Florence Restaurants Where English is Not the First Language

You would probably need to search Italian language sites to find reviews in Italian. Trip Advisor does have Italian language sites but you need to add .it instead of .com (I believe). I wouldn't expect to find reviews written in Italian on most review sites just as I wouldn't expect to find reviews written in English on most Italian review sites.

Personally, I never let tour companies book restaurants for me. I prefer to do my own research and find the ones I want. This way I don't worry about any possible kick-backs and know what I'm getting is the type of food I really like.

Donna

Ristorante Belcore, via dell'Albero (the owner is from Morocco and the chef from Japan but you will be astounded by the quality and the wine choice)
Osteria Toscanella, via Toscanella (near Palazzo Pitti)

Well, I have one for you, and we just went there last Summer. Trattoria Diladdarno

http://www.trattoriadiladdarno.com/
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g187895-d1102497-Reviews-Trattoria_Diladdarno-Florence_Tuscany.html

English was DEFINITELY not their first language, but they bent over backwards to attempt to communicate with us (and we to them). Food was wonderful, the restaurant workers were wonderful - highly recommend it.

Yes, I agree totally - avoid tour guide recommendations when you get the feel you're being taken for a ride!

Thanks all, and thanks for the tip Donna. I appreciate the suggestions and will check them all out. I'm glad you agree that the tour company may not be doing me a favour.

I was under the impression TripAdvisor amalgamated all their reviews from various countries, as they show exactly how many reviews are in each language and you can click a radio button to filter the review language. For example, R. Accademia shows this:
Total Reviews: 1,236
English: 745
Italian: 300
French: 73
Spanish: 41
Portuguese: 26
etc., down to Korean: 1

I checked TripAdvisor.it and they had the identical numbers of reviews. So I think TA may be an exception to your tip. I've been relying on those stats in my analyses...I hope they're right.

I was in Florence Oct 2013 and stayed in an Airbnb apt overlooking Trattoria Quattro Leoni. We ate lunch and dinner there on separate days and enjoyed the food immensely. In fact I still think about how good the grilled chicken was that I had for dinner. I was with 2 foodie friends and they enjoyed their humongous Florentine steak as well. I'm surprised that tours would go there because it's in a tiny piazza at the center of a few converging narrow streets that no tour bus can get to. Based on my experience then, I recommend it. Also I'm assuming you will be having gelato. If so you must try Santa Trinita. I still dream about their black sesame gelato! There's quite a few meals I had in Italy that Instill think about ;-)

Nelly: We used Trip Advisor to get recent reviews of the various restaurants where we ate. We prefer smaller, mom & pop type of restaurants and were not disappointed. Other diners' reviews helped to distinguish the local restaurants from the tourist traps and the benefit of recent reviews allow you to adjust to any emerging issues such as HVAC system repairs, work going on outside, and other similar issues. Honestly, there are so many great restaurants in Florence, you should be able to find some outstanding places to eat. Good luck and enjoy your travels.

I've eaten at Quattro Leoni. It was recommended to me by a local shop owner a few streets away. It was a mix of American and Italians diners and definitely not a tourist trap. The menu was very Florentine and the food was good.

Nelly,

The tour companies may have chosen those restaurants as they feel their clients will be more comfortable in places where some English is spoken. There may indeed be some "business arrangement" between the tour firms and the restaurants, but I'm sure the tour firms want to make sure their clients are happy so will choose restaurants to match that goal.

I'm not entirely sure what to recommend, but if you're dining after the tour has ended you should be able to use whichever restaurants you like. I prefer to choose my own dining locations, rather than something chosen by a tour (except on RS tours of course). One restaurant I'd highly recommend is Trattoria I'cchè c'è c'è, which should allow you to use Italian. With a group of six, I would strongly suggest getting reservations! Have a look at their Menu online to see if that might appeal to your group.

Nelly, another vote for not letting a tour company pick your restaurants. We let our nose & eyes tell us where to eat when we're traveling in Europe, along with some occasional input from TripAdvisor if we're in a small town.

Try to head to dinner after 8pm, and you can see where the locals eat. Usually, the good restaurants will be away from the major tourist sites where people are paying for the view vs. the quality of food.

If you see a picture menu or an Americanized menu, keep walking. : )

The last two times I have been in Florence I have dined at Antica Trattoria da Tito, which was easily the best meal I had while in Italy. The owner Bobo is a total kick and his home made Limoncello is fantastic. It is not near any tourist areas, but not that far a walk from the Academia. Certainly off the beaten path, and what Rick Steves would call a back door. You will NOT get in (usually) without a reservation, but it is well worth it.

Nelly, I'm surprised that no one so far has asked if you have looked at a current Rick Steves Italy guidebook, either buying it or from a library. Overall, the guidance there is very practical, about sites, lodging, transportation and restaurants. The books always steer people away from overly touristy places, and toward local, delicious, reasonably-priced and often family-operated restaurants, often listed neighborhood by neighborhood. Many people on this forum comment that they have followed the Rick Steves tips on restaurants and "have never been disappointed".

Thanks all! I'm reading the websites and menus of your recommendations and they look terrific. I'm particularly taken with Trattoria Diladdarno at the moment, but they're all going on the list. I saw Rick's blog post about Antica Tratorria da Tito, it looked like fun. And Moroccan/Japanese chefs sounds like a detour worth taking. As always, I wish I could stay longer and eat more!

I do have the current RS Florence and Italy books, as well as a few selected others I like. I'm reading lots of where to eat books and articles, and Ristorante Accademia has not been mentioned in a single one. So I just felt uncomfortable about being steered there. You've all helped a lot. I will definitely decline. Now what to choose...more reading required. Thanks again.

As far as the ratio of reviewers on Trip Advisor, it could have a lot to do with how long it's been around in other countries and other languages and how much it's permeated them.

Search on Via Michelin.

http://www.viamichelin.com/web/Restaurants?address=Firenze%20(Florence)%2C%20Italy

I think you also need to take into account that not all Italians will write a review for their city just like I don't write reviews for restaurants in Pittsburgh. Most of the reviews are by people coming from long distances, not just from day trippers or weekenders. I would certainly put more faith in the Italian reviews as they know what "good" Italian food should taste like, over those who believe that Olive Garden is real Italian food ;-)

Donna

My rule of thumb when I travel and want recommendations for good food is to research local food blogs. The Curious Eater and Girl In Florence were ones I researched when I visited Florence. I was not disappointed in their recommendations.

I don't know if this meets your criteria, but I really enjoyed the casual dining and price at http://www.lacantinettafirenze.com.

Thanks, the blogs were great. And I'll check out the cantinetta Firenze too.

There are restaurants in Florence where English is the first language?

Just consult any Italian website and you'll get a list from locals. You don't need to know the language, just names. Just google it in Italian: RISTORANTI MIGLIORI DI FIRENZE.

There is a nice restaurant across the street from Hotel Paris.