This place is definitely a hole in the wall and deserves 5 stars. Mom and pop restaurant serving authentic Tuscan cuisine at very reasonable prices. They are open for lunch only 12-3pm so get there early! We ordered Penne with ragu sauce and the ribollita. Both were outstanding and cooked to perfection!! We saw a lot of people get the Florentine steak here, so I'm assuming it's good (the place we went for steak was horrid). Note: the restaurant is across from the Mercado Centrale. read more

Trattoria Mario - Tuscan Near Me - Florence, FI

A true Italian trattoria filled with mostly locals and mouth watering Florentine cuisine. The same family has been running this spot since its birth and from what I'm told the food quality has always been supreme. This trattoria had a massive wait and no room inside so prepare to hangout on the street while you wait to be called. Once called in you need to understand you will be sharing a table with other customers. The inside is sort of like a family reunion. Locals talking to other locals a few tables away, waiters walking slowly between crammed chairs to bring out dishes and a kitchen that is visible from every seat. Everything we ordered was out of this world and I am not kidding. Order the Florentine steak but do not ask them to cook it a particular way. They will only sell it to you the way they want it consumed which is rare/medium rare. Before they cook it, a butcher will yell at you from across the restaurant and ask if the piece of meat he is holding is up to your standards. After a simple thumbs up he lays that massive and delicious piece of meat on the grill. Crispy on the outside and semi warm in the middle but a local delicacy. This steak is a lot for two people but tackle it like we did its a challenge! We also recommend you order the ribollita soup. This soup is another Tuscan staple. It is made from the leftover vegetables, beans and old bread. This is hands down "THE BEST SOUP" I have ever had. When you think old vegetable and bread do you think yummy soup? Tuscan's put every remaining piece of bread and vegetable to use. The conclusion is a soup that will be very hard to forget. We also ordered the pasta pomodoro which was light and tasted of fresh picked tomatoes. For dessert we ordered the Cantuchi e Vin Santo which is biscotti and dessert wine. The food here is some of the best I have ever had, but its the people and experience that sets eating here apart. We had a gentleman sitting next to us who was born in Iraq but had moved to Florence 25 years ago. He talked to us about Florence's culture, love, the mafia and everything in between. He even told us we should go make a baby after eating the Florentine steak! He said it is good luck! hahahaha Florence is a special place and if you would like to have a truly once in a lifetime experience while visiting, you must eat at Trattoria de Mario. read more

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Restaurant was recommended by a local person. We had some salad, raviolis with ragú, and a un eye steak to share and half a bottle of red wine. The salad was ok, raviolis were good and steak was great! We were glad that we ordered the steak medium, because they usually serve it medium rare. It was great! The couple that was sitting with us (this Is very small restaurant, the wait was long and you need to share your table with other people) left had of their steak because it was on the raw side. read more

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This place is highly recommended on yelp and only open for 3 to 4 hours a day (closed Sundays). So they only do lunch time service. The menu is great! They go past the pizzas and pastas that most places like to do and focus on many dishes made from many animals. Menu chanhes but expect dishes with rabbit, veal, beef, chicken, liver, tongue etc. You can try some new stuff you haven't yet. Bottle of water is cheap at 1 €, service charge is only .50, not even noticeable. The dishes are in the 8 to 14 € range. read more

Trattoria Mario - Bean soup - Tuscan Near Me - Florence, FI

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I heard this place was great, so had to come by during our trip in Florence. This place is popular! We walked in on a Saturday afternoon at 12:30pm, and they already had a line with a sign saying that they're booked up already. I tried to check with the host and he said that it's impossible, they can't get me a seat. They were very busy inside. Unfortunately, we were leaving the next day, and asked if they could squeeze us in, or find us a reservation the next day before we leave (but we're told they're closed on Sundays, so that isn't possible). After several requests, the host made it happen and got a small table for us, which was amazing! The food came out super quick too, and I could see how fast they function here with the number of people that came in. I wasn't blown away by the food, but that might have been because of my selections. It was good, but it didn't stand out to me. However, I enjoyed going here and was very happy they were able to squeeze us in. read more

