Going next April....mouth's watering already!

I have to vote for Trattoria "Il Porcospino!" It's at Piazza Madonna (to the left of the church entrance). Check out their website at
www.il-porcospino.it. (You may have to do a google search for "Il Porcuspino, Florence" if it doesn't come up right away.

Both times that our family was in Florence, we ate here more than once. The staff is exceptionally friendly, helpful, entertaining...the food is very good as well. We were partial to the filet with green pepper sauce (that is fresh green peppercorns...not the vegetable), gnochi with pesto, and the tiramasu! We had several courses, dessert, and a bottle of wine this last time for $85-$90 Euros. (We were treated to some sparkling white wine before dinner and limoncello after dinner - no charge).

We have also eaten lunch there for much less (BUT we ordered different food, and less of it at lunch).

Have fun!

Le Fonticene was suggested to me by a Fodor's poster, Monica Pileggi, and it more than lived up to her recommendation. It is on via Nazionale, across from an entrance to the San Lorenzo market. Food, atmosphere, service and decor were all excellent. It is a warm, lively and friendly place with great food. People watching was fun too. We went twice and loved it both times. She also recommended Osteria Cinghiale Bianco and Mastinicca but we were only there for two days so didn't get to the others.
http://www.lefonticine.com/

We made a reservation at Cinghale Bianco, spent as much time as we wanted, and did not feel rushed.

Hi Ira,
We were also at It Ritrovo in 2003 -- late May or early June -- at your recommendation, and we loved it. I guess I can't really recommend it now though since I don't know which way the quality's gone, up or down.

We tried to get reservations at Il Ritrovo, but the owners of our hotel (Tourist House Ghiberti) told us it had been closed since May. We didn't double check or call the restaurant ourselves, so I can't say for sure whether they were right . . .

Sorry, I was wrong about the year. We were in Florence in 2005 not 2003!

Was just there this past May. La Giostra was very good as other posters have said. It was very nice inside and not inexpensive.
We also enjoyed a restaurant named Il gato Y Il Volpe. I'm not sure if that's exactly right but it's The Cat and the Wolf. Good food and friendly service. Took a recommendation on wine and it was excellent. Not as "fancy" as La Giostra.
Have a great time.

Found the names of the restaurants we liked: Trattoria Antellesi near San Lorenzo. Excellent food.

Il Guscio south of the Oltrarno. The food was fantastic, especially the starter course. It is popular with locals and reservations are a must. However, the neighborhood wasn't my favorite. Still, an excellent meal.

two restaurants we ate at this past june were il profeta, this was our best meal of our whole trip and buca mario, excellent also

I can second the recco for Trattoria Antellesi on Via Faenza. Excellent food, service, and fun blend of locals and tourists gets cross table/cultural conversations going late on a good night.

( I also endorse Iras's idea of Salaam Bombay-we were living in Italy at the time and, after a year of nothng but Italian food, were enchanted by the opportunity to enjoy the Indian spices we so love "back home" in Canada-now we are here in Toronto and search constantly for the perfect authentic, Italian meal...oh, the perversity of human nature).

We ate in Ristorante Cafaggi in Via Guelfa during our visitto Florence three weeks ago and were impressed. Much of the food and wine comes from the family estate in Tuscany and the flavours were incredible. many locals were eating there. Reasonable price 100E for four with wine.