I will be traveling to Italy in early September and was wondering if any of you could suggest your favorite restaurants in the following places...I am looking for good authentic cooking....more rustic then high end.

Rome
Florence
Siena
Amalfi Coast (specifically Praiano)

Thank you in advance!!!!

Hi D,

In Praiano, La Strada and La Brace.

They are both on the main street. La Brace is relatively informal, as is the upstairs room at La Strada.

Downstairs dining at La Strada is fancier.

Both have wood-fired ovens for pizza.

In Florence, La Buca D'Orafalo near the Ponte Vecchio for upscale dining, Il Zio Gigi for local flavor and lower prices. For gelato, Per Que Non is good.

These are some restaurants we love.

Florence:
Sostanza for dinner
Trattoria Mario for lunch
(see my trip report for details)

Rome:
Pierluigi for a great seafood dinner
Il Pomodorino for nice but inexpensive pizza dinner
Casina Valadier for a splurge lunch
(trip report details coming soon)

Have a great trip!
Dina

Try Pandemonio in Florence. I think the NY Times did a review on it a while back.

Hi d43 ~

Our favorite in Florence was a lovely little establishment near Santa Croce called Leo's. (Via Torta 7R – www.florencerestaurant.com open for lunch and dinner – closed Mondays – phone 055 210829).

If you are standing on the steps of Santa Croce facing the piazza, walk straight all the way across the piazza and you will see Via Torta, it is a little side street off the piazza.

Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy! It was so delicious my mouth is watering thinking about it.

For details see:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34758287

I wish I had some recommdations before I took my trip to Italy. Between Rome,Florence,Pisa and Sienna I must have gone to about 50 different restaurants within six days. As a rule of thumb expect plain food. I love food especiallly americanized Italian (not olive garden). I did not care for Italian restaurant food too much,it was way to simple and wasn't any better than anything in America imo. Especially the pasta. Even though its more of an appetizer I do prefer pizza in Florentine to American.

I wasn't ever dissapointed at the numerous deli/cafe's. I wish we had an equivelent to them in the states. Quick cheap bites with the best salted meats on the planet.

Good Luck, I hope these recommendations are successful.

Here is my trip report from January of this year. Within the center part, you can find some interesting Florentine restaurant ideas. Perche No? is among the best gelaterias in the city..not sure if that is in my report or not.
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...nchy&fid=2

Sorry...the link is not working but you can read my report by clicking on my name and scrolling down to the post on June 28. I will bring it up here again, too.

These fit your description:

Siena - La Torre, I don't have the address but when you stand in the campo facing the tower, walk just to the left of the tower through an archway, it is just a few steps down on the left.

Rome - Der Pallaro, Largo del Pallaro, 15

Both of these places are run by their respective "Poppa's". La Torre has some of the best fresh pasta and THE best osso bucco.

Der Pallaro has a price fixe menu, actually there is no menu they just serve you several courses of wonderful food that they have prepared that day - come hungry.

Both are casual and very authentic!!