First in 2016, and then again in 2018, Chef Massimo Bottura's Osteria Francescana in Modena, Italy was named the #1 restaurant in the world.
Soon after he reclaimed the top ranking, I stayed up until 3 am (Eastern time) one night to try and get a reservation via their website when new dates opened up.
The best I could do was #800-something on the waiting list. I wasn't even close.
I was bummed until I learned about his latest project, Gucci Osteria da Massimo Bottura in Florence.
The restaurant, a partnership between famous fashion brand Gucci and the world's top chef, opened in January 2018 as part of Gucci Garden Galleria.
Housed in the historic Palazzo della Mercanzia in the Piazza della Signoria, Gucci Garden includes a store, exhibition space, small theater, and one very green 50-seat restaurant.
All of the plates used in the restaurant are also by Gucci. If you're into fashion, this is the restaurant for you.
I dropped by without a reservation around 9 pm on my last night in Florence and was able to be seated right away.
In addition to the a la carte choices, which cost €20-30 apiece ($22-$33), there are two tasting menus: five and seven courses. I went with the latter.
My favorite dishes were the purple corn tostada on account of its presentation, the decadent tortellini with Parmigiano Reggiano cream sauce, and the beef tongue with asparagus and roasted carrot.
See also: Food and Ferrari Tour in Emilia-Romagna
Tasting Menu
These photos were from the larger 7-course tasting menu on October 8, 2018.
I don't have a lot of experience eating tongue. However, I'm starting to become a fan after dishes like this one.
I'd never heard of quince before. It's a tree that produces a yellow pear-shaped fruit.
The signature chocolate gelato dessert with vanilla-orange mascarpone, Charley Marley, had hazelnuts, which I've recently learned I'm allergic to. I received this colorful fig tart as a substitute.
After dinner, which lasted about 90 minutes, I took a quick walk through the attached Gucci store, before calling it a night.
Before Gucci Osteria, I'd never given any thought to fashion-themed restaurants. I didn't even know it was a thing.
I'll be on the lookout for them now as it was a new, different, and overall good experience.
See also: Lunch at an Organic Farm in Tuscany
Need to Know
Gucci Osteria de Massimo Bottura
- Address: Piazza della Signoria 10, Florence
- Hours: Daily, lunch 12:30 - 3 pm, dinner 7 - 10 pm
- Dress: None, but this is a fashion-themed restaurant
- To view current menus and make reservations, visit the website
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