Il Desco

Via Cavour, 55
50129 Firenze
Tel. 055 288 330

www.ildescofirenze.it
info(at)ildescofirenze.it

Open Mon. - Fri. 10:30am-8pm
Sun. 10:30am-3:30pm

For a modern take on Florentine cuisine, try Il Desco, which is located mere steps from the Duomo.

Ideally placed for a quick lunch before heading to explore the Piazza della Signoria, Ponte Vecchio, or the collections of the Uffizi gallery.

Casual dining at its finest, Il Desco is a family-run restaurant focused on fresh, local, organic ingredients and offering vegetarian and gluten-free menus as well.

The interior is a charming mixture of elegant and laid-back; brick arches accent the painted walls and marble counters top the glass display cases, while wood paneling and colorful canvases give the rooms warmth.

There is both indoor and outdoor seating; the courtyard is a lovely, shady place to enjoy lunch in the summer heat.

From the lunch menu, start with the savory tarts with broccoli and quail eggs, or perhaps the crepes with Tuscan pecorino and chestnut honey.

Continue with the tagliatelle with a duck ragú and artichokes, or the potato croquettes with seitan, ginger and cauliflower flan. Finish with the house made warm chocolate pie, or try the homemade cake of the day.

If you’re in Florence during a holiday, take advantage of their special prix fixe menus.

The asparagus roulades with goat cheese sauce, fresh pasta with onions, ricotta, and walnuts, roasted lamb with millefeuille of seasonal vegetables, and panna cotta with berries are all to die for.

Perhaps come with a friend so you can try every dish…if you can convince them to share!

The menu is quite reasonably priced, and there’s even a special children’s price with smaller portions for families, as well.

Vini e Vecchi Sapori

Via dei Magazzini 3r
50100 Firenze
Tel. 055 293 045

Open for lunch and dinner.
Reservations highly recommended.
Menu only in Italian.

Another perennially highly rated restaurant in Florence, Vini e Vecchi Sapori is perfectly described by its name: Wine and Ancient Flavors.

Family-owned and run, dad and son run the front of the house while mom runs the kitchen. The restaurant is tiny and cozy, so be sure to make a reservation, as they fill up quickly.

Prices are reasonable and well worth the quality of the food.

The ambiance is relaxed and casual; it’s not a fancy place, despite how beautifully presented their food is!

No need to dress up for this place, as you might need to do in some of Florence’s more uppity restaurants.

The counter is made of a warm wood, topped with stone; the walls are covered in photographs and small paintings, while an ivy-covered wood beam ceiling transports you to another era.

The menu changes daily based on availability of fresh produce, so go with an open mind and ready to ask for recommendations or suggestions from your server.

Some customer favorites have been the osso bucco (cross-cut veal shank braised with tomatoes, carrots and onions), insalata caprese (tomatoes with mozzarella and fresh basil), ravioli funghi (mushroom-filled ravioli), and pappardelle all’anatra (wide pasta with wild duck).