I have been following some of the postings on Florence, and a recent one have recommended the following restaurants:

(1)13 Gobbi, Via del Porcellana (2) Trattoria 4 Leoni (cranky waiters) (3)
Osteria del Porcellino (4) Osteria Caffe Italiano and (5) Borgo Antico (Flor. Steak)

However some only say these restaurants are "inexpensive", but what does that mean? How much am I expected to spend for a dinner for 2 (a glass of wine each, maybe an appetizer and a main course)?

Thanks

John

I am not familiar with any of these. However, I still wanted to post and say that the best restaurant in Florence is La Giostra - it's pricey, authentic and the ambiance is amazing!!

HI ... that's exactly what I mean, AllenofSV, when you say pricey, how much do you mean? "pricey" may mean differently to different people. Is a pricey dinner for 2 $50-100? $100-150? over $200??

At least some of these restaurants are listed in the Restaurants section of Fodors Destinations guide for Florence, which will give you a general sense of cost. Also check frommers.com and timeout.com re Florence for their restaurant listings.

I agree that it would be most useful if people listed actual prices, in local currency, since the exchange rate fluctuates and individuals tend to define "moderate" and "pricey" quite differently.

John when will you be in Florence? I will be there in Sept. and am planning on eating at many of the restaurants on your list.
I will be posting a report in early Oct. including restaurants & prices, if that will be helpful to you.
Fluffy

Hi John,

From your list I can only help with Osteria del Porcellino. Our tab for 2 in May was 112 euro which included 1 antipasta, 2 primi, 2 secondi, 1 vegetable, 1 dessert and 3 bottles of their house chianti (1 that we drank, 2 that we brought home). The food was delicious, the service was great, and the atmosphere was pleasant.

For lunch one day if you are looking for more than pizza or panini, consider Mossacce (between the Duomo and Bargello Museum). It is small and busy, but the food is very good and the servings are generous. We had 1 antipasta (soup), 2 secundi (roast pork & baked chicken - half the bird), 2 vegetables (roasted potatoes - could have easily split one), and a half liter of their house red for around 30 euro. Two could easily have a lighter, but satisfying meal for under 20 euro. We could have shared the baked half chicken and one plate of vegetables, and been under 20 euro including the soup and wine.

Enjoy Florence.

Thanks for all the replies ..

Hi Fluffy:
I will be in Florence the last week of Sept. Actually I'll be in Stresa Sept 20 for 5 days, then to Venice for 3 days and to Florence for 4 days. So if you are back before Sept 20 and let me know the costs of these eateries that would be prefect

Hi Rookie:
20 Euros for lunch for 2 is certainly my expected expense. Your 120Euro for dinner at Osteria del Porcellino included 3 bottles of wine, So if we only have 1 glass of wine each (we don't drink much) I think the food bill for dinner for 2 people should be around 70-80Euro. For me that would be "expensive but affordable" (below 100 Euro).

Thanks

Hi John,

An enjoyable and satisfying dinner for 2 at Osteria del Porcellino can definitely be had for under 100 euro (especially if wine is kept to one glass). We ordered a lot of food for 2 people. I could have been very happy with just my pasta but my husband saw 2 secondi he wanted to taste, so I ordered one and he ordered the other. Need I say he's a big eater? Vegetable dishes were not necessary, but I enjoyed the various ways the Italians prepared vegetables, so we quickly got in the habit of ordering one to share.

Update us on your dining experiences after your trip.

I found the best resturant in Florence to be "Aqua Al 2" . You have to try it the Pasta Sampler is great if you like stek you have to try the balasmic Vinigerette steak. it will cost you about a 75 dollars for a full dinner for two and wine. Its located on Via della Vigna Vecchia and they have a website acquaal2.com. We liked it so much we went 2 nights in a row The food is great And for a real italian dinner try il Latini on Via dei Palchetti. Theres a line out the door for tables and they have three different seating ask your hotel. I hope you like these resturants

Hi gelhas,

I went to the website you listed and got a swimwear firm. when I added www. I got a place in San Diego.

Ira -

Try www.acquaal2.it for the location in Florence. It also shows the address for San Diego on the Italian web site (there is an English version available).

Ciao,
Rookie

Ira:

The "San Diego" restaurant IS the "right" website, because at the bottom there is a link to go to their sister restaurant in Florence.

Alternately you can try the direct site:
http://www.acquaal2.it

John

Hi. La Giostra is truly amazing. You are served a complimentary plate of appetizers - very nice and VERY YUMMY. We ordered an inexpensive bottle of wine, 2 meals and dessert for under $100. That's expensive to me, but it so AMAZING that I would splurge FOR SURE at least one night while you are in Florence. It's listed as a "best restaurant" in Frommers. We went there on a recommendation from a friend and were SO impressed we went back again our last in Florence.

John-
Our dinner at Borgo Antico was about 60 Euro for two, including wine (February 2003). We had the steak and all sorts of other stuff. Everybody in our group (four couples) loved the food and we had such a good time! Lots of music and singing. If the other customers were tourists, they certainly spoke very good Italian.
Byrd

Hi AllenofSV, Byrd, Rookie:

La Giostra for under 100Euro for 2?
Borgo Antico for under 60Euro? now we're talking!!!!

Rookie, I will definitely post a report on the restaurants after my trip in late Sept.

John

I have been in Florence for 3 months for work last year. Expect to spend a quite more than in Rome.
At least 35-40€ each for a 3 courses meal which can increase when a florentine steak is involved.
But keep in mind not to exceed in tipping.
High tipping is certainly well appreciated but sounds strange sometimes. 3 o 4 € left on the table will be good. If service is superior a 10% will be ok as well.
Keep in mind that tipping is usually collected and divided into equal parts among all staff.