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After reading all the hype! I had to try to this spot for myself while in Florence. The space is very small and everyone gets seated family style! You get to meet some new friends while eating! There is a menu is posted on the wall and written by hand, making it a little bit hard to read! We decided to order the Osso bucco and veal chop! The Osso Bucco was amazing! It came with a little bone and bone marrow inside! Delicious!!!!! the veal was cooked to perfection! They don't ask how you want your steak, but they made it on the medium rare side which is how I think steaks should be made. The crust was crispy and the meat was juicy! Definitely not super flavored, but you can add salt and pepper to your liking. We also got beans in olive oil! So simple, but the olive oil in Florence is so good, you don't need to fancy things up! read more

Trattoria Mario - Tuscan Near Me - Florence, FI

Huge portions, quick service, kind service when they're not swamped with orders (so not often). I don't understand about this Florentine Steak, though. While the price is great for massive slabs of meat, and while the seasoning is simple and hearty (salt and pepper with lemon), the texture is disheartening. Yes, it's medium rare, like it should be, but it's been a while since I had the pleasure of chewing so much gristle, and I pity the knives that come in contact with this cut-resistant meat. Boo hoo. Pros: - Cover charge is only .5 euros/person - The Tripe is good, and the Beef Stew is reportedly what you should really come here for - Italians have said that they only hang around near touristy places when making a stop here - As much as I boo hoo'd about the steak, it was a lot of protein for a relatively low price, and isn't eating a Florentine Steak really just about the experience? Isn't it? (Isn't it...?) read more

Trattoria Mario - Menu as of July 14th, 2018. - Tuscan Near Me - Florence, FI

I remember coming here is the past so I found myself back in Trattoria da Mario once again. This is communal dining which means you share your table. Make friends with your neighbors. The menu is large so choose something and share it with your companions. You'll get to try different dishes that way. I ended up getting a pasta with tomato sauce and some ribbolita (Tuscan vegetables and bread soup). The soup was a bit salty but the pasta was just right! read more

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Hyped. I do not recommend their Florentine Steak but their soup is a MUST and their ravioli was very good too. The location is pretty nondescript and very close to Trattoria Zsa Zsa and Mercato Centrale. It's a small place and we were the first in line when we lined up around 11am, they start seating at 1130am and kitchen opens up at noon. Definitely come early and also be prepared to share a table with strangers, we ended up sitting with a super cool couple from Nor Cal and had a blast. We had half liter of house red wine, Florentine steak, ravioli with meat sauce and bean soup. The bean soup was my absolute fave, it's sounds so simple but the flavors were so good, the beans were cooked but not overcooked that I could still bite down a bit, and the drizzle of olive oil is indescribably good. The ravioli was super fresh and their sauce was good. The Florentine steak unfortunately was somewhat disappointing, I hadn't had steak in a while before this so super hot with a little squirt of lemon the first bite felt amazing. Then afterwards I realized it was actually slightly overcooked, pretty tough and just... not that good. Service was pretty slow but hey they were busy. I think that bean soup is still worth a drop in but would skip the Florentine steak and look elsewhere. read more

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This was literally our first stop in Florence because we couldn't wait to have Florentine steak and this place came highly recommended. We were disappointed. It felt very touristy and the steak was tough. It turned out to be our least favorite of the four places we had steak. It's a lively atmosphere, though a little crowded. The highlight was the local couple that shared our table with us. read more

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We were told by multiple friends that we had to come here for lunch, particularly the steak Florentine. We arrived at about 12:20 pm on a Monday and waited only 5 min for 2 people (communal seating). We saw some Americans ordering spaghetti and tortellini (shame! Jk), but what most people get is the Tuscan stuff. By 12:30, they were out of the €11.50 osso bucco (they open at noon.) - Ribollita: very filling, traditional, good with extra pepper and some salt: €5 each - Bistec fiorentina: €35 per kg. We got 600 grams to share since I'm not a big meat eater. The flavor was great. We were told it comes only as medium rare (the American version of rare), but I did see some people send it back to be cooked more, and I would say our's was medium. House wine is only €4 for a 1/2 L, but it's not particularly interesting, so I would just pay a little more for the brunello at €7 per chalice Seating is tight, and food comes out quickly, so turnover is pretty quick. Most people who work there speak some English, and the guy in front had perfect English. I think it is more Americanized now that it's become so popular, but it didn't change that the food was very solid. It was a pretty amazing deal at €37 for two people for a substantial steak lunch with wine. Credit cards accepted. Lunch only. No reservations. read more

