259455 Sun Feb 14 00:19:13 -0800 1999 11 26 International 0 1371671 Any suggestions for good eats in Florence or Venice? I'll be there next month. Sun Feb 14 00:19:13 -0800 1999 0 Allison 1 1371672 in florence dinner at cibreo, lunch at cambi. in venice hit da fiore, and al covo. the names are endless how long are you going to be in each city? Sun Feb 14 02:09:17 -0800 1999 1371671 0 stephen kaye 2 1371673 We'll spend 5 nights in Florence, 2 or so in Venice -- so any foodie info is welcome! Mon Feb 15 00:08:19 -0800 1999 1371672 0 Allison 3 1371675 try some of our favorites, we go to Italy almost every year for 2-3 weeks. florence along with cibreo, alle murate, la baraonda,,osteria benci, bibe just outside of town, for lunches belle donne, cambi(outstanding tripe), za za, da ruggero, cnatinetta verranzano, for ice cream we like badiani and carabe your concierge can make reservations for you. in venice da fiore and al covo are a must. the chef and wife team from al covo, we just here in nyc last month, did a wine and food tasting at the 4 seasons, it was great!! are you going anywhere else in italy?? Tue Feb 16 10:15:57 -0800 1999 1371673 0 stephen kaye 3 1371676 Alison, Folks have steered you well (and know more than me) re: Florence. In Venice, do try to go to La Furatola if you like peasanty seafood/pasta dishes. No fowl or red meat here, just perfectly fresh fish, beautifully (and assertively seasoned), mostly with pasta. The regulars there treat it like a Greek diner, and I only wished *I* had a neighborhood restaurant this brilliant and reliable. Cheap and charming (if you like sardines, try the appetizer). Tue Feb 16 15:23:47 -0800 1999 1371673 0 Dave Feldman 3 1371678 I posted a rather long description of the places we ate at in Venice..scroll down or use the link (if I can get it to work)... For Florence, visit www.terraditoscana.com for a Florentine's insight on food. Carlo, the web master, is very friendly and spent a couple of hours with us last fall, walking through a residential area away from the city center and showing us the food he likes to eat. Drop him an email from the site. Link: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/show/259446#1371635 Wed Feb 17 19:14:19 -0800 1999 1371673 0 Jim Dixon 3 1371713 In addition to all of the good recommendations already provided on this string, I'll add just a few. Prior to going to Florence, I got a lot of good information from the Feb. 28, 1995 issue of Wine Spectator. One of the best bits of information from this issue led me to the Mercato Centrale (Central Market) at Piazza di San Lorenzo. Within this market is Perini, an absolutely wonderful place for sausages, cheeses, and all sorts of prepared foods. The shopkeepers behind the counter were warm, gracious, and friendly, and provided me with generous "samples" of almost everything in the place. "Here, here," they would say, "try this, very delicious, you will like." An inevitably, I did like. Wild boar salami; a long, fat, soft sausage called briciolana casalinga; a white truffle spread; explanations about the various types, grades, and quality of prosciutto; and on and on. I was in heaven!! My wife and I had many happy tastes from our purchases here. On the way out of Mercato Centrale I passed by a stand with a whole roasted pig, from which was being cut thicks slabs of juicy meat, served between pieces of country bread. Now how could a chowhound pass this up?? It was just a wonderful as it sounds. Another of my favorite experiences in Florence was a lunch at Cantinetta Antinori, located at Piazza degli Antinori, 3. Owned by the wine family, all current and recent vintages of Antinori wines are available here by the glass. This trattoria also serves very well prepared traditional Tuscan dishes. I can still taste the pappa al pomodoro--the taste of the tomatoes was pure, intense, and unbelievable. Aaahhhh, thank God for memory. The addition of a glass of Solaia or Tignanello doesn't do any harm either, even though the recent vintages they serve need more age. Sat Mar 20 15:34:35 -0800 1999 1371673 0 Tom Armitage 4 1371718 I can second the recommendation for Cantinetta Antinori. I had a wonderful meal there, and excellent wine. It is a little expensive, though. Reservations are an absolute must. Tue Mar 23 15:00:28 -0800 1999 1371713 0 Josh Mittleman 2 1371674 I posted several recommendations for Florence after I went there last year; see the link below. I concur with the recommendation for Cibreo, but unless you want very elegant dining, make sure you go to the second room, on the other side of the kitchen. Same food at half the price. Link: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/show/259414#1371538 Mon Feb 15 15:50:00 -0800 1999 1371672 0 Josh Mittleman 2 1371715 My most delicious memories of Florence are of meals at Alessi's eating club. Reportedly, Alessi used to run a fancy restaurant. Now he serves great food to Florentine chowhounds. You must pay a modest membership fee to join, but then you are free to order the most authentic Florentine food at amazingly low prices, in the company of Florentines -- no easy trick in this touristed small city heavily populated by American students. English is not strong here, and the menu is more complicated to read than in most trattorie, because Alessi includes so many details about the dishes, and even their history. I have eaten most successfully by asking Alessi to feed me as he sees fit ("Vorrei mangiare mentre lo consigliate" is my rough Italian for this request.) Trattoria Alessi. Via di Mezzo 24R. Florence. (No sign - just look for the frosted glass door, walk in and join the club.) Arrive early to be sure of seating: 12:30 for lunch, 7:30 for dinner. Link: http://www.mangiafirenze.com/code/alessi.html Image: http://www.mangiafirenze.com/graphics/alessi.jpg Sun Mar 21 23:42:50 -0800 1999 1371672 0 Howard August 1 1371677 You have had some excellent selections for restaurants in Florence and Venice. While in Florence consider taking a short drive outside the city to go to La Tenda Rosso in San Casciano in Val di Pesa. You'll need a reservation here so ask the hotel to make one for you. A must for excellent gelato is Vivoli in Florence. If your budget will allow it, Enoteca Pinchiorri is a real experience. This restaurant is really big bucks so check the price range before you go. The wine list here is a mind blower! In Venice take lunch or a light snack at the veranda of the Gritti Palace Hotel. Sitting there and enjoying the activity and views of the Grand Canal should not be missed. Food's good too but expensive. Harry's Bar, while a touristy place, still has excellent food. Da Fiori is usually a tough reservation so call well in advance to make certain to enjoy this marvelous restaurant. Wed Feb 17 00:01:44 -0800 1999 1371671 0 Peter C. Palmieri 1 1371686 Three years ago I was in Florence and my boyfriend and I found this restaurant that was a one woman show. It's called "Maximillian" not far from the Duomo. The owner is the waitress, busboy, chef, etc. The eating experience is not a hurried one, but rather a show and a very good one at that. Highly recommended and if all the tables are occupied when you get there, the owner will probably turn you away. Thu Feb 25 16:12:20 -0800 1999 1371671 0 Monica Betancourt