Hi everyone, I'm a new fodorite

My wife and I are going to Florence for 4 days in early May. As this is our first trip, any suggestions from seasoned travelers on good-food, good-atmosphere restaurants. We are staying on the Via Faenza, near the Duomo.

Also, I'd like to invest into a day trip into the Tuscony countryside. Any suggestions on dependable tours out of Florence? Thanks for any help.

JG

We ate at a place called Il Latino-yes, before others freak out, it is full of tourists (some were Italian), but it was very fun and great food. It's a very limited menu, you sit at long tables but we had a great time. There are 2 separate seatings (8 and 9:30 I think, double check me) and you have to get there ahead of time for the early seating--everyone lines up outside. It's maybe a 5 minute walk from your hotel.

Tons of discussion here, and all reasonably recent: http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...mp;tid=1376868

Best wishes,

Rex

Believe SWalter is referring to Il LatinI, a well-known spot in Florence, at Via del Palchetti 6R.

It is still listed in Frommers, as well as Great Eats and has been mentioned here many times. They do not take reservations.

I LOVED La Giostra at Borgo Pinit 12r. You can check out the reviews in Fodors restaurant reviews section. I'd go back there in a heartbeat.

Have a great trip!

Il Ritrovo.

Another vote for

Il Ritrovo Via de? Pucci 4/A Very good Has fish. Full dinner w/wine abt 40E pp
From Pzza San Giovani (NW corner of the Pza del Duomo) walk one blk East to Via dei Martelli. Go left to Via dei Pucci. Turn Right. Look very carefully. No sign. Door could be locked. Ring bell.

Buca Mario has a typical Tuscan menu, The food was great, wines were reasonable, service and atmosphere were top notch, prices were also typical. Not really a tourist spot, but the hostess speaks reasonable English, and if needed, can seat you with a waiter who also understands English.
It is near S. Maria Novella, on P. Degli
Ottaviani.
If I remember correctly, they don't serve midday meals on Tuesdays or Wednesdays.
We just ate there last week (3/16) on really enjoyed it
There is a place on the other side of town called Don Chyshotte (sp?) that is also great, very untypical, very unusual, but the food was GREAT.
You would have to ask your consierge for the address. Say "Don Quixote"
Have a great time

I?ve read about a lot of restaurants, to include Ritrovo and La Giostra, both being ?splurge? restaurants. What kind of prices are we talking about for a full dinner (appetizer, first course, second course, and house wine)? Are these two really splurges or are there other restaurants worth mentioning? I'm looking for a splurge but not more than $90 to $100 for two people.

How about these? Trattoria Antellesi; Da Ganino; Trattoria La Casalinga; Trattoria Guelfa.

Grazie!

Mary

Oops! Just read Ira's comments on Ritrovo and their prices.

Lesli is right, I did mean Il Latini but they are taking reservations now in a very haphazard manner.

A great little restaurant, Osteria Cinghale Bianco, is on Borgo Jacopo; cross the Ponte Vecchio to the "other side", turn right onto the first street, runs parallel to Arno. A couple of blocks down on the left side of street is the Cinghale Bianco; small and popular, make reservations to be on safe side. We made them same day, in late May, so imagine you could do the same.

We really enjoyed these last time we were in Florence: Giostra, Osteria del Cinghale Bianco and Beccofino, both in the Oltrarno and La Maremmana (sp., near Santa Croce.

Hi homer,

You can take a daytrip to Siena by SITA bus or a daytrip to Lucca by train.

You can do a 1/2 day in Fiesole if you take the no 7 bus from the train station in Florence.