I am going for the first time in 2-1/2 weeks. My husband and I are wine-and-food-ophiles. If anyone has any restaurant recommendations, I would be thrilled to hear them (all price ranges welcome). We are very adventurous eaters, and would like to have a true Tuscan experience (no tourist joints). Thank you!

For Florence, try Leo's in Santa Croce. The address is: Via Torta 7r. It's right across the piazza from S. Croce church. Awesome ravioli, osso bucco, and Leo's cake. That was the best meal I had in Italy.

Bice is a place just outside of Florence (about 10 minutes away). Filled with locals and great food and atmosphere. We loved it. Can't recall the specific address.

We had a wonderful dinner at Sostanza. It's a small, bustling place. It was recommended to us by a top chef in LA, and we loved it!

Hi SP,

Here are some restaurants we like in Florence:

Il Ritrovo, 4 via dei Pucci,

Cantinetta Antinori, 3 Via degli Antinori

Osteria del Cinghiale Bianco, 43 Borgo San Jacapo

Osteria Dell Agnolo, Borgo San Lorenzo 24r
25 kinds of pasta. Pizza made in house in a wood-fired oven.

Gusto Winebar and Pizza, 2 Via del Proconsolo
Pleasant wines, generous salads, low prices.

Salaam Bombay, Via F. Rosselli 45r
Where the locals go if they want something exotic. A good, inexpensive Indian restaurant. Excellent nan.

I haven't been in 10 years, but our most memorable meal was at Enoteca Pincchiori (sp?), very expensive but among the world's greatest wine lists. We'll be back in Florence in December and will likely revisit.

Cibreo is also on our list.

Michael

Trattoria al Trebbio, via delle Belle Donne 47R. Great ribollita. Nice atmosphere.

Some Florentines have been know to curl their noses when I mention this place but we've eaten there several times with never a bad experience. Ristorante Vecchia Firenze, Borgo degli Albizi 76R/18. Very reasonable prices and a lot of fun. The murals may be of questionable taste to many Americans.

Borgo Antico Piazza Santo Spirito 6r. Guide books raved about this place. One of the worst pizzas I have ever experienced but the rotten ambiance made it even better. Screaming kids (American) that nobody would tell to shut up and terrible service.

I strongly recommend "Ristorante Cupoli", Via Leonardo da Vinci 32 tel. 055-8721028 fax 055-8725801

It is located on the hills above Lastra a Signa, about 15 km west of Florence.

Monday : closed
Tue-fri: 19:30 - 24:00
Sat-sun: 12:00 - 15.00 19:30 - 24:00

It is a tipical country house with panoramic garden.
Great steaks, home made pasta and cakes, delicious fried mushrooms, wine and real extra virgin olive oil !!
The wine selection is incredible,
I have been there several times !

You will love that place !

Our hotel recommended Santo Bevitore meaning Holy Spirit, it's a wine bar/ restaurant but not sceney like a wine bar restaurant would be in the states. The name is a play on words.

I would say it is nouvelle Italian cuisine. i.e. traditional italian cuisine but updated. It was all local. Just off the river up from the Ponte Vecchio.

I would highly recommend it. Out meal was excellent. The presentation of the meal was so excellent that i even think i took a picture of my dinner something i typically do not do. We thought it was great for a departure to get away from the typical Italian trattoria.

If you are into food and wine definitely go here. I can only drink white wine b/c i'm allergic to red wine and we had just spend a week in Orvieto drinking Orvieto classico. When we asked for something similar to Orvieto classico, the server recommended an excellent wine that was similar in taste. The staff was extremely helpful if hesitant to use their English.

The address is Via di Santo Spirito 64/66 r Firenze Tel. 055.21264

This recent thread has some good suggestions:

http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...0327&fid=2