Trattoria Mario - Menu of the day (early November 2017) - Tuscan Near Me - Florence, FI

Thank you Fabio for finding us a seat at Trattoria Mario! We are so grateful to be able to experience your restaurant and eat the AMAZING Florentino Steak! The seasoning was perfect the steak was perfect! Honestly this was the highlight of my trip to Florence. I loved my seat as we could see all the action and even feel the floor vibrate as the steaks we sawed and chopped in front of us. We picked one that was the right size and had a salad S a side dish. With 2 bottles of sparkling water the bill was $38 euros. I do highly recommend that you make reservations as the tables were completely full and they are closed on Sunday read more

If you want a low-key Tuscan meal, Mario's is the place. I've eaten here over 30 years, very little is changed. Try to get a reservation if you can. Otherwise, it's touching go. And a wait. But it's a fantastic lunch. They move fast. Which is good if you're waiting, but be precise about your order. The only place in Florence I've ever had them forget a course. It's a great place to get steak if you want that whole experience. read more

This place is only open for a few hours during the day but it is one of the best restaurant in terms of value for what you get. The steak is amazing here - you won't regret it as it's the typical Florentine steak. We got 1.5kgs of it and it was definitely enough food for us! We also got the chicken, pork chops, and the vegetable soup. I would come back here again for sure! read more

Trattoria Mario - Tuscan Near Me - Florence, FI

Delicious. Ravioli with ragu delicious and fresh. The roast was tender and flavorful. Good prices 22 euro for 2 plates wine and water!! We loved getting to share a table and learn about other travelers experiences. Our waiter was friendly. We didn't have to wait but few min for a table. We would definitely come back and recommend this place. Ps no English menu. read more

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Little place with decent breakfast sweets. The employees are nice and welcoming. Great spot to run in get something and go home r hangout at one of their outside tables. read more

In Italy the key to a "good meal" doesn't necessarily need to involve Michelin stars or white tablecloth service. Much of my dining experiences during this trip were in family-run trattorias. That was intentional: the premise of a trattoria was that it served the local cuisine via recipes passed through multiple generations of the family that owned the restaurant. In Florence I ate all of my main meals at such trattorias and never had a single bad dish - the pastas I ate are considered some of the best I've ever eaten. Trattoria Mario is an example of your typical Tuscan trattoria. Tuscan cooking at its core is simple and hearty - as "peasant cuisine" you have to use inexpensive ingredients and make them last. The bold flavors make it distinctive among other Italian regional cuisine, hence why Tuscan (along with Sicilian) cuisine was able to succeed outside its home region and gain popularity worldwide. As a solo traveler this meant another thing: I can make a meal solely on the primi piatti and house wine without having to break my daily food budget! VENUE: Located near Mercato Centrale. Though the restaurant is considered a "hole-in-the-wall", it is by no means undiscovered; every major guidebook and travel company has mentioned this place in some form for multiple years. As a result you can find the restaurant based on the plethora of stickers found in the front door and on busy days, a line in front. On a Sunday the restaurant was full (but no line) but they squeezed me in with a family of 4 in a tiny corner towards the back of the restaurant. That was fine as I enjoyed their company plus they let me have their carafe of wine as they couldn't finish it. I was grateful. My meal consisted of two primis: the soup ribollita and their pasta in ragu sauce. In retrospect I should've ordered a meat dish but I didn't want to spend so much on meat and potentially waste it because the secondi was made for more than one person. Instead I had a filling meal primarily based on carb for about €15. I made up for the calories by doing more walking in the afternoon. - Ribollita: This is your typical Florentine bread soup consisting of bread and beans cooked together. This could've been a meal in itself because it was so filling. - Ragu pasta: The pasta served here can vary depending on what the restaurant feels like cooking that day. In this case it was a thick tube pasta. In Italy there is such a thing as a balance between pasta and sauce. As a result you won't see as much meat on the pasta as its counterpart in America. Easily the best pasta in ragu I've ever eaten as the dish is at is core quite simple and Trattoria Mario makes the dish in its pure form. Earlier reviews state cash only, but as of this writing credit cards were accepted and I paid for my tab using credit card. Trattoria Mario just got themselves another follower. Still hasn't lost its charm even after being discovered. I look forward to the opportunity of coming back here with someone so I can finally try their famous bistecca! read more

