Will be in Florence again this September, so I'm looking for restaurant recommendations. Nothing fancy. Just good, authentic Italian food... Feel free to branch out to restaurants in the Chianti region, as I'll be taking a scenic drive out there, too.

This was a fave of ours.

http://www.osteria-agnolo.it/

In Oct. of 06 my daughter and I attended a cooking school in Montefellonico.We cooked in the morning and in the afternoons took trips around ZTuscany. On one occassion we went to Florence to see the food markets and had lunch at Sostanza.(It was featured in an article in a book put out by Wm Sonoma).We loved the restaurant so much we returned on our own when the school was over. It is very ols, very blue collar but had wonderful food. Try the buttered chicken or the Florentine steak and their desserts are to die for. Get a noontime reservation ,otherwise you'll be out of luck. It is very small and very crowded.

www.ristorantelagioarra.it

sorry, that didn't seem to work...try:

http://www.ristorantelagiostra.it/

During our one day in Florence, I asked three local people where to go for a Florentine steak. All three people recommended Mario's (www.trattoriamario.com). It is a father and son operated restaurant with a line around the corner - ottemo!

Unless things have changed, Mario's is open only for lunch.

Yes, their website states they are only open for lunch

For steak I like Cambi in the Oltrarno..their prices are lower than those charged by many places in more touristed areas:

http://www.anticoristorodicambi.it/

In general, with exceptions of course, I do much of my eating on that (south) side of the river and away from the main street running parallel to the Arno on that side..

I will top my trip report so you can read the details of Cambi and a few oher places we liked on our most recent visit to Florence.

About 30 years ago remember having a wonderful steak florentine up in the hills outside of Florence, in Fiesole. It was a short car ride, and there was also a bus that went there. There was a restaurant with a terrace and we sat outside overlooking Florence - a great experience.

Maybe some Fodorites know if it (or its successor) is still there.

Could it have been the Trattoria Cave di Maiano..with a view just outside Fiesole?

Or at the Villa San Michele in Fiesole?

I second Sostanza. Its really wonderful and I agree that the Butter chicken is to die for. I know what I'm talking about. My daughter is a highly regarded pofessional chef and her specialty is Italian. Even she's impressed and she usually isn't.

Il Latino restaurant

We have been to Florence a number of times, and we always make it a point to go to Ottorino, which I hope is still there!! (It's been 5 years) It's at Via delle Oche 12-16, one street towards the river from Piazza del Duomo. It's not your noisy tourist venue, but one where Florentine businessmen seem to lunch. The food is very Tuscan -- no big tomatoey sauces on pasta, I don't think they make pizza -- and very good. The waiters are very good and experienced. This is a little more expensive than lots of tourist places, but if you want authentic Tuscan, this is for you. I don't think they have a web site. Probably don't need one.

Outside of Fiesole. Probably Tratoria Cave.

What a great excuse to go back and verify

"Could it have been the Trattoria Cave di Maiano..with a view just outside Fiesole?"

I was there two summers ago and it was simply beautiful! Food was great as well

I plan to go back this fall, this time for dinner.

We had 2 of our best meals ever in Florence. One was at Il Guscio (Via dell' Orto, 49. phone: 055-224421)in the Oltrano, a fabulous, small, homey place with fresh seafood and amazing bistecca. The other great meal was at Leo's in S. Croce (Via Torta 7R – www.florencerestaurant.com open for lunch and dinner – closed Mondays – phone 055 210829)

I have detailed descriptions of the food at both these places, as well as at La Giostra in my last trip report. Just click on my name and look for "My First (and probably last)Taste of Donkey.

I highly recommend Za-Za, Piazza Mercato centrale, 26/r 055-215411. Excellent place that is open for lunch and dinner. Enjoy!

I second KimiG's suggestion for Mario's. Go for lunch, closes at 3:00pm. Cheap, great food, all the locals go there. We stumbles on it after touring the central market and we made sure we scheduled it for the next day for lunch. So, authentic, So. Italian. Wish I could go right now.

Woo hoo! Thanks everyone for the list of recommended restaurants. I can't wait to check these places out!