What is your favorite restaurant /meal in Florence - and why?
 

Just out of curiosity, I was wondering:
What was/is your favorite restaurant/meal in Florence?

Why was it your favorite?

How do I find it?

(We are always drawn to at least one meal at Il Porcsospino at Piazza Madonna. We love the staff, the location, and the food. BUT...we would like to explore other options this time on our upcoming Oct. trip).

I can't wait to hear from you all!

Zsa Zsa at San Lorenzo Market....get the Eggplant. Go early, great food, better ambiance.........great prices.

I was eating "Al Fresco" in a restaurant just the outside of Florence. I don't have directions, since my host drove.

But, during this meal, we had an eclipse of the moon. How could you do better Al Fresco dining.

Blackduff

Our favorite restaurant in Florence is Da Pannello at Via Dante Alighieri 4r. The antipasto table is truly incredible and the service is great!

A local recommended Mama Gina's at one end (sorry, I don't remember which end) of Ponte Vecchio. The food was very good.

Be careful what you order at Zsa Zsa. As charming is the place is, our meals were awful. Dh had some odd rabbit dish and I ordered the omelet which was tough, chewy, and tasteless.

Ottarino is my favorite. It's on Via delle Oche, I forget the number, but the street is short, only 2 blocks. Walk toward the river from the Duomo on Via Calzaiuoli one block, turn left, and it's about a short block away. It's a very spare, cleanly redesigned space with high brick arched walls, nice tables with tablecloths, well-experienced waiters, and lots of Italian business people dining there. Almost anything is good. their spinach contorno was very good as I recall.

Something I don't remember getting there but that I love is the grilled porcini mushroom. You'll be there in the right season. It's like a steak, it is so big and filling! Usually brushed with garlic oil, and seasoned with parsley or other herbs.

And of course, anything with truffles!

Charnee

The best meal we had in Florence, maybe in all of Italy, was at Il Guscio (Via dell' Orto, 49. phone: 055-224421) on the south side of the Arno in a small neighborhood a little off the beaten track. Outrageous bistecca, fresh delicious fish, fantastic wine list, small, freindly, casual but very special. Definitely need reservations because it's very popular with the locals and it's small. They have a small patio for al fresco dining if the weather is fine.

We also love Leo's in Santa Croce (Via Torta 7R, phone 055 210829)where Leo himself greets you like an old friend and serves the most delicious Tuscan specialties with his own family made house wine (as well as an excellent wine list.)Try the tiny grilled lamb chops with melting potatoes! Fantastic.

Another vote for La Giostra!
www.ristorantelagiostra.it
It's a must for us in Florence...mostly because the FOOD is FABULOUS! Warning: the meal comes with a comp appetizer plate that is almost a meal in itself!
And "the Prince" and his sons are charming!
For location, menu, etc. you can check out their website. Suggest reservations!

we also loved La Giostra! great food and great fun.

Bookmarking. Thanks all.

La Giostra...hands down

thanks bookmarking

La Giostra looks terrific - what price range is the menu?

I love the wild boar, it's been great each place I've had it.

Well I don't eat bistecca alla Fiorentina, nor "trippe" (tripe) nor "cinghiale" (boar) so for meat eaters, Florence is definitely meat heaven. But there are a few places that specialize in seafood as well, and/or vegetarian, non-meat offerings. My favorite is, right in the shadows of the Duomo IL SASSO DI DANTE-a tiny place, with a little porch that has the Duomo in front of you, wonderful salads, everything is house-made, the pastas, the mains, the desserts. Not cheap, but reasonably priced-it is a real favorite of the Florentines, so it gets crowded on the weekends, but it is a true gem, still not too discovered. Located in a small piazza just off to the right of the Duomo, as you walk along the right side.

And as for seafood, arguably the best seafood restaurant, and one that is reasonably priced, is located just one street away from the train station (you see, I told you there are very good restaurants located in and around SMN). It's called I QUATTRO AMICI, located in Via Orti Oriccellari, and it has excellent fresh seafood, pasta and desserts. Very good service too, and a small outdoor terrace (which is definitely the preferred venue). If you are looking for a break from the meat, this is definitely the place to go.

Hi

Here is my summary of eating and drinking in Florence when I went there in July 2007: http://gardkarlsen.com/eating_drinki...ence_Italy.htm . As you can see I have also included some pictures of the food we had and I will also make a google map to show the location :d

Regards
Gard
http://gardkarlsen.com - trip reports and pictures

The Trattoria Garga on Via del Moro 48/R, phone 055 2398898. We had an amazing meal there, probably my best in Italy. My dish was veal with avocado, which sounds odd (most really good dishes do, I think), and was mouth-watering. Our waiter was a riot-- singing and joking all over the restaurant. It was a friendly, lively, bustling atmosphere with excellent food. We paid 81EUR for two, with a half-liter of house wine.
:)>-

Florence is my favorite city in the world.....this restaurant is GREAT

http://www.goldenviewopenbar.com/

The Restaurant offers an unmatched view of the Ponte Vecchio and the Torre di Arnolfo, with the Galleria degli Uffizi on the right and the Corridoio Vasariano opposite the river Arno.

Go to this website (i know the website isnt all that great, but the food is great and the atmosphere is even better, if that is possible)

sheri,
I don't remember exactly what we paid for dinner at La Giostra--I'd call it moderate, but well worth it, and of course with the dollar in the toilet now it makes it more expensive, but it's well worth it (and remember not to overorder as there is a complimentary appetizer that's huge) as well as complimentary bubbly!