Villa Di Nottola

The sunset over the mountains was stunning, and most of the meal was fantastic. We loved the ravioli, beef tartare, meat dishes, salads, eggplant lasagna, apple crumble, pasta and wine. A couple of things missed the mark, though: the chicken liver pâté was dry and just bad, and the mint and lemon cheesecake really didn't work.

The chef came by after dinner and we had a lovely conversation about the food and the location. He seemed genuinely interested in hearing what we thought and was very humble about our compliments. Eating outdoors with those amazing views, plus the excellent food, felt like quintessential Tuscany.

We chose this for our farewell dinner in Tuscany, and the staff and Steak Fiorentino made it a great send-off. It may have been the best restaurant steak I've ever had. They serve it on a hot griddle, so two people can share a 1 kilo steak and finish it at the table to suit each person's preference. My wife likes hers well done, while I like mine rare as long as it stays hot. There was a nice selection of Montepulciano's. The restaurant sits among vineyards, and their vino nobile was very good. We'd already arranged to have quite a few bottles sent home, otherwise we'd have shipped a dozen of theirs too. At twice the price, including shipping, you still can't find that quality in the US.

We didn't have a reservation, but Jenny welcomed us in. She and her colleague were the best host and waitress we've had the pleasure of being served by during all our dining and travels in Tuscany. They're both a credit to Ristorante Villa Nottala. Grazi for a wonderful meal and atmosphere. We hope to visit again in the future.