Can anyone make suggestions of some places to eat in Siena and Montepulciano and Florence. We would prefer authentic & non- touristy place that won't break the bank... We don't need fancy, just good food and atmosphere if possible !

Thanks!

Most restaurants in Italy have good to excellent food. Avoid anyplace that has menus in 14 languages or pictures of the food. Also avoid places directly across the street from major sights. It's hard to get bad food except in Venice.

Are you looking for places for a special meal - or just basic? (We typically would look at restaurants as we toured around and if we like the way a place looked would go in and make reservations for that night. We never had a bad meal.

Here is a good start. Note La Porta near Montepulciano as well.
GOOD EATS IN TOSCANA---2008
I have never been called “ BOB THE FOODIE” , but here are some of the best places to eat in Tuscany based on feedback from many of my clients. Reservations are suggested for most!
$=inexpensive $$=moderate prices $$$= expensive

FLORENCE:
Osteria del Cinghiale Bianco $$ Across the river & very good.
La Giostra $$$ Excellent, but you must book in advance

SIENA:
Osteria Le Logge $$ Great place for lunch and near Il Campo
Cane e Gato $$$ A fixed price & menu for a true feast—allow 4 hours

LUCCA:
Buca di San Antonio $$ Best in town and near San Michele
Il Giglio $$ In the piazza of the same name---favorite with locals

SAN GIMIGNANO:
Il Pino $$ Very good typical Tuscan fare
Le Vecchie Mura $ Good value for a tourist town

MONTALCINO:
Taverna Grappolo Blu $ Popular with locals as well.
Ristorante Poggio Antico $$ Excellent cuisine 5km south of town at winery location
Enoteca Osteria Osticcio $ Best wine tasting & small meals in town

MONTEPULCIANO:
La Grotta $$ Near San Biagio church & very good
Café Poliziano $ Great place for lunch on shopping street

PIENZA: Latte du Luna $$ Best choice in this charming village

BAGNO VIGNONI: Osteria del Leone $ Good lunch choice in this spa hamlet

MONTICCHIELLO: La Porta $ Charming place with outside terrace

SAN QUIRICO: Trattoria al Vecchio Forno $ Good food & fair value

Not cheap but very good!

Siena:
Antica Osteria da Divo
La Taverna di San Giuseppe

Both have websites.

About Montepulciano, I already told you on your other thread: Borgobuio is the place to go. Non-touristy, no it's not, but you would be hard-pressed to find non-touristy in Montepulciano. As I also told you, though, you'll find that beautiful as southern Tuscany is (and specifically the province of Siena), it doesn't have Italy's best food. Florence is far superior, foodwise. My favourite is Cibreino, the very reasonably priced no-reservations no-frills "little brother" of famous (and expensive) Cibreo restaurant - the food for Cibreino is coming from the same kitchen as Cibreo's!! Just great (Via de' Macci, 122r - no website). Another wonderful place is Trattoria Marione (Via della Spada, 27r - no website) - hearty, rustic food, as excellent as hearty & rustic can ever be anywhere, huge helpings, cheap.

Here's where to eat: any restaurant that doesn't look like a flashback scene from Slumdog Millionaire.

The little tavola caldas and 10-table restaurants in Italy are very good. Price does not signify quality. My Pop's favorite saying (he's been to Italy about 8-10 times) is "I've never had a bad meal in Italy." Honestly, to go wrong, you almost have to try.

Just wander about and enjoy.

Florence: Trattoria Mario - Via Rosina 2 (lunch only)
Siena: Osteria Compagnia di San Martino, Via Del Porrione 25

I second Osteria del Cinghiale Bianco in Florence. Excellent food and exceptional service.

Thanks for all the replies - Franco, I get the point that Montepulciano is touristy, I'm just looking for good options in the places we have decided to go.

I am sure we will seek out many of these places you all have recommend so thanks again!

Also note, please, that the street numbering system of Florence is definitely nuts. Those "r" numbers are only for businesses, i.e. for everything a tourist might be wanting to use street numbers for (restaurants, hotels, shops, gelaterie), and they have NO relation to "normal" street numbers. For example, no. 14r may be neighbouring "normal" no. 82, while 15r may be as far away as near no. 136. So whenever looking for an "r" number, you'll simply have to walk along the respective street, and those numbers don't actually help much.

<<We don't need fancy, just good food and atmosphere if possible !>>

I can share two that fit your criteria-

For a real treat (and not too touristy), try lunch at Osteria la Botte Piena, located in Montefollonico (a small, beautiful town near Montepulciano). The baked cheese dish is fantastic and something you absolutely must try. Trust me on this one.

http://www.labottepiena.com/index.html

Popular (especially with locals) in Montepulciano is Osteria Acquacheta. Their pici al ragù di cinghiale (pici pasta with wild boar sauce) is excellent. If you like steak, this is a good place to share one (make sure you are very hungry).

http://www.acquacheta.eu/indexengl.html

If you are visiting in Oct, be sure to eat porcini mushrooms. If in Nov- truffles!