Il Giova: Authentic Tuscan Flavors and Warm Hospitality in Florence

Second time coming here absolutely love it as usual. However do not trust the old lady. She told us we were gonna be fine with 2 primi and a secondi to share. We were so stuffed! Jokes aside this should be taken as a comment on the nice size of the portions and the friendliness of the staff and not a negative.

We just got to Florence today and this place was close to where we are staying and the reviews were good, so we took the plunge. It was so worth it and spot on with the reviews!!! The "fritti cervola e funghi" was good and a first for us (fried brains and mushrooms), we took the plunge and it was so much better than we could’ve ever imagined. The pasta with “Ragu Toscana” was fabulous! Highly recommend this place. The prices were reasonable and the food reminded us of a sweet Nonna was cooking in the kitchen.

Such an amazing family restaurant, food was delicious, service was great. We felt like we were eating a home cooked meal in grandma’s kitchen. Highly recommend

Great restaurant and a favorite of ours in Florence. Owners are really friendly and helpful. Food is top notch. We had fried porcini to start. Pastas were great, simplicity at its best. And pulpo to finish was tender to the bite and so flavorful!

Stumbled across this restaurant by chance on my first night in Florence after visiting another restaurant where the food was ok. This place was so busy, every seat inside and outside was taken - so I thought to myself I’ll be back again on my last night. This restaurant, their food did not disappoint! We didn’t have a reservation, so we got there at 7:30pm, in hope we will get a table for 3 people and we did! For food we ordered the following: Fried duck egg with truffle Pasta with truffle Pasta with clams Pasta with white rabbit sauce Rabbit Beef with mushrooms (not pictured) Tiramisu The pasta dishes were incredible. I ate the pasta with truffle and pasta with clams - they were just so good. Cooked to perfection and the flavours were just right. My friends who ordered the pasta with white rabbit sauce, rabbit and beef with mushrooms all praised how delicious the food was! We paired the food with limoncello spritz (it was strong the drink! ) and ended the dinner with classic tiramisu which was just as delicious! Service was friendly and attentive. The man (wearing with glasses) who served us was very lovely and funny! This restaurant is away from the hustle and bustle of Florence therefore a lot of the diners are local and I can honestly see why they are so busy because the food is incredible. This whole meal will live rent free in my head forever and I hope to be back again to eat at this restaurant again!

Such a great dinner. We got the fried mushrooms (in season), hare pasta, and buttery truffle pasta. So flavorful, large portions, and hearty. The owner was extremely friendly and walked around table to table to recommend dishes or chat with returning customers. I would love to come back here one day. It was a cozy and memorable dinner.

Lovely family-run restaurant serving hearty Florentine and Tuscan food to regulars and newcomers alike. Hand-written menus. Cosy place, nicely decorated. Food was terrific and good value.

Sometimes you just get a hunch on a restaurant. You walk past and immediately stop because what’s happening inside is felt on the pavement. And without knowing anything about it, you have to go in and find out when they can squeeze you in. And you hope your hunch doesn’t disappoint….And it didn’t here. This is food with integrity and character. Like being welcomed into a family kitchen. Dad is chef, mum front of house and youngest son and his childhood friend wait the tables. It’s a small, bustling, ramshackle space offering rustic portions with no pretension. Football commentary drifted unobtrusively from the kitchen. They clearly love what they do and this is expressed in the food they serve (a changing daily menu of florentine classics that I struggled to choose between). I ended up going for Ossobuco Risotto and each rich & melting mouthful made me smile. Brilliant value, inclusive in spirit (they happily welcomed a single diner on a packed evening) and about as authentic as you can get. I came here twice in a week and would go back at the drop of a hat, next time in Firenze.