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Outstanding. A small, busy trattoria serving simple Tuscan fare guided by the local market. No reservations (30-45 minute wait if you don't go early). Communal seating. Unpretentious. A great experience (if you let it be). Yes, it's secret has been outed by guidebooks and blogs. The 60 year old family trattoria even has a website. Oh well, if this is food for tourist, give me more! Delicious bistecca (Florentine T-bone beef steak). Huge (about 1.2Kg). Simply seasoned with salt, then cooked very rare (you have no choice it is only served the way it should be) then doused in fresh, peppery olive oil. Very deep beef flavor thanks to the grass fed Chianina cow; the largest breed of cow that produces dense, very flavorful beef but with limited marbling. The zuppa di fagioli (white bean soup) and the ribollita (bread soup) are excellent. Great extraction of flavors. Thick, dense soups that pour like porridge. A generous dousing of fresh olive oil adds earthy, peppery richness. The simplicity and freshness is incredible. Trying either will alter your perception of what Italian soup is in America. Finally the house made, fresh pastas. Artichokes were in season and the tagliatelle di carciofo was excellent. Beautiful crunch on the sliced artichokes, sublime toothsome texture of the pasta. Reasonable prices. Lunch only. Cash only. Some English. No printed menu (there is board in Italian only). Go early, they do run out of dishes the later it gets. Experience food. Experience life. read more

When someone tells me they're going to Florence, I can't help but immediately blurt out...GO TO TRATTORIA MARIO! Such a wonderful food memory in a truly amazing city. While visiting Florence for a short weekend away from Rome, my friends and I were starving for a great Florentine meal. I had a pretty darn guidebook with me that says this place is the best, and after asking locals, they all agreed that this place is the spot. Thank you Italian men, you never let me down in the food department! We rolled up here at the beginning of Italian lunch hour and the workers were gracious enough to cram us into this tiny eatery. I think I was literally sitting on top of the people next to me; a small sacrifice for great food! You know you're in a serious Italian eatery when the menu is hand-written on a board, and they change the menu everyday. A far cry away from awful "menu turistico" that pops up all over major cities like Rome or Florence. Always avoid the "menu turistico!" The waitress said they had a chickpea soup that day, and we all agreed to that one. The chickpea soup was no doubt, the best soup I've had in my entire life. I know, I know, you're thinking...what the heck could be so amazing about soup!? Well, it was the smoothiest, creamiest damn thing I've ever tasted. It was perfectly seasoned. I dream pretty much dream about this soup everyday. Oh Trattoria Mario, why do you have to be on another continent? I want you right around the corner from me! I also had a delicious chicken dish here. If you're looking for some seriously classic Italian red meat fare, then this is your spot. This was one of those meals where everyone's eyes lit up, and we didn't even have to say anything...everyone knew what everyone else was thinking....delicious! This place fell in typical Italian tradition in that it was a bit difficult to focus on the food because you can see into the kitchen, and they can definitely see you too! And trust me, they're definitely staring! Wonderful spot that captures the true essence of Italian cooking, as well as what it's like to dine like an Italian. Highly recommended! read more

Trattoria Mario - Truly AMAZING garbanzo bean soup - Tuscan Near Me - Florence, FI

