Greetings ~
If you have a favorite that's not listed in a Rick guidebook, for one of the following places, please let me know. We like friendly, family-run places that use local ingredients (particularly regional specialities) and that are frequented by locals, whether they're holes-in-the-walls or splurges. Italian-only menus are a plus! We'll be traveling in July & August, to Venice, then to Florence by train, then by car to Volterra, Pienza, Assisi, and back to Florence, with much backroad wandering. About four weeks total. Thanks much!
~ Jonathan
Posted by
Fredericksburg, VA
237 posts
Jonathan: Download the Trip Advisor city guides for Venice and Florence and any other city you will be visiting. The city guides have a restaurant review section which will give you all the information you are asking about.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
16254 posts
I don't know if these places are listed by RS guidebooks or not, but we had excellent dinners here and would happily return:
Venice---Osteria da Alberto. Small, friendly place with fresh local food. I am pretty sure the menu was Italian only, but don't guarantee it.
http://www.osteriadaalberto.it
Florence----del Fagioli. Menu definitely in Italian only, lots of locals, good meat dishes.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ristorante-del-Fagioli/128531613884673
Posted by
824 posts
Jonathan,
While in Italy last October, we rather enjoyed the following restaurants.
Venice:
Enoteca Rio Marin (Fondamenta de la Latte, 847, 30125 Venezia, Italy). Very small so you might want to make reservations. BTW - we had a WONDERFUL apartment just up the canal.
Florence:
Trattoria Lo Stracotto (Piazza di Madonna degli Aldobrandini, 17, 50123 Firenze, Italy). Surprisingly good for being so close to the train station and Duomo.
Sasso di Dante (Piazza delle Pallottole, 6R, 50122 Firenze, Italy). We've also had a couple really good meals here which is surprising because it's a stones-throw from the Duomo. Maybe because it's hidden in a back alley it works harder to keep people coming back. Just don't get your sweet after the meal - Gelateria Edwoardo is right around the corner.
While in Tuscany, we had a fabulous lunch at La Cantinetta Di Rignana (an agriturismo -
Via Rignana, 13, 50022 Greve in Chianti FI, Italy). If you're doing a winery-crawl in Chianti, I would pencil this one into your itinerary.
By the way, if you have family who served in Europe during WW2 (or you're into WW2 history), the Florence American Cemetery and Memorial is just off the Firenze to Siena highway outside Greve in Chianti.
Posted by
Bendigo, Australia
1223 posts
In Venice, "La Bitta", Calle Lunga San Barnaba, Dorsoduro. We have eaten well there half a dozen times. They do not serve fish.
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11315 posts
We've been having some fun working through this list from the "Guardian," Top 10: best restaurants in Venice. Alla Palanca for lunch was great. All locals. Also Trattoria Tre Ponti near the Ghetto is very good, inexpensive and I think everything was in Italian (hard to find in Venice).
While making your way through Umbria, be sure to stop in Spello, only a few km from Assissi. Hosteria DaDa is just what you are after. They have a menu board in the street, and will tell you what they are cooking that day. Last we were there, no English.
Posted by
OP
Benicia, California
61 posts
Grazie Mille! Buon Appetito!
~ Jonathan