Great spot if you're looking for a little protein for breakfast! Everything is super fresh. I…read moreordered a golden latte and it was lovely.

Omg I needed this place in my life!!!! So amazing. Their salads are humongous. They put salt water…read moreon their lettuce which made it so good like so good. They have so many toppings all of which are so fresh. I got a salad with apples and they cut the apple on the stop to put on it. They also aren't skimpy with toppings which I appreciate. For a healthy place the prices I feel like are pretty fair. The staff was generally friendly- they asked if we were students and gave us a punch card (which I will be filling up so quickly). They have about 4 tables outside which is nice to dine at when its warm. Their menu is actually very large- from salads, to smoothies, to bowls, to soups, to breakfast. This place is truly so good I will be coming back often.

I absolutely LOVE this market. They had everything you could want and all of the food was…read moredelicious. We tried the famous Lampredotto and loved it so much. We also stopped at the truffle counter and had some apps. There is something for everyone and its wonderful that its open late.

Located in the San Lorenzo district, just a few minutes' walk from the main train station of Santa…read moreMaria Novella), Mercato Centrale is a vibrant food hall experience housed in a historic market building (very similar to the Time Out Market franchise across Europe). From the outside, it looks like a grand, iron-and-glass structure typical of European markets; inside, it opens into a bustling, multi-level space filled with food vendors, communal tables, and constant movement. The vibe is energetic, social, and slightly chaotic in a fun way - perfect for grazing, group dining, or trying multiple cuisines in one visit (from Italian to American to Mexican!). We stopped in for a quick lunch at around 2pm on a Wednesday; there was plenty of seating at high-top tables, and QR codes on paper menus make it easy to explore all the different food vendor options. It's also a fun activity to peruse the market, taking in different sights, smells, and flavors. All of us ended up opting for Schiacciatas (large Italian sandwiches that are a staple in Florence) from Massimiliano Parri, which all ended up ranging from €10-12, depending on toppings - yes, it's more expensive than what you'd get from a traditional schiacciateria, but you're also paying for the market's location and convenience. We appreciated the fact that they shave the meat right in front of you! My schiacciata came with freshly shaved ham atop crusty white bread, slathered with burrata cheese, and sprinkled with arugula and figs (I opted for no additional olive oil, since I found the ham quite rich already). I loved the contrast of textures and flavors, though I will say that the bread ended up cutting the roof of my mouth! All in all, Mercato Centrale is a bit touristy, but still miles better (and cheaper) than most "Italian" sandwich places you'd find in the US (pro tip: save your receipt for free use of their bathrooms). The variety can't be beaten, prices are reasonable for a central market, and it's steps from some of Florence's most iconic spots.

RUN DON'T WALK to the most spectacular hidden gem restaurant in Florence! This is by far the best…read moremeal we've had in Italy so far. We were welcomed so warmly and sat on their outdoor patio for the evening. Our server brought us a lovely complimentary starter of crostinis with different meat toppings - so lovely! We started with a glass of Chianti and an Aperol Spritz - both delicious. We read about pinsas being gluten-free and like a pizza, and were sold! We opted for the one with ham and cheese, and a charcuterie board with meats and cheeses both. Our incredible server told us about the family-owned farm and how they make all of the cheese, pork products, and more from scratch. You could taste the quality in each bite! We were literally IN AWE at the pinsa's flavor, and the meat and cheese. Everything was exactly what we'd hoped we would find in Italy. We ended the night with a limoncello and a chat with our incredible server. 5/5 for service, quality, flavor, and ambiance!

Wow, what a great surprise. A Rick Steve's recommendation that was just exquisite. The…read morecharcuterie plate was out of this world. Kathleen a 21 year transplant from New Jersey and her husband Gino are the consummate hosts. Warm and personable. The wine pairings are stupendous.

Delicious! Worth checking out. It's very local so either get there right when it opens or have a…read morereservation. Prices are affordable. If you are looking for something different. Menu changes daily. Vegan options. A nice change of pace for those of us who also eat meat but want to finally limit it. Also the way it works is that you order ahead and pay and then the food is brought to your table. Service isn't exactly warm but they are quick and efficient with your meals.