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MR says ... the steak is tender MRS says ... if you don't know how to read and/or speak italian then you might as well eat next door at Zaza or go to Pensavo Peggio for a much much more enjoyable tuscan meal. and here's why: when we got seated, the server asked us "pasta" or "meat". we're aware of the handwritten menu on the wall but we asked what else on the menu. she quickly pointed us to the menu posted on the wall. again to reiterate, if you're like us no READ no WRITE no SPEAK italian, the menu on the wall is as good as artwork in any of the museums. we've been eyeing on Trattoria da Mario for months. curious why people crowd the alley just to get in (they're open from noon to about 3pm and closed on Sundays so that's probably why people lined up plus space is limited). the food was ok. how can you go wrong with pasta and tomato sauce. MR enjoyed his steak so for the extra star in our rating. but we were looking forward to a much more enjoyable dine in experience. Trattoria da Mario gets a lot of hype so people lined outside (again because space is so limited inside) but if you want a nice tuscan meal - as authentic as they claim, we recommend Pensavo Peggio or next door at Zaza. better service, better ambiance and food options you can freely choose to try. simply put, there's no english menu at Trattoria da Mario. read more

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Florence is full of steak restaurants, being renowned for their Fiorentina steak. So with a bit of researching we found this homely little place, packed full of people. Trattoria Mario is quite small so do come early to grab at seat as they only take face to face reservations on the day. If the place is full they will ask you for a name and give you a time to come back. You are expected to share tables with other guests and some of the tables don't seem to be designed for sharing. We had to share a small table with two local diners. However the quality of food made up for any discomfort. As cramped as it was the place had a lovely atmosphere. It was so lively, full of staff making sure your order is served quick and efficient. The kitchen is also open in the center of the restaurant so you can see the steaks being cooked and the fresh meat being delivered in. The vibe was excellent but maybe not so for physical comfort. The menu is usually pinned at the entrance and on the wall at the side of the restaurant so don't expect to be given one. A previous diner commented that there was no English translation but there is and it is written right next to the Italian description of it. Pasta and starters also changes every now and then to keep it fresh and new for diners. Ravioli al Pomodoro fresco We wanted to try a bit of everything so started with some pasta first. This was lovely and simple. Thin al dente parcels of pasta in a light zesty tomato sauce. The filling was creamy, herby yet light. A sprinkle of Parmesan for complexity and depth. Simple yet delicious. Penne sul capriolo Looks like any regular mince on pasta but it was actually deer meat. Simple looking yet deliciously made. It was cooked the traditional way too with no tomatoes but yet packed full of flavour with simple seasoning of Italian herbs. Beef stew This was made for wine lovers as the richness of the red wine was all I tasted. I don't think they allowed all the alcohol to evaporate as it made me a little light headed. Sadly I found the wine too strong for my liking but Ren, my fiance enjoyed it very much so. The meat was beautifully tender and juicy though and was something I appreciated. Fiorentina steak And the infamous Fiorentina steak (T-bone) for one. It was incredibly juicy and sweet, full of flavour. Without asking, it was served pink like how we like it. It's no melting soft fillet so it does require a bit of a bite but that gives you chance to enjoy it's flavours and savour it. A high quality steak and delicious! We also ordered a sides to accompany our mains which included boiled white beans and thick cut chips. Both were seasoned well, very fluffy and soft. No complaints there. I loved Trattoria Mario. Shame it isn't open for dinner or a place to unwind and relax. The fast pace of it all actually made it seems like fast food but on a complete different quality level. As we leaving to pay, staff were thanking us and saying goodbye. At the same time we saw many diners get rejected at the door and asked to come back another time or another day. We felt so lucky to have made it early. read more

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Ah yes, Florentine steak. After having variations of it on the East Coast, I was excited by the Yelp reviews that Trattoria Da Mario has one of the best steaks in town. Upon arrival for lunch, we had to wait a good 35 minutes and ended up sitting with an Italian couple from Turin. We ordered a pasta dish with meat sauce and the Florentine Steak. Of course they didn't ask about how it gets cooked - it's at chef's discretion! While the pasta was pretty good and the steak was flavorful, it really bothered me that they didn't have a knife sharp enough to cut through it. We went through three steak-cutting knives and because the steak was cooked medium-rare, it's a lot to cut and chew through. As far as pricing goes, I think Trattoria Da Mario has competitive (and not cheap) prices against the competition. In the end, I enjoyed the atmosphere and the locals/tourists mix in the crowd, but I didn't enjoy the overall meal experience. Do I need to bring my own steak knife next time? Ahh, it's still frustrating to think about it! read more

