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2
Tue, 3/19
8:00 PM

Ratings and reviews

Travelers' Choice2023
RATINGS
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere

Details

PRICE RANGE
$38 - $71
CUISINES
Italian, Mediterranean, European
Special Diets
Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Gluten Free Options
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meals, features, about

Location and contact

San Frediano
0.4 miles from Basilica of Santa Maria Novella

MICHELIN Guide's Point of View

As its name suggests, this restaurant has a young, minimalist ambience. Friendly welcome and service, plus innovative cuisine full of surprises. You’ll...
Read more on MICHELIN Guide
Reviews (443)
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Traveler rating
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All reviews tasting menu herring risotto well chosen wine list unusual food modern twist michelin star tuscan cuisine dining experience dishes courses citrus euros
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Reviewed October 11, 2023

We always enjoy seeking out tasting menu restaurants to appreciate the creativity of the chefs. We discovered this place on Google Maps, and it had received many compliments about its creativity and tastiness. Our concerns grew when we started reading the menu; everything seemed exceedingly...basic. However, we hoped that the chef could elevate these simple ingredients to a new level. Unfortunately, every course was dreadful. It was the worst dining experience we've ever paid for. The whole idea of presenting itself as a tasting menu restaurant, charging 80 euros per person, is absolutely embarrassing. A tasting menu chef should have an exceptional knowledge of ingredients to craft each menu. Every dish placed on the plate should complement the others, enhancing both the flavours and the presentation. Being creative means not just attempting to impress people. This restaurant is attempting to exude a cool and contemporary vibe, but the ambiance felt more like a staff canteen. All the furniture looked very cheap and basic, far different from the expectations one might have for a tasting menu restaurant. All the starters arrived at once, creating a chaotic and confusing dining experience. The presentation was haphazard, dishes had no character, and they were not tasty at all. We were inclined to leave after sampling all the starters, but we thought that the pasta and main dishes might alter our perspective. The pasta dishes were a complete disaster. My husband's dish was undercooked, and when we brought this to their attention, they explained, "that's the style of it." I must emphasise that it wasn't just slightly undercooked; it was only half-cooked. I ordered cold spaghetti, which had an incredibly peculiar taste. It was cold spaghetti served in a thick sauce resembling teriyaki sauce. The spaghetti was slightly undercooked but not as bad as my husband's, and the mushrooms had a sour taste that was quite off-putting. The presentation was unappetising, with an excessive amount of aonori on top, making it look like a "modded-land." Encountering such poorly executed pasta as part of a tasting menu was profoundly disappointing, and it appeared that the kitchen lacked even the most fundamental pasta cooking skills. And we know what al dente means. As for the main courses, another disaster. We ordered chicken and fish. The fish came with sweetcorn and popcorn and had an odd artificial smell when it was brought to the table. It still had bones and scales, served cold, and although they explained that it was slow-cooked so it wasn't too hot, I must regretfully say it was tough, and the slow-cooking did not seem to help at all. The chicken was presented as a whole chicken breast on the plate with some sauce on the side, and it was dry and tough as well. Now, onto the desserts. We ordered the chocolate mousse with mozzarella cheese and shiso Panna cotta. They literally placed the cheese on top of the chocolate mousse, and that was it. We found this combination to be mismatched and unpleasant. And for the Panna cotta. This dessert had a terrible presentation, an unusual taste, and it was served at an extremely cold temperature. The young lady who welcomed us was very pleasant, but as a tasting menu restaurant, I believe the staff still need improvement. They didn't react when they noticed we weren't finishing most dishes, and the explanations they provided about the food didn't make sense to us. Unless you have a desire to dine in what feels like a staff canteen with terrible food, we fail to see any reason why anyone would recommend this place.More

Date of visit: October 2023
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Reviewed September 14, 2023 via mobile

The most innovative and exciting food we had. The fusion of unlikely flavors and interesting preparation which is fantastic.

Date of visit: September 2023
Helpful?1  
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Reviewed September 7, 2023

It's like the friend that's trying hard to be interesting - and kind of succeeding. Only 2 other tables were occupied when we walked in around 8:15. The tables and chairs were reminiscent of an IKEA showroom, or a high end kindergarten (but everything was...adult size). The decor & art did capture our attention. The sample menu items we saw on their website gave us reason to believe it would be an Italian tasting menu, but it really wasn't. I'm not sure how I would describe it though. There was a lot of what felt like "our take on..." which is what I should've expected from the Michelin Guide (which is how we found Essenziale). It was definitely a disappointment for our last night in Florence when we wanted a great Italian meal, but could've been much more enjoyable if we knew what we were getting into and not caught by surprise. I've added a picture of the menu from the night I was there.More

Date of visit: September 2023
Helpful?1  
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Reviewed August 20, 2023

HIGHLY recommend this restaurant. It is unlike any restaurant I have ever been to and offers a creative, fresh, and well curated menu and wine list. We did the four course tasting menu, and upon a fantastic recommendation of the Somme, we enjoyed a bottle...of orange wine that paired perfectly with our meal. The courses were well timed, inspired by fresh ingredients, and showcased innovative uses of flavors and pairings. We enjoyed the hospitality of the wait staff and atmosphere and look forward to returning the next time we are in Florence. If you love exciting culinary surprises and fresh ingredients, you’ll love the experiences this restaurant has to offer.More

Date of visit: August 2023
Helpful?1  
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Reviewed August 15, 2023

came here for a business dinner with 10 of my teammates. we did the tasting menu with wine pairing. Food was good but none of it made me say "WOW". The restaurant is adorable, our service was top notch and the vibes were great.