We're always very excited to try a 100% vegetarian restaurant knowing we can eat anything we want…read moreon the menu and we were excited to learn that Il Vegetariano existed. It's a bit of a walk outside of the center of Florence but we'd thought we'd see what the Italian vegetarian focus experience was like. It was serviceable, but not as great as we'd hoped. The concept is interesting...the menu changes every day depending on the whims of that days chef, so our experience could have been informed a bit by just what we experienced that day, and might have been completely different on another day. An issue sometimes with all vegetarian restaurants is they specialize in the concept of being vegetarianism, without necessarily specializing in a particular kind of food which can lead to a mish-mash of disconnected offerings which is what we found on the menu here. The night we were there, for example you could get Italian, Indian, and strudel main dishes...all vegetarian, but otherwise not specializing in any particular type of food. We also didn't have a reservation. They were nice enough to seat us, but the restaurant was not at all full in any of its rooms (at any point when we were there) and the person who seated us, made a point of telling us they prefer reservations and then seated us at probably the least desirable table in the restaurant, right next to the cash register and right across from the salads display case which was the most trafficked area of the restaurant with people ordering their food hovering right over our table. We definitely felt like we were being unnecessarily punished with this table, especially when there were plenty of other places we could have sat and the overall demeanor of the person who seated us made us feel like she felt like she was doing us a big favor and she had her limits. So kind of a bummer of an introduction to the place. You order by writing down what you want on a slip of paper they provide you with, and then bringing that to the cashier to pay. That's fine, but it's not exactly "service" like you might get at any other sit down restaurant with servers and a wait staff. The food came extremely quickly...at the same time as the wine...It's hard to complain about quick service, but at most other places we experience in Italy (and the rest of the world for that matter) you get your wine first and can enjoy it a bit before the food shows up. We felt rushed. Also, and I'm sure I'm coming off as awfully picky, but you can see the high scores I typically give in my other reviews so...but the chairs were really uncomfortable to sit on. I typically don't think about the chairs at restaurants...these chairs made me think about them. My wife and I shared a lasagna and a greens-filled calzone-like pastry for our mains. Both of these portions were super-large...we appreciate generosity in portions, but these were just too large for us to be able to finish...both, especially the lasagna were really rich and heavy dishes too. They checked the box for being vegetarian but didn't excel to star dishes in terms of flavor or presentation that we'd want again. The desserts looked amazing but by the time we had eaten as much as we could of the mains, we just didn't want anything else or to hang around. We had many vegetarian-friendly meals at many restaurants in the cities we visited in Italy on this trip. This one was easily the most disappointing. If we lived in town we might come by to try the desserts or to see if it's a completely different experience with an unnecessary reservation and different chef...but otherwise, it wasn't really worth the walk out of the center of Florence to eat here.

Was looking for a change-of-pace from consecutive days of Italian cuisine. Had a sneaking…read moresuspicion that Greek food might be better in Italy than it is in the States, and I was spot on. Super nice staff greeted us when we walked in, and the interior looks small but inviting. We ended up ordering carryout (or, "takeaway," as they say here), and the food was a pleasant surprise. The Greek salad doesn't have lettuce, but the tomatoes, feta, capers, olives, onions, etc. are very fresh and delicious. The tsatsiki is creamy and tart, and is a a excellent complement to the Greek chicken souvlaki. And...the souvlaki is so flavorful and so fresh, that it was a unanimous hit. If you are in the mood for something other than pasta, give this place a try!

My daughter and I had our favorite meal in Florence here. The food was so delicious - we had the…read morebaked eggplant with caramelized onions, tomatoes, and feta and chicken skewers with tzatziki, salad, and roasted potatoes. The eggplant dish was the best I've ever had in my life - and I'm 54. The service was excellent and our friendly, helpful waitress was fluent in English and generous in answering our questions. The front of the restaurant has a countertop and is brightly lit, but the main seating patio in the back is quiet, pleasantly dark, and small but roomy (there is plenty of space between the tables which we found was not often the case in crowded Florence). I highly recommend this hidden gem!

November 7, 2024 7:30PM…read more The Osteria was really close to the duomo and the ambiance looked so cozy from the outside. We decided to stop in for some seafood items and white wine. This is the place where I ordered my first vermentino of my life and have forever changed since. I thought I was just a sauvignon blanc girlie but I think I love vermentino more. I didn't get a chance to take a photo of the mussels we ordered but both the mussels and the spaghetti alle vongole (Spaghetti with Clams) were so tasty. Met some new friends from England while were were here that's from similar area as my partner's ancestors... The service was amazing, the restrooms were clean. Definitely a nice pitstop before moving on to sightseeing near the Duomo for the evening. Really love their seafood dishes that we tried. I thought they were very reasonably priced but maybe it's because I'm from a landlocked state. :)

Very cozy little spot right near the Duomo. I ordered the ravioli and a glass of vermentino, a…read morewhite grape local to Tuscany. They were both wonderful and just what I needed as a first meal in Florence. The service was welcoming and I didn't real rushed through my dinner at all. Would recommend!

Real good bisteca my favorite place to have nice steak in Florence . I have a recommending this…read moreplace.

The steak was excellent, but the tiramisu was on another level -- absolutely bellissimoread more

In the States, you might call our platter a charcuterie board. Four different types of sliced meats…read moreplus cheese and sauteed eggplant and a honey mustard and a fig jam. Plus a plate of liver pate that I enjoyed and the others on the food tour did not. Oh well, more for me. Entirely too much food at this point in the food tour so most of it went home. I don't know that what we had is specifically on the menu of Il Vivandiere but the tapas is worth your time. Plus, I suggest the house syrah which is delicious. [Review 17034 overall - 232 in Italy - 550 of 2022.]

The ambiance is local and charming. Stick with the house wine - order by the bottle because, after…read morea glass, you will which you did.

Stopped in here really quick one afternoon and the service was great and fast! The vanilla latte…read morewas good no complaints. They had lots of pastries available but none gluten free.

great space to chill in on a hot day. the flat white here was good. ditta artigianeleread more

When in Florence and crave a big green made to order salad, King if Salads is the place to go…read more Fantastic choices of vegetables and fruit with delicious salad dressings. The 2 men who worked there were so helpful and polite. One of the best meals we had.

We needed something fresh after so much heavy Italian food, and found this cute place. We created…read moreour own salads with pesto dressing, and they were delicious. Andrea was very nice and helpful. He stayed open late for us. We are here for the second time to get some fresh juice. The #1 vitamix choice is delicious! If you need some fresh vegetables or juice, this is the place to come!