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Oh my freaking GODDDDD you have not lived until you have a florentine steak from here!!! By far the best steak I have ever had and I've been to them all the food is absolutely delicious it was so good I went back the next day!!! Best part is when I went back everyone at the restaurant remembered me!!! Absolutely delicious place highly recommend. Even their pastas are out of hand!!! P.s. They are only open for lunch and get there early it gets full quick! read more

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I had a lot of great food in Florence, but Trattoria da Mario was hands down the best. We went twice and loved it both times. It's a small restaurant and you share tables with others, but it's that simplicity that is part of what makes it such a great experience. The menu is hand written and taped to a wall. They suggest you take a picture of it with your phone then sit down and review it beore ordering. No frills just great food. I had a risotto with octopus and squid one time and a roasted veal the next time. Both were amazing and the risotto was probably the best thing I had in two weeks of stuffing my face in Italy. Great, great food. read more

I came here off of a recommendation of a friend, and I am glad he gave it. We went there for lunch and went somewhat early, but almost not early enough. Make sure you get here early for lunch. Luckily they accommodated our big party by putting us in their little wine room in their basement. We felt a little isolated, but it was a cool little room. The bathroom is only one room for everyone. If you have trouble with the sink, look down for the pedals. Had to show a couple people how to operate it. The menu was hand written and needed a little assistance on what some things were. The one server seemed to forget about us every once in awhile, but the food was so good I overlooked it on my rating (she was a 3 star server). Each of us got something different and we all sampled off of each others' meals. They were all so delicious. The house wine was cheap, but excellent. To pay the bill, you go up front at the register, you don't have to wait for your server. We made that mistake. This is definitely a must see if you go to Florence. read more

This restaurant is recommended in the Rick's Steve's Italy guide. Came here for lunch and was incredibly crowded and had to share a round table with few other groups of people. I think all of the tourists must have read the same guide book. The order takers and food servers moved very quickly but still the wait was long to get seated and took awhile for the orders to be taken and for the food to arrive. Also the waiters kept bumping into my chair. It's just so busy! * Lentil soup with olive oil - Good * Side salad - Meah okay. Had better salads. * Roasted chicken - Very good * Roasted rabbit - Good Very high-energy and casual atmosphere. Overall the experience was mixed. Food was decent but way too crowded. read more

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This is a great local spot for Florentine steak. It is also close to the central market if you need anything. This was meant to be our first meal in Florence, but there was around a 40m wait even for a late lunch. We ended up putting our name down and went to grab a sandwich nearby. We got the ribollita and the Florentine steak. The ribollita was hearty and went well with the bread. This was our first Florentine steak and having split a sandwich earlier, we weren't able to completely finish it. We got close, but 2.2. pounds destroyed us. This was a reasonably priced Florentine steak; I believe it was around 35 euros. We were sat next to local, frequent customer. We really enjoyed the experience as he told us about just going at the bone with your hands toward the end as a normal thing and what he was drinking - vin santo, which would later find out ourselves. read more

If you are in the right mood with a relaxed attitude, this place can be both fun and delicious. The food is as good as it is reputed to have. It is also as crowded and frenetic as advertised. We enjoyed it thoroughly. Expect a crowd in front of the small store front. Go in and give them your name and size of your group. They will give you an honest estimate of the wait time. They told us 30 minutes; we were in within 25. You will be ushered to you seats and space will be tight. You will share a table with other diners. I ended up at the end of one table, essentially in the middle of the narrow isle servers and guest use to move get around the restaurant. This means I was bumped now and then, but in the upbeat spirit of the place (the servers, and even the cooks were in jovial moods), it didn't bother me. There are no menus, only one list of offerings posted on the kitchen-side wall in the middle of the very small dining room. That wall menu is in Italian, but in very small print there are English translations. You will have to go up to read them. The menu offerings are broad. You won't find it difficult to find something appealing. Our group tried a simple pomodoro pasta plate, a veal chop and a pork chop. Others in our table had their vegetable-bread soup, a porcini pasta dish and their Florentine steak. Everyone was more than pleased with their selection. A house wine is available, but we choose to get a glass of their featured wine. For 6 Euros, we had a truly excellent Brunello that just capped off a delightful dining experience. Service was friendly, helpful and efficient. But do bring Euros. Credit cards are not accepted. But with the reasonable prices, you won't need that many to have a great (if a bit different) dining experience. read more

