Il Ritrovo Restaurant in Florence
 

Hi everyone,
My husband and I have one day in Florence and based on the comments here, we'd like to have dinner at Il Ritrovo. Do I need to make a reservation in advance? We'll be there on Saturday, September 10th. Since we don't know where the day will take us, we'd prefer not to make a reservation. Will it be possible for us to get a table for two without one? We're flexible and wouldn't mind waiting... especially if they have a bar area. Any advice would be appreciated.

Thank you!

No bar area. Suggest you make a reservation. It is pretty centrally located. If you make a reservation for 8 or 9 and you find that you are too far afield or too tired, you can always call to cancel; As far as waiting for a table and no reservations, it would be very iffy as they never rush anyone and folks tend to linger. We loved this place and ate there two nights in a row. Enjoy!

Went there in July - best meal of our 3-week trip. We did make a reservation and were glad we did. Enjoy!!

Second the recommendation for an 8pm or 9pm reservation. Make a 7 or 7:30 reservation and (if they even accepted it) you would be enjoying your dinner in a half-empty room full of nothing but tourists. 8-10 is when everyone eats in town, and the excitement/noise/energy would add to the fun of the evening.

I've heard that Taverna del Branzino is even better, but it is not in the center of town like Il Ritrovo. Have fun!

Hi JennyMary,

We too have been looking forward to Il Ritrovo, and have always been told to get a reservation.

Good tip bobludlow on Taverna del Branzino, good to know of another that is highly recommended...

Does anyone know what the dress code is at either of these establishments?

And bobludlow, do you know where Taverna del Branzino is located?

Enjoy! Tiff

Il Ritrovo is a lovely restaurant and I'd make a reservation just to ensure that they can seat you. For starters, order the Fantasia appetizer -- it's wonderful and easily enough for two.

Apologies to Jennymary for adding my own question to this thread - Is Il Ritrovo open for lunch and is it very expensive? Any other suggestions? I will be meeting a close friend for lunch, hoping to find a special restaurant with good food and authentic atmosphere. Thank you...

Just in case no one responds, azure 0327, I am thinking that it is not open for lunch. I am NOT certain of this though, but I think I recall reading somewhere back when I was researching restaurants that it is not open for lunch. I should probably not even respond when I am not certain, but there you are...

:$ Tiff

Alas, one should not speak when one is not certain, lest one shall eat one's own words!

Please forgive, it is indeed OPEN for lunch, per a nice poster in this good thread:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34581519

I had to back and research! Tiff :((

Thank you Tiff :-)

I would be grateful if the next Fodorite who spotted a local Italian at Il Ritrovo would report on that surely rare occurrence...

Thanks everyone! I'm calling tomorrow to make a reservation! Not sure if it's too far in advance.. but will see what they say! Can't wait!

Taverna de Bronzino is a big-conto place on Via della Route..phone 055-495-220.

I know there is one local Italian there almost every night. Puccio Pucci (the designer Emilio Pucci's brother) eats there every night. He is a very distinguished older gentleman sitting in the corner eating dinner alone. The Pucci headquarters are in the building next door and the owners of Il Ritrovo told us he eats there most evenings.

It is not a particularly dressy place, i.e. no jacket, or dress required.

We ate lunch there in June. Absolutely fabulous. The chef came out and showed us the porcini mushrooms he was going to cook for us. His son was our waiter and spoke very good English, answering questions, not only about the food but about the restaurant and how he was spending the summer with his dad, working inthe restaurant. We bought a number of different things and shared them. The bruschetta, an appetizer, was amazing. There were 5 courses just of bruschetta. We couldn't believe it...all different. There were a few Italians eating at the same time we were there. A family celebrating the son's birthday was enjoying lunch. The mom, son and daughter came in first. The dad obviously was coming in on his lunch. He flew in, ate with them, and then left. Another gentleman came into and left from the restaurant through a back door.

I can't say enough how much we enjoyed our lunch! I'd high recommend it!!!

Oh, we didn't have reservations, and there was no problem getting a table for lunch.

Other than Puccio Pucci and posters on this board, real food-lovers and enthusiasts do not care much for the average food and a tourist-destination restaurant like Il Ritrovo. The food's too catered to American (and Puccio).

Bring a Fodors or Rick Steves book with you when you dine. Every table that's occupied has one.

Ok bill_boy, where is a place that you love that doesn't have "average food or cater to Americans"?

Or can you not tell us "Fodorites" because too many of us might show up and ruin it?

topping

Hmmmmmmm, bill_boy seems to have only one posting on the Europe board.

How good of him to have taken his valuable time to let us know his opinion.

((I))