Arezzo and Lucca restaurants

In Arezzo we liked Antica Osteria l'Agania --- no reservations, so you wait in line outside, but the line is actually fun.

In Lucca, we liked Gigi Trattoria, recommended by someone who lives there. She also mentioned Da Rosolo and Osteria Via San Georgio.

In Lucca there are many good restaurants - nearly any "famous" restaurant - Osteria dal Manzo, Giglio - will probably require reservations a few days ahead. Piazza dell'Anfiteatro is beautiful and worth wandering through at night but is for tourists not locals. If you want to make that scene Sotto Sotto has the respect of the locals so I'd eat there.

I like Rosticceria Da Nonna Tati on the tiny Via Santa Zita - next to the laundromat in an old bakery location. They are doing new things with Italian food, but not crazy, and it's all really good but unusual given the adherence to "nonna's kitchen" in Tuscany.

Best sandwich place: Ciacco on P.za Napoleone. Also salads as big as your head - not kidding.
Second best sandwich place - very different sandwiches - Pan di strada - Corso Giuseppe Garibaldi
Both places have excellent Cicchetti as well.

Best gelato; Ele (formally De' Coltelli) and Momo in either location. There are other good places but these are the best - ele for wacky combos and amazing fruit flavors.

Best local pizza experience - Pizzeria da Felice - always packed and spilling into the street outside with little quarter given to tourists. Run the way it always has been with pizza and cecina sold by weight. Try the cecina with the pepper when offered.
Probably better pizza but less of "an experience" is Itaco across town.

Enjoy Lucca,
=Tod