Il Merlo In Casciana terme

15/08/2024: Excellent restaurant (tavern) perched in the old Santa Maria a Monte. Delicious dishes and well presented. Excellent selection of wines admirably explained and recommended by the owner. Price normal. Only two flaws: we settled in the beautiful external courtyard but unfortunately the seats were uncomfortable and the kitchen hood was too short which smoked the external environment and the diners.

20/07/2024: On the wall at the entrance and on one wall of the terrace there is the writing Ambra Nera Osteria e bottega food, But as happens with works of art when the true masterpiece is hidden under the painting on the surface the same thing happens for this place too . Little by little, with surprise and amazement, visiting the rooms and climbing the floors of this 20th century building you find yourself in front of a real collection of furniture and design objects all confusedly and at the same time skilfully and not casually arranged by the expert hand and taste by Silvio Tempestini, architect and owner together with his son Andrea of ​​Ambra Nera. The passion for furnishings and design is combined with the owner's great love for food and wine, both combined at interesting levels. The main diktat of Ambra Nera is to use only high quality raw materials which are interpreted and cooked with creativity and good technique by a good young chef. The dishes tasted were all well made and were well presented on high quality pottery with different colors and shapes for each diner. The wine list is interesting, well explained with passion and love by Silvio Tempestini, who also does his best to recommend the best pairings with the chosen dishes. The limit of the card, however, is the presence of many bottles no longer available. The terrace where I had dinner was very beautiful and well furnished, an ideal location during the summer. However, since it is located in the external part and accessible by a climb, it affects the service times somewhat, despite having appreciated it for its kindness, professionalism and availability. In fact, my table of 5 has never been served completely all together. Good value for money. An experience that I sincerely recommend trying and that I will certainly do again.