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-   -   Eating in Florence (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/eating-in-florence-437029/)

clifbob Sep 20th, 2008 10:34 AM

Eating in Florence
 
A was recoomended some places to eat at while in Florence He used to live in Florence and resoomenede some places, however, i can't seem to find any info about them on the web. Has anyone heard of them or have any opinons? thanks
1)best pIZZA IN THE WORLD....IS CALLEED ....SPERA pIZZERIA IN VIA DELLA CERNAIA?
2) FAVOURITE PLACE TO EAT FIORENTINA STEAKS WAS ....."anita" RIGHT IN DOWNTOWN.........
3) Trattoria da Carlino in Ponte Vechio
4)VIA DEI CALZAIOLI has the best ice cream in the world

Can anyone give me info on any of theses places? thanks

charnees Sep 20th, 2008 12:37 PM

Well, for #4, I would have to disagree. Vivoli is the place with the best gelato in the world!! See this web site: no frills, but superb gelato.
http://www.vivoli.it/vivoli-en.html

ellenem Sep 20th, 2008 12:42 PM

Via dei Calzaioli? That is a main street in the center that has a number of gelato shops . . . didn't realize that one was named for the street, unless your friend was referring to the entire street of shops.

Jean Sep 20th, 2008 12:42 PM

There have been a few fairly recent threads on this topic. I'd do a search for "Florence restaurants" and see what comes up.

alexstra Oct 20th, 2008 06:12 AM

You have to go to "Enoteca Pinchiorri", you will remember this place all your life. It's quite expensive but really special.

For the best steak you have to go in the countryside, for my opinion. Pasta and pizza,there are many little restaurants in town.




florence_italia Dec 19th, 2008 04:21 AM

Enoteca Pinchiorri is probably the best restaurant in Florence, but it is very expensive and the atmosphere is too "religious". I would settle for an alternative place like Cibreo. One of the best restaurants for locals is Alla Vecchia Bettola, in Piazza Tasso, I think they have the best authentic florentine dishes. For wine tasting with cheese and ham, nothing beats le Volpi e L'Uva, near Ponte Vecchio.

Concerning Ice Cream, Vivoli is the historical place, but the quality is down lately, i think Gelateria alla Carraia (same bridge name) is much better.

Via Calzaiuoli, where I live and work, is the main shopping street along with Via Tornabuoni (luxury shopping) and Via del Corso. I can hardly immagine where you can have good icecream in Calzaiuoli, it is too turisty.

As someone who lived here for 15 years and a professional tour guide, I think those are the top places. If you think i am totally wrong, you get a free tour next time you are in Florence and Tuscany.


craisin Dec 19th, 2008 12:01 PM

I haven't been to Florence in a couple years but when I lived there, my favorite gelateria was Caribe by the Accademia. Anyone visited there recently? I hope it's still as good as I remember. Hope to return in 09!

caroltis Dec 19th, 2008 03:08 PM

I have to say I was very disappointed in the quality of gelato at Vivoli. It had been raved about in so many recommendations that I was eager to see it out. In fact I tried it on two separate visits and still didn't find it quite to my liking. In fact we tried a couple of places right on the main street...Cazaioli. I suppose it depends on what you're focusing on...texture, flavor...

florence_italia Dec 22nd, 2008 02:53 PM

Hosteria is Osteria.
Via cimiterio (graveyard!!! no thx) is Via Cimatori.

Webvisionitaly.com needs to be a bit more precise and pro.

Fabio Picchi of Cibreo and Teatro del Sale wouldn't care less if you tell him someone sent you there, actually he might get cranky on you..just eat there and enjoy the quality. It is like going to Steve Jobs and telling him some Apple store clerk sent you there... yeah sure...

Good luck with Celestino and Mamma Gina, if you call those quality restaurant...

It is really funny when someone who just visited Florence posts those comments...as if they know...

florence_italia Dec 22nd, 2008 03:19 PM

Something I skipped.

Teatro del Sale is a culinary and culturale association, you need to be a member to enter. It is around 15€ for yearly membership, you can get it done fast at entrance.

The food is a buffet, you cannot order, you eat whatever is there for that night, which is always excellent...

florence_italia Dec 23rd, 2008 04:04 AM

No one is discussing websites here, we are talking about eating in Florence?

What are your places snob?

kybourbon Dec 23rd, 2008 04:38 PM

Yes, Remus is advertising and should be deleted/banned (some other screen names touting webvision have been deleted). Fodor's has been too lenient lately (IMHO). Not very accurate info either.

florence_italia Dec 23rd, 2008 05:12 PM

His info is almost accurate about Fratellini and Cibreo, not accurate at all about the others...

The attitude is typical of new visitors to Florence or returning visitors who think they know it all, they get a bit emotional and they mix that with eventual direct interest (they recommend a place, tell you to tell the owner they sent you, they get a commission or free meals or some courtesy service...). That is a common behavior here and elsewhere i guess. Few months ago, something similar was on TV, concerning hotel concierge raccomending places where they get commissions and using tour guides who give them commissions : they arrange a 3 hour tour for you for 200 euros or more, pay a young unexperienced and sometimes unauthorized tour guide around 100 euros, and put the rest in their pockets. I am talking about 5 stars hotels, very famous international hotels. Hotel managers promised to stop this behavior which in my opinion is hurting the tourism business and creating a very viscious cycle of price increases.

I hope those things change for the sake of honest people in this town and tourists who visit...

florence_italia Dec 23rd, 2008 05:24 PM

raccomending is recommending, corrected. Hard not to make mistakes as this hour of night with some wine floating in my head.

no need for Snob to buy me a dictionary... thx in advance...

Centralparkgirl Dec 23rd, 2008 06:35 PM

I like Grom for gelato - there are two locations near the Duomo.

florence_italia Dec 24th, 2008 01:50 AM

Grom is excellent, sicilian style gelato, very particular... either you love or just dislike it


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