled out the sweetness of the ice cream. I applaud the chef for taking chances and presenting something interesting, but it also needs to taste good, consistently.

Tread with caution.

I arrived in Florence on a Sunday morning and this restaurant was just a few doors down from where I was staying. Lucky me because it was the most amazing brunch I have ever had and I come from foodie central, San Francisco!

They offer a prix fixe brunch that offers three courses including coffee and water. You can't go wrong with any of the choices. The ingredients are fresh and unique, and the chef combines flavours that provide a culinary experience that you won't soon forget. I know I won't! Everything was crazy delicious and I had a serious and glorious food coma the rest of the afternoon.

Not to mention that the staff is charming, attentive and I have to say... attractive!

Seriously...you need to go.

We opted for the five course set menu and were not disappointed (though it was a very filling meal for all of us!).

We loved the house salad which opened the meal. I could have eaten an entire bowl of that for dinner. Each course was a twist on a traditional Tuscan dinner but offered a creative mix of tastes and ingredients offered in a an eye-catching presentation.

The portions are generous. Because risotto and pasta were included in the five course meal, we could have easily split the dinner between two people or opted for three courses (but we were greedy and wanted to sample as many dishes as possible!). The meal was a bit pricey but you will not be disappointed!

Amazing concept, food and execution. This is innovative Italian food with upgraded classics and some more daring dishes. I love the cutlery box built into the tables. Tasting menu highly encouraged. We did dine here in September 2017 and some of my favorite dishes included the tartare, risotto and olive oil ice cream.

I would say the lighting is a bit too bright, although perfect for food photography.

Interesting twist on food. Service was nice. Decor was so so. The music did not match the ambiance. Loved the EVO oil ice cream.

Treated myself to the chef's tasting menu. It was amazing. Wonderful food, atmosphere, service.

We were astounded by the quality, creativity, execution and service at this wonderful restaurant. If you are interested in food and visiting Florence, cancel your other reservations and eat at Essenziale. DO NOT MISS THE WINE PAIRING OPTION! The drink pairings were incredible.