I did a search for a thread that would be about two years old or so and couldn't find the one specific thread about Florence restaurants. We were there a year and a half ago and will be returning next summer. Someone had recommended Cantinetta Antinori which we enjoyed. Several people mentioned La Giostra. We're thinking of dining there and I know several of you have dined there. It'd be a lunch visit. If any of you have been there for lunch, what's the dress? We'll be inclothes for walking through Florence in the day in the summer.

Are there any other restaurants you'd recommend? Tia

Board-O,

I will pull a few notes and post soon.

We always tend to eat a light lunch while in Florence, and we always enjoy Cantinetta del Verrazzano. A very casual place with fresh sandwiches, small pasta plates, cheese and olive selections and salads.

We are always in and out within an hour, then off for gelato.

Thanks. We have some places we missed that we want to visit, the Medici catacombs in particular. We'll only be in Florence for a day but expect to return every year or two.

quote:

Originally posted by Board-O:
We'll only be in Florence for a day but expect to return every year or two.

Going that often, perhaps you might actually start to LIKE Italian wines.

quote:

Originally posted by Board-O:
We have some places we missed that we want to visit, the Medici catacombs in particular.

Where's that 'bite my tongue' emotican?

quote:

Several people mentioned La Giostra. We're thinking of dining there and I know several of you have dined there. It'd be a lunch visit. If any of you have been there for lunch, what's the dress? We'll be inclothes for walking through Florence in the day in the summer.

Don't really know if they are open for lunch or not, but even for dinner, it wasn't particularly formal. Just a nice shirt with some sort of collar and pants, not shorts, and something other than athletic sneakers, for dinner and you certainly wouldn't feel underdressed. Maybe even nice shorts if it was really hot outside.

I imagine if they are now serving lunch it would be even less formal.

Board-O: My wife (girlfriend at the time) studied abroad in Florence when we were in college. I got to go visit her and I would highly recommend Acqua al 2 (sometimes written as Acqua al Due) and Trattoria Za Za. Both are extremely good. Acqua al 2 is located on Via della Vigna Vecchia and Trattoria is at the Mercato Centrale.

If you go to either, I would recommend making reservations since they are pretty small. You have to check out the Assaggio di Primi if you go to Acqua al 2. It is an assortment of 5 varieties of pasta in different sauces. It is awesome. They also have a great menu too. Both restaurants are casual. When I was there, I went in jeans (it was February).

Hope you get a chance to check them out.

BTW, my wife wants to go back to Florence next year. When are you planning on going? I want to go to France because I have never been and would love to check out the southern part of the country - my wife is worried it will turn into a wine trip. At any rate, let me know when you are thinking about being there. I have a feeling she will win.

Thanks for the advice. We'll be there mid-summer.

I have been avoiding staying in Florence lately in favour of other places in Tuscany. I find that I like the attitude, the prices, and the (relative) lack of crowds much better. And you can find restaurants just as good.

The last time I ate in Florence was last July when I took some people to La Giostra. I found the quality of the food had dropped off quite a bit. It wasn't bad, but it certainly did not justify the huge price tag. (And frankly, the princeling act that the owner puts on wears thin after a while.) The wine list is still excellent (as long as you like Brunello or Super Tuscans). We did not have to wait long for a table, so perhaps this restaurant has run its course. FYI, you can dress any way you like and not feel out of place. They are not open for lunch.

Another place I have eaten at and enjoyed just as much (but not within the past 9 months) is Osteria Boccanegra (Via Ghibelline, 124). Next time I have to eat in Florence, I'll try them over Giostra.

Just a suggestion...

You might consider the possibility of staying at a B&B outside Florence, such as Fonte de Medici which is only 22 kilometers outside Florence and is run by the Antinori family. When I took my family to Tuscany last summer, we stayed there and drove into Florence (it takes about 20 minutes) on day/evening trips. It also make a good base from which to go to Siena and other towns in Tuscany.

quote:

Originally posted by on the wine:
Just a suggestion...

