da Roberto, Taverna in Montisi

A lovely taverna in the mediaeval village of Montisi. Roberto is passionate about the quality and origin of his ingredients with the aim of sourcing organic, locally produced food with minimal processing. The dishes were delicious and prepared by Roberto himself. The pace of the meal was gentle, giving us plenty of time to chat amongst ourselves and with Roberto. A really great experience all around.

This wasn't just a fantastic meal, it was an experience unlike any other.

Roberto was expecting us- our group of 10 cyclists on a very hot afternoon and after 50km of riding that morning.

The next few hours were a lovely mix of travel stories, background on what grains went into the bread, which farm he got ingredients from and how each dish was prepared.

He specifically decided to serve us- and declined others who didn't have a reservation and walked up to request a table without one (so be prepared).

Bread salad. Bean salad. Fresh bread. Pasta with sausage and onions and zucchini. Local wine and beer choices. Buffalo mozzarella. Chocolate pudding with fruit. And espresso. All made from scratch- and no added salt or sugar.

To say this man puts his heart and soul into serving the guests he welcomes would be an understatement.

A most wonderful few hours and an experience we will never forget.

Grazie!

My family and 10 of our friends dined here 6 years ago and it's still one of the top 10 places I've ever eat at. We have dined at 6 of the top 10 restaurants in the world and many more multiple star Michelin restaurants. What Roberto offers is unheard of.
Having the opportunity to dine with him puts you in the top 0.01% in the world. He is meticulous about where he sources the food you are going to eat. Nothing is processed, of course organic if the farmer paid for their accreditation and in most cases never frozen. Enjoy the privilege of Roberto allowing you into his home.

Dining at Roberto's is more than just a meal - it's an experience. My family of seven dined at his house last week and it was one of the best meals we've had in the three separate trips we've taken to Italy! He helped us order enough food to feed the table and wasn't pushy or tried to "sell" us more than we needed. We had the most delicious (and huge) buffalo mozzarella that he had driven over an hour to purchase, along with wonderful bruschetta, pasta and sausages with potatoes. Roberto even made a special bowl of pasta for my sister who doesn't eat pork. He spent time talking to us and asking questions about where we were from and telling about himself. Five star service all around!

There are tavernas… and then there’s Roberto’s. I won’t talk as much about the lovely food we had (that too without salt! Who’d have thought!) as I would about the extraordinary experience we had.

We - me and my son - bumped upon this beautiful taverna while roaming the streets of Montisi, one of the many tiny villages we visited as a day trip from Pienza. It was late (4 pm) and we were hungry, and the ambience and the music of Taverna looked so appealing that we thought to stop and eat. However the place looked almost closed, with only one table occupied (since it was well past lunchtime).

We tentatively asked Roberto if it would be possible to eat there and he was so kind and gracious to accept, even though he looked visibly exhausted. He asked about our dietary preferences (I’m a vegetarian and my son eats everything) and whipped up three amazing dishes - a bruschetta, a salad and a pasta. Absolutely fresh food. He only opens up the taverna for 4-5 hours in a day because he travels long and far to source his ingredients daily - his love for the food he cooks shows up in the taste.

All the while we were there, he spoke to us with genuine interest, warmth and kindness. After the meal he asked about our further travel plans and gave us excellent suggestions for destinations to visit.

A note for those who find him gruff / rude - Roberto is one of those rare people who have the integrity to stick to their life philosophy of removing negativity and toxicity from his life. He possesses exemplary kindness and respect, and asks only the same of others, and has the sincerity to walk the talk : it’s not easy for an owner to turn away paying business, but if somebody comes and acts like an entitled brat, Roberto refuses to entertain them. However, he refuses with such class and honour that the only thing the entitled elite can do is come and write unfairly terrible reviews to get back at him. In fact, while we were waiting at our table, one family sauntered in, rang the bell and demanded to see the menu, while their many children (tweens and teens, not toddlers) scared his cat away. Not a second of regard to ask if he was open, not a smile of greeting or gratitude.

I’m so grateful to have met him, and even more, I’m so grateful that my son met him and can see for himself a live example of true integrity and grace. We love you Roberto and we can’t wait to be back!

We came here without reservation. Normally a reservation is mandatory. Not due to many people in the restaurant but due to the fact that Roberto wants to be prepared for your stay. He is only using organic ingredients from local farmers. You're not coming here only for eating but also for having a good talk with Roberto and to feel this very personal environment. And of course, to drink a good vine.

The whole experience at Roberto was awesome. Even though we read a reservation was mandatory,three weeks ago, while we were traveling from Romania to beautiful Italy, we bumped into Roberto’s tavern. Our 10 years old daughter, Emma, called him and he was so kind and welcomed us in his cozy terrace, where we had the most memorable lunch of all Tuscany. It felt like there was more than just a dining experience. It was a perfect mixture of fresh, delicious, authentic food, wine pairing, service and definitely a good talk. Roberto is quite a character, an amazing host and gave us good tips for our journey in Napoli area. Kind regards from Romania! 😊

My wife and I, and five other cyclists and two guides had the great pleasure of dining at Roberto’s for lunch yesterday after a long, hot ride. He puts his heart and soul into his preparations; his passion, his love of the food, his uncompromising positive attitude and refusal to permit in any negativity, and his integrity are all obvious. The food was wholesome and excellent, but this is much more than just being about great food in a beautiful setting. It’s an experience and a wonderful memory I will treasure for the rest of my days.

The unexpected highlight of our Toscana trip. Roberto is a dedicated professional who only uses seasonal, locally sourced ingredients and puts passion into every dish he prepares. It was a hole experience we will never forget.

