The Restaurant - Galileo Restaurant to taste Tuscan seasonal specialities in Pisa

Ristorante Galileo

Since 1986, an ex-cart driver's premises in one of the oldest alleyways in the historical heart of Pisa has played host to Ristorante Galileo.

This authentic Tuscan restaurant is located just 500 meters from Pisa's central railway station.

Diners receive the warmest of welcomes before being treated to wonderful dishes that, while in certain respects highly innovative, are made with a genuine respect for the methods traditionally used to cook the magnificent fruits of Tuscany's land and sea. The selection on offer includes "Prosciutto Toscano" (the local version of what is commonly referred to in English as "Parma ham"), "Lardo di Colonnata" (a special type of bacon fat), and "Bistecca alla Fiorentina" (the famous Tuscan steak), as well as a wide array of fish-based starters and main courses.

Moreover, Ristorante Galileo also serves up excellent pizzas, cooked in a wood-fired oven. The restaurant's wine cellar contains more than 400 fine wines, most of which are made in the Tuscany region

Il Menu

Visiting Ristorante Galileo time and again throughout the course of the year is a delightful experience. Our kitchen alters the dishes on offer to match the passing seasons, so the focus of the menu changes throughout the year, yet there is never any compromise to our dedication to respecting tradition and to using the very best ingredients at all times.

We always recommend to our customers that they sample our authentic hors d'oeuvre, which include a range of dishes based on salami, as well as Tuscan sausages (from "sbricciolona" to the more compact "finocchiona"), well-cured "Prosciutto Toscano" (the local version of what is commonly referred to in English as "Parma ham") and "Lardo di Colonnata" (a special type of bacon fat). Our "crostini" (fried bread) with liver pâté is unmissable, as are the other variants of this Tuscan classic.

After your hors d'oeuvres, you can move on to fantastic starters such as "Pappa al pomodoro" (bread-based tomato soup), "Gnocco rucola e parmigiano" (arugula and Parmesan cheese gnocchi) and "Maltagliata al branzino" (rough-cut sea bass), to name but a few.

The main courses provide a mix of tradition and creativity: "Trippa alla Fiorentina" and "Bistecca alla Fiorentina" (Florentine-style tripe and steak), or "Tagliata di manzo con rucola" (slice of beef with arugula), complemented by our succulent side dishes, such as "Fagioli all'uccelletto" (beans with tomato, garlic and sage). As an alternative to meat, you can choose one of the fish-based mains, such as: "Seppia con la bietola" (cuttlefish with beet), "Baccalà con porri" (salted cod with leek) or "Stoccafisso con patate" (stockfish with potatoes).

Your entire meal will be accompanied by a variety of wines from our exceptionally well-stocked cellar. The wines on offer range from the finest bottles made within the province of Pisa itself to some of the most prestigious examples of Brunello.

If you prefer, you can always opt for one of our extensive array of great pizzas, including local favorites and variants from further afield, all cooked in our wood-fired pizza oven .

To end your meal on a high note, you can enjoy one of the seasonal desserts or sample some of the incredible ice cream that is specially made by Enzo.

We have always prided ourselves on the courteous service we offer and on the high quality ingredients we use to make our wonderful dishes.

References

When we studied the comments left by our customers, we came to realize how accurate they were: the atmosphere that Enzo and Cinzia Poggioni have succeeded in creating at Ristorante Galileo really is something quite special!

“In an alleyway in the historical heart of Pisa, you come across this welcoming little place, where you are made to feel instantly at home. It soon becomes clear that this restaurant's customers are treated like family friends, yet you can also feel the consummate professionalism of the family members themselves, who have been working here with heart and soul for 20 years.

The wine list has been compiled with great care. You will find all of the most celebrated names, along with a number of other great wines you will most probably never have come across before.

A glance at the menu puts you in synch with the seasons, and as soon as you taste the hors d'oeuvres you appreciate immediately the quality of the ingredients and the mastery with which the kitchen has succeeded in bringing out the simple, genuine flavor of every single element.

It is patently obvious that a great deal of time and skill has gone into the choice of cold cuts, cheeses, oils and spices they use here.

While the wood-fired oven undoubtedly allows both meat and fish to be cooked to perfection, it is also used to make delicious pizzas. By the time you reach the dessert, you can choose between Enzo's hand-made ice cream and a range of seasonal desserts, and then you can take your pick of Amadei chocolates with rum or grappa.

As regulars, we hold the restaurant in very high esteem, but what is remarkable is how quickly the people we send here go on to become regulars themselves.”

Andrea – Hotel La Pace – Pisa;
Pio – Hotel Alessandro Della Spina – Pisa;
Rita – Hotel Minerva – Pisa.

Ristorante Galileo

Via Silvestri 12, Pisa Tel. +39 050 28287 Fax +39 050 500469 P.I. 00985930502