Florentine Restaurant

02/16/2008 Posted by James614

When you walk into the Florentine, you immediately feel at home. The staff is very friendly. Makes you feel like they want you there let chicken Parmesan is some of the best in the city I truly like the Florentine for its food value and friendly staff they make their pasta their on-site their Italian dressing is their own recipe and is my favorite dressing Ever

02/05/2008 Posted by bootscoot007

Tucked in to the Franklinton near west side lies the home of truly great Italian food. The Florentine has been a favorite of mine and my family for as long as I can remember. In fact, I cut my teeth on their breadsticks! Go safe and get Spaghetti, or sample any of the other wonderful items off their menu. A decent wine list compliments the meal and their desserts are well worth saving room for. If I could, I would give the Florentine 10 stars!

Pros: Too many to list!

Cons: Seating can sometimes go quick, but the service and food make up for any wait.

05/03/2007 Posted by evry1smom03

If you are looking for great Italian food and service. You gotta try Florentines.... It's perfect for every occasion, and a great atmosphere.

Pros: excellent service and food

01/24/2007 Posted by eatmoresoap

Lighten up! If you are a suburban yutz who has to have all the pretentiousness of Bravo or even the Olive Garden, stay the heck away!!! Let the rest of us who know and enjoy good Italian food go there without your whines and attitudes. This place is great! The food is REAL folks! They make the stuff there, not in some commissary, frozen and trucked in. That RAGU comment I read is just all wrong!!! (Have you even been to Italy, Mr. Expert on Ragu?) The house salad is "fine". Yes, it is the one thing that could use a little more attention but other than that, it's about as comfortable as going to grandma's house. (But not like that time you went to grandmas and broke her lamp.) I've always had very good service and yes, the staff is a bit young. So what! They are usually light hearted about being so busy and if you're not one who suffers from an anger management problem you could probably enjoy the banter with them. So in my book, this is the best place to eat in Columbus. It's not fast food, it's good Italian-American fare that isn't all jazzed up with gimmick ingredients and flashy names just to get you to stuff it in your gut and empty your wallet. The prices are VERY reasonable and if you had half a brain you'd get in your car and drive there right now! (Unless it's now Sunday, because they are CLOSED!) If not, go wait in line at your Macaroni Grill for an hour just to be seated for that canned food (although that bread they have is killer, I hate to say). I'll be at Florentine's!

Pros: Location, parking, price, quality food, can take the kids there and make a mess

Cons: None

10/05/2006 Posted by flutegirl09

We waited a long time to get any water or drinks. After that the service was decent. I thought the food was good but nothing too exciting. I would rather go to Villa Nova.

08/18/2006 Posted by rraycols

If you're looking for a relaxing, family-style Italian restaurant - try the Florentine. I went, reluctantly, with my family for my Mother's birthday. The atmosphere is very casual, but the old school charm is still evident. The food is good, homemade Italian-American. I had the eggplant baked in spaghetti and mushrooms, and it was fabulous. The sauce is rich and hearty, the pasta is fresh and flavorful. Everything that was served at our table was very good - veal parmesan, fettucini alfredo, spaghetti with meatballs. The salad plates were chilled and the house dressing is very good, but no tomatoes served on the salad. Most of the wait staff is young - i.e. inexperienced, but their attitude was fine. The location isn't the greatest, but adds to the overall ambience. We will definitely dine there again!

01/06/2006 Posted by meesterquen

I have read some of the other reviews for Florentine, and I have to say, "lighten up, people". This is just an old-school, family owned Italian restaurant, the type that used to flourish in our city. It's not Olive Garden, Bravo or Bucca di Beppo folks, the spaghetti is homemade, the wine list is limited, the service is either Dot (good) or sassy (most of the rest of the wait staff). I feel like I'm going back in time 40 years every time I enter the front door...and am surprised that Dean and Frank aren't sitting at a table.

Pros: Good spaghetti, Retro atmosphere, Lots of seating

Cons: sassy staff, limited wine list

07/11/2004 Posted by t_wms

Those who compare this to Italian restaurants like G.Michael's, or LaTavola are missing the point. This is an Italian-American restaurant in the old tradition. Actually, the spaghetti is homemade, the sauce has a bit of spice, but is essentially fresh-tasting. The service is hit and miss, but some of the servers are wonderful. This is the place to go if you are feeding a crowd, and while the wine list isn't extensive, it is reasonably priced. Try not to be so stuffy when you go, and have fun.

Pros: Great salad dressing, Good pasta, sauce, Ample parking

02/06/2004 Posted by jonfern8

I dined at the florentine on the adive of a co-worker and was stunned that they found this place good. I've come to the conclusion that people in Columbus mistake quantity for quality. If they pay more than $8 for a entree, it's bad food. You get what you pay for, and this place is proof. not only is the sauce smack of Ragu, but the service was very slow. Truly bad food! Don't go!

Pros: None

Cons: , Slow service

12/18/2002 Posted by taylorjr1217

The Florentine is a true classic. The building is beautiful, the food is excellent, the service wonderful. Granted it is not a chain yuppy resturant like Bucca Di Beppo, or G. Michaels, but the food and service is not to be compared with resturants like that. Their stuff is homade, not a frozen dinner wannabe like Bravo's. If you don't like class, and sophistication then don't go to the Florentine.

Pros: Everthing, House salad dressing

Cons: Very busy on weekends, limited parking