My wife and I loved this place. The food was delicious, came in big portions, and was inexpensive. The only downside is you'll almost certainly have to wait for a table. Even at 2:30pm, we had to wait about 30 minutes to get seated. Inside, you're packed in with strangers. No seat is wasted. Chances are, if you're traveling solo or as a couple, you'll get seated at the same table with complete strangers. No worries though. This can be fun (unless you get seated next to a passionately amorous German couple, like we did, who spent more time kissing each other's faces than eating their pasta). The daily menu is written on a piece of paper taped to the wall. Super casual. We decided to go with: 1) Pappardelle pasta with pork ragu sauce. My favorite dish. Super savory with a surprising burst of Italian herbs. The pasta was cooked just a smidge more than al dente, which is just the way I like it. 2) Rigatoni with bolognese sauce. A solid dish. 3) Veal chop. This was also delicious. The meat was cooked perfectly - tender, juicy, with just the right amount of char for flavor. The dish was very simple. Just some olive oil, salt, and lemon served as the accompanying flavors. The entire ambiance of the restaurant was warm and friendly - just what you'd expect if you were to go to a friend's home in Italy, where they were serving a dinner party with 50 guests :) With a bottle of water, our big lunch for two came out to just 30 euros total. I'd highly recommend this place! read more

What can I say about Mario? This place is simply AMAZING. I came here close to the end of my europe trip and I didn't expect much because we stopped for a quick lunch.....oh man..... was I wrong! I came here with 2 friends and we waited for 30-40 mins, which is not bad because we came right at lunch time. We were seated by a very nice waitress but had to share a table with others. I didn't mind to share a table with others because I used to do that in Hong Kong, this might bother some of you though. Anyways, the menu was very simple. I had my eyes on the fried rabbit but wanted something more. I asked the waitress for recommendations.... she gave me a look (in a good way) and said "pasta with meat sauce". We waited for about 10 mins for our food. The pasta with meat sauce looked very simple, seems like something I could made at home. I took my first bite and I couldn't believe the texture of the pasta and the flavorful meat sauce. How can something so simple be so delicious???? One of my friends wasn't hungry... I think he ordered the raviolis, but I told him he MUST TRY this dish. He took a bite of my dish and immediately waved our waitress over and ordered one for himself! The pasta with meat sauce is THE DISH that defined Florence for me. It cost less than $10 euros, but I would pay $50 dollars to have it again in the U.S. read more

Trattoria Mario - Pasta w meat sauce.... this is the best thing I ate in Italy!!!! - Tuscan Near Me - Florence, FI

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Despite the hype over the Florentine steaks, I thought this place was just ok. We got there early to avoid a line, and they were already seating people twenty minutes before noon. The tables are small and you have to share with strangers. Mildly awkward. The ribolito soup (bean/vegetables thickened with bread) was a little bland and underseasoned. It had a nice drizzle of olive oil over it that was good. House wines were also cheap and enjoyable. The florentine steak was huge and had simple flavors, but it was just too raw for me personally. I know that's their style. But it was just too much of a raw, cold center and kind of tough and fatty. I probably wouldn't order it again. read more

Trattoria Mario - Ribolito soup - Tuscan Near Me - Florence, FI

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We didn't spend much time in Florence, but this was hands-down my favorite meal in Florence, if not in Italy. The place is tiny, so be prepared to sit with strangers, but that makes the experience all the more unique. I ordered the pasta with grouper while my wife got the spaghetti and clam. Both were incredible. The pasta is hand-made, which I couldn't get enough of in Italy. My dish sounded like the combination (pasta + grouper) would be stranger, but the grouper held up really well and the sauce was packed with flavor. The clam and spaghetti was good, but I liked the grouper pasta better. We saw lots of people order steaks and pork chops, which also looked pretty amazing. Too bad we couldn't grow bigger stomachs to order them. If you're in Florence, definitely check this place out. read more

