As soon as I got to my hotel in Siena, I asked the front desk attendant, a lifelong resident of Siena, for recommendations on local Sienese cuisine. For my first dinner, I found myself at this unassuming, but lively restaurant tucked away on a dimly lit side street.
After getting their appetizer sampler (a modest tasting of their main appetizers), I got Bistecca alla Fiorentina (Florentine steak). At most Tuscan restaurants serving this popular dish, it’s shared. Traveling alone, I had no choice but to tackle this massive (one kilo) bone-in steak. I tend to like my steaks medium rare but when I’m abroad, I usually eat it the way the chef recommends, which in this case was rare. Overall, it was a tasty steak. It wasn’t as salty as I like so I rectified that. It was very much on the rare side and I attribute that to the size because the edges of the steak were closer to my liking. Regardless, if you’re in Tuscany, you have to get this dish at least once on your trip.
For dessert, my waiter recommended the rice torta with berries. I was surprised how much I liked it. The torta base was a bit drier and more solid than a rice pudding but it provided the perfect platform to hold the berries and ensure that each bite had a bit of both.
Overall, I love this restaurant. The menu had a lot of local offerings and it seemed like a great place for a date or a group dinner. Sometimes the best places are away from the crowds. The locals know where to go so just ask!
| Website: | Grotta Santa Caterina da Bagoga |
| Address: | Via della Galluzza 26, 53100, Siena, Ital |
| Phone: | 39 0577 282208 |
| Visited: | December 2021 |