Date of visit: October 2022
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Reviewed August 15, 2023

An interesting menu skillfully combining flavors and textures; it was a gastronomic delight to find this small restaurant hidden in Florence. The service was excellent as well.

Date of visit: August 2023
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Reviewed July 4, 2023

This restaurant has excellent, unique dishes with friendly and accommodating service. The tasting menu was reasonably priced considering the quality of the meal. Essenziale takes a modern spin on traditional Florentine cuisine. The atmosphere was unique for a restaurant in Florence (in the best way)....We would highly recommend!More

Date of visit: June 2023
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Reviewed March 22, 2023 via mobile

We had the tasting menu with the added courses to “play” with our tase buds and mark accordingly. Would thoroughly recommend this as an added bonus. The main tasting menu was excellent and this added playful addition just elevated the whole experience

Date of visit: March 2023
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Reviewed March 21, 2023 via mobile

Not very great the place might be a Michelin star but it doesn't meet the expectations! Hope they make changes to all the recipes. It does not qualify to be an Italian restaurant.

Date of visit: February 2023
Helpful?1  
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Reviewed March 20, 2023

Very unusual food combinations. I am now convinced that a grilled artichoke goes with powdered raspberry and peanut sauce. We had the tasting menu. It is not a cheap night out (our bill was 160 euros for two) but it is worth it

Date of visit: March 2023
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Reviewed January 5, 2023 via mobile

The food doesn’t have any special, the cod was not good , I believe it was frozen. The red wine didn’t taste good. Overall, I do not recommend it.

Date of visit: January 2023
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Reviewed December 5, 2022 via mobile

Really enjoyable experience at Essenziale on a cold, rainy Sunday night in December. Brilliant value for a tasting menu (with choices for each of the four courses) at €65 per head. Service was relaxed but friendly and the pace of the courses was perfect. The...food is so interesting, to the point of even being challenging at times, but shows a really modern twist on Tuscan cuisine. All the courses were beautifully presented and the staff were able to recommend great wine pairings for each course from a ‘by the glass’ list that changes every week. Everything tasted delicious and overall would highly recommend!More

Date of visit: December 2022
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Reviewed November 23, 2022 via mobile

Wow this is special. We’ve been to a lot of truly outstanding Restaurants in Florence but this is another level. Cool decor and minimalist space but warm and inviting. Excellent service with the charming Alessandro. 4 courses with great choices for each. I had beetroot...carpaccio which was exquisite and my daughter had the onion soup which she loved. Pasta course, I went for the most unusual with herring which was tangy and delicious. My wife had the risotto which had a citrus flavour and was very good. Then the Pheasant yakitori followed by sublime puddings washed down with Marsala. Good wine list, short but all that you would want. Truly exceptional place which we will definitely return to. Gets the prize for the best place that we have eaten in Florence. Truly outstanding.More

Date of visit: November 2022
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Reviewed July 9, 2022

Our high hopes were dashed with a series of inedible dishes including cold spaghetti in a cream sauce and a slimy eggplant stuffed with cheese and (inexplicably) a few mussels.

Date of visit: July 2022
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Reviewed June 2, 2022

Excellent restaurant. Light airy space-an old stable. Lovely staff-we arrived before they opened and they gave us a drink outside while we waited: explained the food well and with care/interest. 4 course, 3 item. All interesting and unusual. Standouts a risotto with marrow bone and...frozen raspberries and a 63 degree egg with asparagus and cheese-and a peach donut. Well chosen wine list. Cannot recommend too highly.More

Date of visit: June 2022
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Questions & Answers
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_Peter_B_dublin_79
August 15, 2019|
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Response from LuciaP257 | Reviewed this property |
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Tegan A
November 17, 2017|
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Response from EssenzialeFirenze | Property representative |
Hi! Thanks for your question. Booking in advanced is highly recommended, specially during weekends or peak time. Regards, Essenziale
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ESSENZIALE, Florence - San Frediano - Menu, Prices, Restaurant Reviews & Reservations - Tripadvisor

Frequently Asked Questions about Essenziale

Yes, Essenziale offers takeout services.

Essenziale is rated accordingly in the following categories by Tripadvisor travelers:
  • Food: 4.5
  • Service: 4.5
  • Value: 4.5
  • Atmosphere: 3.5