Trattoria Mario was one of the more memorable meals I had in Florence. Situated off a street that leads to Florence's Central Market, Piazza San Lorenzo and the many restaurants for al fresco dining, Trattoria Mario's unassuming storefront with stickers and literature completely covering its door can easily be dismissed. However once inside, you find a merge of locals, foodies and tourists seeking a great yet simple Florentine meal in a small, bustling, cafeteria-style space. The restaurant opens only during lunch hours and serves up some delicious pastas and meats, which many come for the Fiorentina Bisteca. My party tried some of their daily specials such as the cheese ravioli, roasted pork, and pappardella al ragu. The ravioli and pappardella looked beautiful and tasted delicious. The roast pork was served simply by itself and like the unassuming facade of Trattoria Mario, it is really what's inside that counts! It was a perfect lunch for our last meal in Florence. I highly recommend this place and will return when I'm in Florence! Food: classic Florentine, home style Ambiance: energetic, casual, busy read more

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Stopped in to try the famous bistec florentina since we heard this place has the best one. They were slam packed and we sat at a really small table with another girl on her own getting lunch so just a heads up this might not be the best for large parties unless you settle with them ahead of time. The steak was awesome along with the spaghetti dish my wife ordered. Service was awesome and although the steak is a bit on the pricey side, its a must try! read more

This lived up to the hype! Florentine steak (€35 for 1kg) was delicious and the lemon adds a unique flavoring. Definitely can be shared by 2 because it's humongous! The roasted chicken (€6.50) has amazing flavor and the meat falls off the bones. Wine by the glass is only €1.50. They sit you next to strangers, but it was a great opportinity to talk to locals. Il read more

Trattoria Mario - Menu 1/20/17 - Tuscan Near Me - Florence, FI

Visited this place on my own during January of 2014! Even though I was by myself, I still had a short waiting time, as this place is packed! I sat down with a group of 4 other people whom I had no association with at a table in the back of the restaurant. It was confusing at first because the waitress seemed to speak little English and the menu was rather difficult to read. However, I eventually settled on the White Bean Soup and the pasta with meat sauce! I skipped the steak because I didn't feel as if I could eat that massive thing on my own! I have never had white bean soup before, but I'm typically not a huge fan of most beans (Except coffee and green). This was delicious though. It was creamy and hearty! The pasta was very good as well, and a good sized portion for the price! I feel as if this is what most people think about when they dream of Italian food. Simple food made with simple ingredients, fresh and with passion. I would definitely recommend this place to a friend, and if I am ever in Firenze again, I would love to stop by and see if I can tackle that steak! read more

We waited a pretty long time (30-45m) to finally get a table, and it turns out they were out of their infamous pasta w meat sauce. Talk about a let down... We came here SPECIFICALLY for the Ragu. After reading all the raving reviews, we wanted to know what all the hype was about. Unfortunately, they were out that day, so we decided to just split the squid pasta, which was surprisingly pretty good. I believe it was one my SO's top 3 dishes of the trip. Then again, she's a seafood lover, so it definitely fit the bill. On the other hand, I'm a total meat lover, so I was pretty disappointed. However, I got over it fairly quickly, considering the unlimited dining options around us. Perhaps next time! read more

Trattoria Mario - Squid Pasta - Tuscan Near Me - Florence, FI

Don't order the steak. It's not that bad, but compare to all the other great food we ate in Florence, this is really the least tasty one. Ravioli is better. read more

Trattoria Mario - Tuscan Near Me - Florence, FI

Our first stop in Florence... An authentic and charming hole in the wall! You might miss it if you don't look carefully! Be prepared to sit with strangers at your table - but for us, it was a great and interesting chance meeting with a local. We enjoyed the Pork Chop, the Ravioli, the Lemon Cake, and the conversation! A great visit... read more

Trattoria Mario - Tuscan Near Me - Florence, FI

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def hyped but i can understand why more than the food, it's the friendly service the massive florentine steaks and the ambiance the florentine steak we ordered was so massive we ended up sharing it with another couple who was sharing our table it was cooked well but a bit bland even when we added extra salt, it wasn't as flavorful we also ordered the meat ravioli which was good but not fantastic if you're around and able to drop in without waiting too long, i would recommend otherwise, there are other great spots to try read more