You might consider the possibility of staying at a B&B outside Florence, such as Fonte de Medici which is only 22 kilometers outside Florence and is run by the Antinori family. When I took my family to Tuscany last summer, we stayed there and drove into Florence (it takes about 20 minutes) on day/evening trips. It also make a good base from which to go to Siena and other towns in Tuscany.

quote:

Originally posted by on the wine:
The last time I ate in Florence was last July when I took some people to La Giostra. I found the quality of the food had dropped off quite a bit. It wasn't bad, but it certainly did not justify the huge price tag. (And frankly, the princeling act that the owner puts on wears thin after a while.) The wine list is still excellent (as long as you like Brunello or Super Tuscans). We did not have to wait long for a table, so perhaps this restaurant has run its course. FYI, you can dress any way you like and not feel out of place. They are not open for lunch.

You sure they're not open for lunch in the summer? They were going to take a lunch reservation from me in July, 2006 but I couldn't give them an exact time. I told them it was for lunch and they required an exact time for a reservation, so we went to Cantinetta Antinori.

quote:

Originally posted by Board-O:

quote:

Originally posted by on the wine:
The last time I ate in Florence was last July when I took some people to La Giostra. I found the quality of the food had dropped off quite a bit. It wasn't bad, but it certainly did not justify the huge price tag. (And frankly, the princeling act that the owner puts on wears thin after a while.) The wine list is still excellent (as long as you like Brunello or Super Tuscans). We did not have to wait long for a table, so perhaps this restaurant has run its course. FYI, you can dress any way you like and not feel out of place. They are not open for lunch.

You sure they're not open for lunch in the summer? They were going to take a lunch reservation from me in July, 2006 but I couldn't give them an exact time. I told them it was for lunch and they required an exact time for a reservation, so we went to Cantinetta Antinori.

They haven't been open for lunch any time I have been in Florence (which has been about 12 times in the past 3 years, including at least twice during July), but they might have changed their policy from time to time. If they were willing to take your reservation, then they must have been open.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: on the wine,

Most recent trip last year:

Alle Murate
Resturant in Villa Di Medici [forgot name]
La Giostra
Olio & Conivium - nice bistro like
Trattoria Mario - farirm, good food, nice list
Procacci [hope I speled it right]
Great Bakery place by the Duomo towards the city square, - Cantein de Verrazzano [like the bridge]. Great lunch, and good local wines

I forget the name of it, but it was in Ciena, and it was the best pizza I have ever had.

You'll know it when you see the line.

Big props to Za Za. It was a fantastic, amazing experience and didn't break the bank in the slightest. My wife and I loved it.

A precaution on driving into Florence.

You need a permit to bring the car into town, and to park it. They are fairly strict on that.

quote:

Originally posted by flwino:
A precaution on driving into Florence.

You need a permit to bring the car into town, and to park it. They are fairly strict on that.

That's good to know. Didn't know Florence had that restriction. What are the alternatives for drivers? Are there designated areas outside of town where we can park the car and hop a train or something into town?

quote:

Originally posted by flwino:
A precaution on driving into Florence.

You need a permit to bring the car into town, and to park it. They are fairly strict on that.

We didn't need a permit to bring the car into town or park it on our trip in November...

That being said, driving in Florence was a pain in the ass, most good hotels will have parking, and if they do not, you can find overnight street parking on the outskirts of town if you're willing to walk 15-20 minutes to to the town center.

quote:

Originally posted by wineismylife:

quote:

Originally posted by flwino:
A precaution on driving into Florence.

You need a permit to bring the car into town, and to park it. They are fairly strict on that.

That's good to know. Didn't know Florence had that restriction. What are the alternatives for drivers? Are there designated areas outside of town where we can park the car and hop a train or something into town?

If you are doing daytrips into town, the best place to park is under the train station (Santa Maria Novella). The cost is just 2 Euro per hour and it is only a 5 minute walk to the main tourist area. And this is quite compact allowing you to walk just about anywhere in a short time.

It is just the old part of town that is restricted. You can drive in most of the city. But if you end up on a street that is too narrow for cars and is congested with people (i.e you can't drive anyway), then you know you shouldn't be there.