We're visiting our daughter who lives in Florence (lucky girl!) and will spend 7 days of the trip with a car to meander through Tuscany - the hill towns, Chianti, Lucca, etc. We're looking for restaurants that serve good, local specialties. Any suggestions for favorite places anywhere in Tuscany would be appreciated. If you have a favorite one in a town we have not considered visiting - we just may go! Our goal for this part of the trip is to discover. Thanks in advance!

Check out www.tuscanhouse.com for recommendations in the Lucca and Siena areas.

Hi

Take a look at divinacucina at http://www.divinacucina.com/code/tuscany.html

In small but sweet upper Certaldo,(not far from Poggibonsi)there is a wonderful place called Osteria del Vicario. www.osteriadelvicario.it
It offers first class service, food, and a beautiful panarama from the outdoor tables. We still talk about the lunch we had there.

When staying near Montevarchi a few years ago, we ate several memorable meals at the Osteria di Rendola, and also at a fabulous place called il Canto del Maggio, located in an old medieval village on the hillside with stunning views of the valley below, and tables dotted throughout the vine-covered patio and gardens. Food was excellent, including delicious rabbit with truffles, nettle ravioli and wonderful desserts. Couldn't find much about it online in English, although it gets a mention (+ address/contact details) in this article:
http://www.winespectator.com/Wine/Ar...5,2660,00.html