I recently went to Bistecca Tuscan Steakhouse with a couple of friends for dinner and it was a great experience, to say the least.

The first thing that struck me was the beautiful design and ambience of the place. We had to walk through their little gate and up the terrace, which accommodated al fresco dining, before getting into the restaurant. It was a very nice setting for an evening night out to relax, and I’d say it’s a good place to bring your date or celebrate special occasions too.

We were pretty hungry when we arrived, but I can safely say that the 3 of us left feeling extremely satisfied.

We first had the Polipo (pan roasted octopus with preserved lemon, olives, Pachino Sicilian tomatoes and rocket salad) and Rucola (rocket salad with tomato, prosciutto and stracciatella cheese). The octopus was plump and nicely cooked, and had great texture that was not overly chewy. As a meat lover, I was surprised that my favourite appetiser was actually the Rucola. The cheese complemented the dish perfectly and made everything work, it was a very nice balance of flavour in a salad, and the prosciutto was melt-in-your-mouth delicious.

Next, the Tortellini di Angello (lamb and mint tortellini with parmesan and pecorino cheese). I am not a fan of mint, but I really enjoyed this dish too. The mint was not overbearing and made the dish lighter on the palette, while the pasta and lamb were cooked perfectly.

Now comes the star we’d been eagerly anticipating – the Fiorentina traditional Tuscan sharing steak. A generous 1.1kg cut of beef that serves 2-3 people, perfectly medium rare. Steak perfection indeed. This is simply the best steak I’ve ever had. Absolutely delicious and definitely worth it. We had the sides of Asparagi (charcoal grilled asparagus) and Patate (Tuscan fries, rosemary, crushed garlic), which were alright but nothing could take our attention away from the beautiful steak anyway.

Last but not least, dessert. We had the Panna Cotta (vanilla panna cotta served with fresh berries and a pistachio crumb topping), Tiramisu (served with coffee custard), and Torta al Cioccolato (valhrona dark chocolate tart with coffee crumble and a scoop of passion fruit gelato). The panna cotta is stunning, with a perfect creamy texture and a real delight. It is the dessert that made room for itself in my stomach. The tiramisu was delicious as well, but I would prefer it to have more of an alcoholic kick. The chocolate tart was rich and the gelato immediately melts in your mouth with a refreshing taste. I love dark chocolate and passion fruit, but I don’t quite get the combination of both flavours. I found myself going back for more tiramisu and panna cotta to end the dinner.

Overall, it was a fantastic dinner with a lovely ambience and welcoming staff who made it a comfortable experience throughout. We were definitely well taken care of that evening. If you enjoy a good steak, need a nice venue for a date, or are looking for a pleasant evening out with friends/family, I recommend Bistecca Tuscan Steakhouse!