FLORENCE: Florentine Steak - Guidelines Please!

You’re in for a treat! Vegetarians need not apply, but go to the Antico Ristoro di Cambi (www.anticoristorodicambi.it). It’s in the Oltrarno neighborhood, on the opposite side of the Arno River from most of the main Florence attractions, but where we always stay.

Order Bistecca alla Fiorentina - Beefsteak the Florence way. If there are two diners, they’ll bring the appropriate size steak, but it’ll be enormous. Thick, and bigger than the biggest T-bone you ever imagined. Don’t even think about how “done” you want it … it’ll be very rare on the inside, with a singe on the outside. It’ll be a deal at €50 per kilo, but two of you won’t need 2+ pounds. It may be the highlight of your time in Florence.

There are fancy restaurants in the tourist center of town, with massive raw steaks displayed in the front windows. I’m sure they’re fantastic (not sure how expensive), but you won’t get better than at Cambi in Oltrarno.

Ok, here goes.

We visited Florence in 2023 (jan) and my sons loved the Florentine steak. Its a particular cut of meat, and you can get it all accross Florence.

The meat is served rare (Very rare), and sold by the 100G. Typically one steak is about 1.2kg, so share it between you. I nomally ordered the steak, starters and a couple of pastas for a table of 4 (2A 2 kids, 14 and 10). The kids ended up eating more steak than me.

We stayed near Santa Croce, and the kids loved La Fettunta. It had one of the cheapest steaks in town, I think its now about 35 -40 euro per kg. My target in 2023 was to find one around 40 per 1kg. That way I would budget 1.2- 1.3 times the price for the cost.

Le Fettunta is really busy, so try to book, we booked twice and got a walk up on the first day. They also do awesome roast porks and other meats

We also had florentine steak on a great restaurant on the other side of the square.

I have also heard you can get cheap steak near the markets. Good luck..

Can anyone please help me crack the code to this experience please?
You go, you sit, they show you the steaks, you usually share one between you two, you pick, they cook it the way they want (very rare). Order a side or two, some red wine, some water, save room for dessert. It is good steak, closer to a grass fed in the US, better than what you can get anywhere else? No, not really, (I have access to pretty great steak here in the US) but they are very proud of their steak, and the atmosphere plays a role in making it a memorable experience.

And recommend a good place to go to try this on a budget?

I will let others recommend places, not sure what you were thinking of for "budget", but you are doing really well if you can stay under 100 euro, the steak alone typically runs 50-80 euro.

Perseus (near Piazza della Libertà) and Mamma Gina (Borgo San Jacopo) near Ponte Vecchio is where I had it most recently (still pre-pandemic) which is where my relatives recommended (Perseus is a probably one of the top). The cost of a steak at the time was about 70 euro but it was more than enough for 2 (over 1 kg) and we couldn't finish it. If you add antipasto, maybe a salad, house wine etc. I think the total, at today's prices, should be about 60-70 euro per person. I spend that much in California for just an antipasto and a dish of pasta with a glass of wine, so not expensive at all, in comparison.

The most famous restaurants for the Fiorentina are, just to name a few that come to my mind, Perseus, Zazà, Buca dell'Orafo, Latini, Brindellone, Burde, Buca Lapi, Ristoro di Cambi, Coco Lezzone, Sergio Gozzi, Buca Mario, Mamma Gina (not in any order), but there are many more.

If you are not into steak cooked very rare don't bother, because if you ask medium rare or well done the chef will put you on the fire instead of the meat.

More info from a previous discussion , as well as many similar comments.

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/florence-steak-restaurant-name-from-march-13-florence-with-rick-steves-livestream

If I'm not mistaken, this part of Florence also featured in the show "House for 1 Euro in Tuscany" which aired on BBC in 2024 with Amanda Holden and Alan Carr. Now I think Rick has become an inspiration for them)

Most everyone has covered the important parts. Just keep in-mind a couple of things:
- Bistecca alla Fiorentina is a splurge meal, this is not poor food where the roots of most Italian cuisine comes from
- Eating beef in this style was created to appease wealthy English travelers on their Grade Tour in the 19th century.
- You will need to make reservations, there's very few walk-in at these trattorias.
- The principal breeds are Chianina, Marchigiana or Romagnola, usually aged between 20-30 days, I've heard some Angus has been introduced; you didn't travel all the way to Italy to eat Angus.

• The majority of restaurants sell their steaks by the weight so, €45-65 per kilo is a good estimate, somebody who's been there recently can comment on the current market prices. The smallest you can go is around 1kg minimum (2lbs)
• When ordering, it's a lot easier to tell the waiter you'd like a steak for how many in your party that'll be eating, and they'll bring-out the cut for your approval after the chef/butcher has cut it.
  
• Its cooked usually over a grill, either gas or, wood, you see a lot of pictures of it being stood on end, this is the heat up the T-bone so the tissue inside gets some cooking.
• It will be served rare. Don't even think about asking for well-done or, medium, it will not be super-bloody sitting in a pool of its own juices. It'll be brought to your table already cut-up, most places will drizzle with olive oil and/or salt and dressed--up with a few sprigs of rosemary.
  
• Total cost for two including wine and several sides came out to €145

My favorite location is Trattoria Sostanza, Via del Porcellana, 25r CASH ONLY, only two seatings per evening. Their artichoke omelet/pie is spectacular, as is their butter chicken if you have a non-beef eater.

Other places I've enjoyed that are solid, Trattoria 13 Gobbi (down street from Sostanza), il Latini, Trattoria ZaZa, I Brindallone (in Oltrarno)

Given that it starts at 1kg, is that really an option for just a couple? I like a nice piece of meat, but my SO is not going to help me a lot with this. And just consuming 3/4 of a kg myself is a bit to much ...