Trattoria Sostanza: Authentic Florentine Dining with Iconic Butter Chicken & Classic Tuscan Flavors

Easily the best meal I had in Italy, Trattoria Sostanza feels like walking into a classic restaurant with the best food and vibes. The butter chicken is a standout, with the meringue cake, tortellini with meat sauce and artichoke pie also incredible! It is a MUST go in Florence!

This was recommended by a local. It's a small place running (probably) by the family circles. The menu is simple and doesn't provide many selections like others. It's by reservation only and the guests get serve by waves. This means that everyone goes in at certain time and everyone leaves after a meal period. The next wave will be served after the tables are cleaned and set up. We ordered the 1kg T-bone, the butter chicken, and a pasta to share. The T-bone aged very good, fats removed, cooked just as requested, and it tasted like a premium steak. However, it lookes smaller than the 1kg that I had at the other restaurant. The butter chicken comes in 2 pieces with a lot of tenderness and juice. The pasta is just like a homecooking style, small portion and simple. The cake is unlike regular retail cake piece. It's not overwhelmingly good. Again, it maybe just a small Italian Mom & Pop eatery with no fancy decorations and menu. The price is reasonable for a small eatery.

This place was the BEST we had during our Italy trip. My husband and I went 30 mins before opening at lunch time, as we did not have a reservation. While we were waiting, slowly others started coming to wait as well. As soon as doors opened, they seated us, despite us not having a reservation. We ordered the tomatoes, butter chicken, and tortellini in brodo. Every single dish was PERFECT. We were served the tortellini in broth first, and they split the portions for us too. Tortellini was al dente, with a meat stuffing inside. It was soooo good. The broth was super savory and flavorful. Then the chicken and tomatoes. These two dishes complimented each other SO WELL. The chicken breast was super juicy, flavorful, and not overwhelming. The tomatoes were super refreshing, and it complimented the chicken perfectly. Make sure to dip the bread in the olive oil with tomatoes. 10000% recommend !

What an incredible experience at this truly local gem. The famous butter chicken arrived at the table still sizzling, rich, and absolutely unforgettable — pure comfort on a plate. The pasta with ragù was equally outstanding, full of depth and flavor, the kind of dish that makes you pause after every bite. And to finish, the panna cotta was simply divine — silky, delicate, and impossible to resist. A timeless place where tradition meets soul. One of those meals you’ll remember long after you’ve left.

This spot is definitely worth checking out. Reservations are a must since it’s a small and cozy place—try calling ahead, and if you can’t get through, it’s worth swinging by in person to book. They usually seat at 7:30 PM and 9:00 PM, and I think they also do lunch from about 12:30 to 2:00. We started with the tortellinis with beef, which was fantastic. Then we tried the butter chicken and a Florentine steak—both were excellent. The chicken was tender and juicy, and the steak had that perfect grilled flavor. The artichoke with egg was also a nice surprise. We shared everything between three adults, and it was more than enough. Don’t skip dessert if you go—it really completes the meal.

If you want to try authentic local florentine dishes while in Firenze, I highly recommend you try Trattoria Sostanza. My wife and I came here without a reservation on a Monday afternoon at 12:30pm (opening time) and we were told they were fully booked for the whole week. We were determined to try this place in our 4 day trip to Florence, so we returned the following day at opening time. We politely told them we did not have a reservation but we were willing to wait. They originally told us to wait until 1pm, which we had no problem with because this place was at the top of our list. To our surprise, they came out to get us after about 10 minutes and seated us at a table with another couple. We were so grateful that they were willing to squeeze us in. The staff is truly a delight and very accommodating. We ordered the sizzling butter chicken breasts, tortellini with ragu, artichoke tart, 1/4L red wine, and cake for dessert. Everything was phenomenal but our favorite dish was the sizzling butter chicken. It is truly a must try dish when visiting Florence. One thing to note is that the tart is a seasonal dish, so it may have different vegetables incorporated. We are counting down the days until we return to this lovely restaurant. We highly recommend making a reservation in advance (preferably a week or more), as we were very lucky to dine here. Thanks again to the staff for squeezing us in

One of the best meals we’ve had in Florence. The service made us feel at home and the food was delightful. We had the mix salami, tortellini in butter sauce, artichoke pie, and the chicken breast in butter sauce. Everything was delicious but the highlight was the chicken. The wafting aroma of the sizzling butter as it came to your table made it so much more amazing. Dessert is a must-get the meringue cake layered with ice-cream and topped with the sweetest raspberries. Already living in my head as an unforgettable dessert. Definitely make a reservation in advance we got lucky with a no-show (Thanks Mr. Gary!!).

Nothing short of amazing! The best Florentine steak we’ve had so far! The server made some great recommendations. We got the artichoke pie, the steak with some chicory salad and some raspberries in lemon for dessert. Everything was absolutely wonderful. I can’t wait to go back and try their chicken next!