Florence must try restaurants

I Fratellini on Via dei Cimatori is a must-try for standup; wild boar and a glass of wine-great taste and price.

2nd on Il Fratellini. The guys that run the place are cool and fun to watch them lightning assemble the good little sandwiches. http://www.iduefratellini.com/index.html?Pagina=/news/primapagina.asp?idLingua=2&PrimaPagina=X&idSito=1

I love these questions. I'm on my way to Florence for 5 days in June and look forward to finding all the favorite places...

An excellent casual restaurant located near the Accademia is Mangiafuoco Bracerie (Via Guelfa, 24/R). It was mentioned by another contributor to this Helpline and we confirm that the food and wine were great and reasonably priced (interestingly, the white house wine actually had some carbonation). The owners (Barbara, Daniella, et al.) were very friendly and provided excellent service. We enjoyed MB so much that we ate dinner there twice during our 5-day stay in Florence last month. Each night, a group of musicians would enter the restaurant, play a few songs, and then pass the hat before leaving. It added to the cozy and friendly atmosphere of the place.

Pizza Gusto south of the Ponte Vecchio and a block between Chiesa Santo Spirito and the Pitti Pallace is amazing. On a nice night, enjoy it on the steps of Santo Spirito with a bottle of wine and the locals.

We made a reservation at Mangiafuoco Bracerie for Sunday...looking forward to eating there and when we get back we will list the places we found and let you all know our picks. We tend to enjoy the "local" places b/c the food is always the best...
Grazie

Great info. I keep printing the suggestions for our trip in September.

I love Za Za too, but was seriously flamed here for recommending it (the respondent called it "diner food." If it is, I'd live at the diner). The other place I like, but haven't been too in years is Casalinga in the Oltrarno. (I'm sure that's considered pedestrian by my respondent friend as well, but I thought it very good.) If you identify restaurants in Florence you want to try, reserve ahead. You can ask your hotel to call for you. Restaurants in the tourist core of Florence fill up for lunch and dinner.

Went to Mangiafuoco Bracerie (Via Guelfa, 24/R) last night for dinner ... Not very good. Staff was friendly and place was busy, but we did not enjoy the food or house wine. Maybe it's what you order, but I wasn't impressed. Didn't encounter any locals while there either. I'd go elsewhere.

We like Trattoria ZaZa in Florence-a casual place with outdoor dining and attractive table linens. The food is good too-I think I had Ribolitta there. In good weather there are strolling musicians-a really fun atmosphere. Have a great trip!

In Florence we stuck to many of Rick's suggestions. They were all amazing. Casual! La Mescita Fischettera - a tiny 4 table trattoria just around the corner from Accademia. Please don't judge if from your first impression. All locals eating lunch. There were house painters and buisnessmen crammed in at the small tables. No one spoke English. We went to the deli style case and picked out two pasta dishes. Rigatoni with sausage made from rabbit and Tagatelli with ground duck.So yummy. Ristorante Paoli near Palazzo Vecchio - also delicious. Order the Beef Carpacio. Also salad mixed table side and lasagna. I loved the vaulted ceiling and the frescos on the walls. A trip to the ladies room was and adventure. In the Oltrano area go to Cafe Ricchi. Eat outside under the tent and enjoy the view of Piazza Santo Spirito. WE had the most amazing fish in a salt dome. In Florence I really wanted the famous T bone steak. We went to Trattoria ZaZa and were not dissappointed. Not sure why they seated us way down stairs. Would have loved to have eaten outside. Make a reservation well in advance. The Tuscan bread soup was especially good. WE even bought their cookbook. Also make sure you eat Gelato at least twice a day! Enjoy

Jeanie: Great suggestions so far . . . for fine dining I would add Cibreo - a Michelin starred restaurant. Have fun.

I too enjoyed Trattoria ZaZa. The pasta with truffle sauce was excellent. Loved dining outdoors there......

The best meal we had in Florence was at Trattoria Sostanza. Yes it is in many of the guidebooks, but with good reason! The chicken breasts are AMAZING and the artichoke hearts in a nest of eggs is fantastic! Also their traditional Florentine soup, Pappa al Pomodoro is wonderfully fresh and light. Everything is cooked over a wood-fired stove in the tiny kitchen in the back. We were there on a Saturday and the place was packed with Italians. If I had to pick only one restaurant to return to in Florence, it would definitely be Sostanza!