Hi Linda!

Can you tell us where you dined while in Florence? As you know, I'm heading there in May. I already have a long list of restaurants but wouldlike to hear about the places you enjoyed and what you ate and paid.

Thanks!

Monica

Sostanza! Absolutely simple menu and wonderful food. Get the butter chicken, I think its their speciality.

Exactly where is Sostanza in Florence and what is the price range, please?

It's on Via della Porcellana a few blocks from the SMN train station.

Hi again Monica!
I hate to admit this, since I went to both Rome and Florence with a list of recommendations from Fodorites, but we really ate on the fly in both cities. And we did not have a bad meal or a bad bottle of wine anywhere!

We did have a memorable meal at Il Latini in Florence. (Via dei Palchetti, 6R Close to the Arno on the Santa Maria Novella side of Florence) It was recommended to us by a shopkeeper our first day in Florence. We went for a late lunch, so it was not overly crowded, although I understand it can be and dinner requires reservations. We were seated and treated to a lovely, homestyle lunch with three soups, two pastas, unlimited table wine and a dessert wine for E10 per person. (I think we could have had more food, probably for more money, but it was lunch and, in general, we only ate two courses per meal.) It was wonderful and a great introduction to food in Florence.

Linda

La Giostra- high-end dining and worth every penny. The beef carpaccio is absolutely top notch and I ordered a steak with portobello mushroom and my quote: "Oh my God, mom! What is this mushroom made out of? Baby flesh?!"

Claire

Hi Linda,

I dined at Il Latini for dinner back in May 2004 and really enjoyed it. It was packed with people and the food was good. Sounds like a great deal for lunch!

Monica

Hi! I was just there in November...it's a foodophile's paradise! Here is a link to my gastronomical play-by-play already posted on epinions. Enjoy!http://www.epinions.com/content_212739526276

Claire---thanks for mentioning La Giostra. I loved it too. Very pleasant staff----we made the mistake of showing up without reservations, and they squeezed tables over and made room for us. Absolutely delightful.