Live to eat or eat to live, you will have many greats choices in Florence. In fact, there is no reason to eat badly unless you get caught in a tourist trap. Stay away from the shops that carry sliced pizza behind glass. They line the streets leading to the train station! Ripoff! Also there are some Mexican restaurants, along with McDonald and Burger King, that may satisfy some Florentines and some American students craving something from the USA. Need fast food, rather, go to a market and get some fresh bread with prosciutto and/or cheese. If not let me recommend two of my favorite cafes or bars where you can get a quick sandwich, panino or focaccia on the run along with some of the best cappuccino in Florence.
Cantinetta dei Verrazzano has a brick oven where the most wonderful focaccia is made and turned into delectable sandwiches. Sautéed funghi porcini, mozzarella and tomato, prosciutto and eggplant to name a few of the creations. Tip: When ordering in a cafe or bar, it is much cheaper to eat at the bar or a table that does not have a tablecloth. Verazzano has benches along the wall opposite their bakery display. The Florentines eat there while the tourists sit at set tables.
Also remember to have a cappuccino which is hands down the best in town. In all honesty, it is almost impossible to get bad coffee in Italy!
Another great cafe is Caffè Cibreo. Located near the St. Ambrogio market and part of the Fabio Picchi Cibrèo empire eateries. (They include Cibrèo ristorante; Cibrèo trattoria and the always entertaining Teatro del Sale: all wonderful).
It’s a great ritual to start your morning with breakfast at the cafe and then onto to the fantastic St. Ambrogio market. I love the tuna little sandwich.
It is easy to discover a new favorite restaurant every week, but for this post I will focus on those that have been on my list for years; the oldies but goodies.
It’s I Latini for great Tuscan food. The ambiance and menu choices are authentically Florentine.
About 30 minutes before the doors open for lunch and for dinner, folks start to line up. Inside you will find prosciutto hanging from the ceiling, lots of fiasco wine bottles, and large tables where you may find yourself dining with soon to be friends. All the trimmings for a happy. happy experience.
The Florentine steak is amazing. Vegetarians, fear not the zuppa de farro is delicious.
The wine cellar of Latini offers an unparalleled dining experience. One needs to either be invited or organize a party of about 20 and hope that the wine gods will smile upon you so the cellar can be booked. What will follow is a full course I Latini dinner with great wine selections. Be careful not to step on some of the bottles resting on the ground.
If you would like a more intimate and romantic setting check out Oliviero . This elegant restaurant boasts a traditional Tuscan menu and also a more refined menu with a modern twist featuring exciting seasonal choices. From appetizer to desert, you will not be disappointed.
http://ristoranteoliviero.it/index.php
My husband and I celebrating a wedding anniversary at Oliviero
Note: Discovered that my favorite cooking school, La Scuola di Arte Culinaria Cordon Bleu di Firenze, featured a class highlighting the chef and menu of Oliviero. More on the school in a future post.
If it is a beautiful location with views of the Florentine hills then Osteria Omero is not to be missed. It is located on the same street as the ancient home of Galileo.
http://www.ristoranteomero.it/it
It is a five minute taxi ride from the center but once there you will think you are far off in the countryside. It also features traditional Tuscan cuisine. As you enter you are greeted by a selection of cured meats and other delicacies that are for sale in the gastronomy shop. The dining rooms are behind the shop and also downstairs.
Back in town in between the Duomo and Santa Croce neighborhoods we have L’Antico Noe under the arch or Volta di San Piero.
Next door to the the restaurant is their sandwich shop. Very fresh ingredients are displayed in this casual eatery. Each season arrangements of fresh artichokes, mushroom, zucchini flowers etc. grace the sideboard in the cozy restaurant. Massimo, will steer you in the right direction as he suggests his specialties. Those lucky to be in Florence in the Spring can sample his fava bean and cheese salad (Fava con pecorino ), with warm focaccia. YUM!
Trattoria da Ruggero is another favorite outside Porta Romana on the Via Senese. This family run trattoria serves Tuscan fare that is always in demand. The ribollita, pasta carrettiera, thinly sliced roast beef and the castagnaccio (chestnut cake) are the best in town. With only two seatings, 7:30 and 9:00, it is imperative to make a reservation.
A group of friends enjoy the second seating at the largest table in the small two room trattoria.
Most locals have their neighborhood spot which is their go to kitchen when they don’t feel like using their own. A place where everybody knows your name and you feel at home. Ours is Ceasarino in the St. Ambrosio neighborhood. It is a two minute walk from our home where we get home cooking. Every day the menu changes and what can I say, it is a warm fuzzy kinda place. Nothing like waiting for your meal while snacking on the best bread in town dipped in extra virgin olive oil sipping a glass of Chianti. Great way to wine down.
Next time it off to Pistoia, where do I dare tell you about my number one pick in Tuscany? Buon Appetito!
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