As you have given me this opportunity to give favourite restaurants a mention, I thought I'd tell you about The Lob Fish Ristorante that is located in Via Faenze and is only a 5 minute walk from the Santa Maria Novella Railway Station.

The Lob is a restaurant where lots of locals dine; and usually that's a good sign. It's interior is decorated in nautical style and has a good feel to it. The food is superb and the menu is appealing, I would say, to all tastes. I've been to this ristorante several times over the past 4 years and I usually recommend it to my friends who are visiting Florence. I just love the ambience of the place. One lunch time, on my trip to Florence this year in June, I ordered a dish in the Lob that I wouldn't associate with an Italian Restaurant but it was delicious. It was grilled prawns with an apple and curry sauce and served with noodles, possibly vermicelli. To follow, I had the nicest creme brulee I've ever tasted (both quite un-Italian). It's not a budget type restaurant but it is well worth visiting at least once. Gloria

Il Cinghiale Bianco- The food is exceptional and the staff friendly and helpful. Victor Winograd

Alla Vecchia Bettola: This delightful restaurant was introduced to us by the Florence Villas team, and we couldn't have enjoyed it more. Owned by the people who run Nerbone, the venerable sandwich cafe in the Mercato Centrale (be sure to watch for tour of the Mercato in an upcoming newsletter), Alla Vecchia Bettola is colorful, fun and absolutely delicious. The restaurant is located just across the Viale Ariosto from the southwest corner of Piazza Tasso.

Diners here are seated at long tables, on stools, adding to the conviviality of the bright, warm and welcoming room. Our hosts ordered an amazing meal for us: we began with what must be Firenze's most popular appetizer, Crostini di Fegatini di Pollo (chicken livers on toast), and Vecchia Bettola's Antipasto Toscano, which was an array of absolutely incredible cured meats, velvety and pungent. These delicious appetizers were followed by a primi of Penne all Bettola, penne tossed with a little cream, tomatoes, a dash of hot pepper and punched with vodka!), rich, unctuous and irresistible. And after that, a secondo of Agnello con carciofi; a miraculous dish of lamb, rolled and stuffed with artichokes. And we still had desert! Our dolce was some of the best tiramisu we have ever tasted: moist, creamy, loaded with flavor and yet still light and refreshing after a rich and complex meal. Don't let the casual atmosphere of Alla Vecchia Bettolo fool you: this is Florentine cooking at its finest. (from the newsletter)

Alla Vecchia Bettola
Viale Ariosto, 32/34r
055 224 158

Osteria Santo Spirito, with its colorful walls, upstairs dining nook, imaginative artwork, and hip crowd reminded us of New York's East Village. In fact, it was an East Village resident that recommended this restaurant to us, and as soon as we were seated we knew why she did so: the funky ambiance and art-filled walls must have helped her to feel right at home.

But this place is in Florence, and in many ways it was also quite different from New York. The young, attractive staff were friendly and helpful, the other diners were all Italians, and the food was inexpensive and delicious. We loved this restaurant! Standing out among our memories of our evening in Piazza Santo Spirito is this: three young boys, each about 12 or 13 years old, came to the restaurant, with reservations and without adults. What made these youngsters so memorable to us was the natural ease with which they approached their restaurant visit. We were impressed as we watched them order and navigate their dining experience. To see young people with an appreciation for great food, combined with easy manners and hearty appetites isn't something we experience every day. These young fellows warmed our hearts.

Among our favorite dishes at Osteria Santo Spirito, in addition to the penne recipe at the beginning of our newsletter, were a huge platter of rucola covered with shavings of parmigiano and served with thick, green extra virgin olive oil and sweet aceto balsamico to sprinkle over it all. We also enjoyed a wonderful dish of linguine with the tiniest baby clams, fresh and briny, and more of them than I could count. Dozens and dozens of these delicious tiny creatures, in their shells as small as a child's thumbnail, crowded the plate. I thought I couldn't eat them all, but of course, I did. (from the newsletter)

Osteria Santo Spirito
Piazza Santo Spirito, 16r
055 238 2383

Each time we visit Florence, we make sure to stop at Da Sergio for an incredible lunch. Over the years, this authentic old trattoria, operated by the same family for over 4 decades, has never failed to thrill us. Da Sergio is open Monday through Saturday, and only for lunch (11 am to 2:30 pm). We find that taking time out for a midday meal at Da Sergio serves us well: the brisk service and central location add to the enjoyment of a busy day of sightseeing.

We first wondered in some years ago, while exploring the stalls of the San Lorenzo street market, buying souveniers and bargain hunting. Hidden behind the many vendor stalls that line the via della Ruosina, Da Sergio is easy to miss. We urge you to leave the shopping for a bit, and enter this old marble floored restaurant, with two bright rooms lined with wooden benches and filled with happy diners; you will be glad that you did. Most of the diners at Da Sergio appear to be regulars, some with their own vino and acqua bottles bearing their names. Everyone seems happy, and everyone seems to be eating quite a lot.

On our most recent visit, we had calamari that was deliciously crisp, light and tender, and a wonderful dish of penne in a simple fresh tomato sauce. In the past, we've enjoyed a rich slice of tender, wine flavored, roast veal, and a hearty vegetable minestrone. Meals at Da Sergio are reasonably priced, efficiently served and always eminently eatable, and although the waiters don't appear to speak English, we have always found them willing to do what it takes to communicate with us. We highly recommend a visit to our favorite casual restaurant in Firenze. (from the newsletter)

Da Sergio
Via della Ruosina, 2r
055 218 550

Our friend Elizabeth, of the Florencevillas.com team, suggested Osteria De' Benci to us, and we were very happy that she did. The highlight of our meal was the outstanding filetto di Chianina that we shared. Despite our fear of cholesterol, we found ourselves eating Tuscany's signature beef quite often during our week's stay. This version was a mangeable size for two of us to share, crisp and brown on the outside and meltingly rare on the inside. We ordered a delicious gratin of creamy potatos and vegetables to accompany it. The young waiters bustling about Osteria de' Benci , handsome as well as friendly and helpful, suggest a delicious pasta first course to share along with the filetto. Also at their suggestion, we began with a rich and delicious antipasto of pate and crostini. Their kind and able hospitality greatly enhanced our enjoyment of our meal, and we look forward to returning. Their card tells us that "La Domenica Ci Riposiamo" so make sure to go during the week. (from the newsletter)

Osteria De' Benci
Via de' Benci, 13r
055 2344 923