This was the most amazing meal and experience ever!! Roberto has a passion for connecting with people, sharing his knowledge and his locally sourced, seasonal, healthy, amazing, delicious food! We were fortunate to visit with Trek Travel on a cycling tour. It was an incredible, life affirming experience.

I usually never write any comments on Google ever. But Roberto definitely deserves an exception. We arrived without booking, not knowing what to expect. If you're lucky enough to eat at his restaurant, let us even say his home, you'll have the most wonderful experience in Italy. Each product is selected with care and you'll get plenty of explanation as to how you can enjoy every single bite of it. But it's not just about the food (even though it was the best food we had during our trip), you will also get a philosophical insight of life and how to treat people the right way. Roberto is a cosmic magician of Italian food that definitely understood what to expect from life.

Had the privilege of having lunch at Roberto's and it may have been my most memorable meal of my trip. Firstly, reservations are required, he will not take walk-ins. But if you're lucky enough to get one, set aside a good few hours and enjoy not just some amazing food but this man's knowledge and passion for it. There is no menu, just what is best and freshest that day. He is not pushy and will feed you as much or as little as you like. He doesn't add salt to his food, so any salt lovers be prepared. He also allocates a private bathroom for you which is a nice bonus. His love of food and sustainable practices is so apparent and I couldn't be happier to give him 5 stars. I love this man and hopefully will be back again soon.

Roberto is the restaurant you are looking for in Tuscany. Authentic, local, seasonal, and fresh. He's a passionate chef and owner who sources and cooks everything himself. No menus just the best of what is available that day.

And he is a character who freely shares his opinions and knowledge of the food and the region. That might turn some people off but we thoroughly enjoyed the 4 hour lunch we spent with him.

He was responsive to the food preferences of our group (one vegan and one with serious nut allergies) which we really appreciated.

If service and atmosphere are your thing then you need to meet Roberto. He truly wants to make the time in his restaurant an experience over everything. Had the pleasure of meeting him today and hope to bring a small group back sometime soon. Make sure you call ahead to guarantee he is there and has space for you and your guests. Definitely worth the trip!

A rainy cold day cancelled our plans, but the hunger stayed so we were looking for a place close by to eat a quick lunch. We found da Roberto's and it turned into a pleasant 2.5h experience. We didn't read about the place or heard of it, just called 10mins before and went in. After few minutes and before having eaten the slightest bit, we already liked the place as you find out right away that this is a special place, different from others. Roberto is entertaining you while making sure you are fine.
Indeed, the food is without salt, but instead of refusing it or being at the opposing end, we simply accepted it and digged a bit deeper to try to understand and taste new flavors. Indeed, as Roberto says, salt can cover up a lot. At least after I ordered the steak I understood the idea behind it and the meat was really of excellent quality. We were really impressed. Asking Roberto about his way of cooking will allow you see the ideology behind it. In a super touristic region it is great to see places that focus solely on quality and equality and sustainability. Even the coffee is not an hazard, especially not the wine. If you go to this place, just be open to something new and try to leave your comfort zone when it comes to the way your served and what your served. In one word, it feels you're coming to someone's place to eat who is working really hard to create a special, high quality place. Thank you Roberto!

Our group of 12 went to Roberto's for lunch. Pardon me, Roberto's home, as he and his wife are so welcoming and lovely. Some people dislike Roberto because they find him demanding, but what he demands are respect and kindness, and does not have time or the need to deal with negativity. This is literally and figuratively Roberto's home, so if you act like a good guest, then he will treat you like one. If you are respectful and kind, then Roberto will share with you his wonderful philosophy about food, and his amazingly delicious food. We spent 4 hours over a 4 course lunch learning about and eating Roberto's food. It was one of the best meals of my life! It was made more memorable by all the time Roberto spent telling us about the food, where it came from, and how he cooked it. We cannot wait to come back to Roberto's!

In the era of globalised Masterchef and edible-gold tinseled food, Roberto Crocenzi’s Montisi getaway is the safe haven of bodily and mental sustenance. Yet don’t think there is anything regular about this place.
The ease of the setting, the one-of-a-kind host and the cuisine, as genuine as its local ingredients, retells us of our humanity and our visceral nod at what is true.
Roberto’s rules are simple and clear; but don’t think of it as a panic room just because he doesn’t cook with salt or sugar. That can’t hurt. Be as courteous to him as you would expect of your own guests. Don’t enter his kitchen, book ahead if you can, offer your enthusiasm in return for his joy to cook and bring trust, sincerity and time. It will be a highlight of your trip that will stay with you.
The candor of the experience comprises, what’s more, exclusiveness unfound elsewhere: Roberto cooks and works the room solo. Your personal artist. Plus, in these days of pandemia, each table has it’s own restroom. Not even the 4 Seas reserves that treatment.
This is a chance to connect – or have we not had enough of sycophants and white-starched maître chefs?

This place is absolutely amazing!! Be far the best meal we had in Italy and I can't wait to come back! Aside from the unbelievably amazing food, Roberto is great! You can tell he puts a lot of love in what he prepares. He even gave us a recommendation on beautiful area to drive through as we made our way up to Chianti.

In a long life, with many great meals, this meal stands out, one of the best ever. Roberto did chide me for eating two of the pastas at the same time, rather than one after the other, because food is like a religion to him, but he was a complete gentleman, a charming host, in a beautiful setting, and the food was incomparable, a revelation. The dessert brought tears of joy to our eyes. I would be delighted to return and wouldn't hesitate to recommend Montisi and Da Roberto.

Dear Roberto, thank you so much for having us in your beautiful home.

The place is far far from mediocrity. If you are looking for something special, this is the place for you. The food was incredibly delicious, great selection of wines, cozy garden and very charismatic Roberto.