La Buca di Sant’Antonio is one of the oldest restaurants in Lucca. Buca means “Inn”. This restaurant has an ancient history as a restaurant and as a staging post for horses. It has been in operation since1782. It has maintained some of its old world charm with copper pots hanging from the ceiling and a collection of musical instruments including exquisite trumpets lending an artistic atmosphere.

Although there are signs guiding you its location la Buca di Sant’Antonio is situated in a small alley almost hidden from view, very close to Piazza San Michele. It is situated very near the lovely church of San Michele.

The food is very traditional and tasty. There is a wide variety of choice in both the first and second course. They have a few in house specialties which they recommend and it is a good idea to try them out. The menu is extensive and features many local and seasonal dishes. It features many traditional Lucchese dishes including smoked herring and crostini topped with pheasant pate, porcini mushroom delicacies and many wild game dishes. It goes without saying that they use local and fresh produce and the pastas are fresh and home made daily. The desserts including the fruit loaf, tarts and biscuits are very scrumptious.

There is an attention-grabbing wine cellar right inside the restaurant which can be viewed by the guests. It offers the best of local and vintage Tuscan wines.

With its rustic ambience, its traditional and delicious food and formal service La Buca di Sant’Antonio is a popular restaurant in Lucca. Although it is a bit pricey it offers a good dining experience when you visit Lucca. It has attracted the likes of Ezra Pound, Puccini and other literary figures as it had a secret collection of banned books.
 

Bistrot is an elegant restaurant situated in Viale Franceschi, Forte dei Marmi. It offers the best of dining by the beachside along with delicious and naturally fresh food. It is generally open for both lunch and dinner.

The pastas are fresh and home made. But of course the highlights of the menu are the seafood on offer. Some of the highly recommended dishes include carpaccio di branzino where thin slices of bass are seared on a high flame and then seasoned with fresh local olive oil, tomatoes and basil. Another favourite is the risotto with lobster. There is another typical dish called sauté di frutti di mare which is a combination of clams, garlic and tomato and has the consistency of something between that of a stew and a soup.

A range of desserts are available but the hot flan dotted with pieces of white and plain chocolate is definitely an excellent way to complete your meal.

Situated along the beautiful coast it has a lot to offer especially to the tourist. You will find a few locals frequenting the restaurant to enjoy the excellent sea food. Visit this restaurant especially if you love fresh seafood and fine dining as the prices are a bit on the high side. It is better to book a table in advance.

If you want to visit what is arguably considered the best restaurant in and around Siena you have to visit Antica Trattoria Botteganova. It is situated on the road leading to Strada in Chianti. It is only two kilometres away from Siena in a north easterly direction.

It has an elegant and inspiring interior with high ceilings and a touch of class. The service is first rate and they have been sensitive enough to reserve a room for nonsmokers.

But what is as if not more important is the food and here is where Antica Trattoria Botteganova scores many brownie points. Chef Michele Sorrentino goes out of his way to outdo his own creations by combining simple flavours with different combinations to create delicacies. There are a large number of starters and pasta dishes. There are many varieties of meat and fish dishes. The dessert range is also mouth watering. It is difficult to choose amidst the excellent cakes, pastries, ice creams and fruit platters with cream. He also takes a lot of care to present the food very stylishly. There is a fairly good wine list.

Antica Trattoria Botteganova is open both for lunch and dinner. On request they also provide gluten free meals.

Buca di San Francesco is situated in the heart of the historic city centre on Via San Francesco in Arezzo. This elegant restaurant next to the Basilica of Saint Francis occupies the cellars of a fourteenth century palace, complete with frescoed ceilings and the flooring is made from ancient Etruscan stone slabs. Buca di San Francesco has a beautiful old world ambience of subdued lighting and peaceful tranquility coupled with modern comforts.

The Buca in Arrezo has been under the same management for over seventy years. Mario di Phillipis believes in maintaining ancient traditions and recipes. So get ready for a traditional feast of the best Tuscan dishes including Ribollita and La Saporita di Bonconte which is actually a combination of tripe, sausages, other meats etc. This dish comes with a commemorative plate.

There is a wide and extensive menu offering a wide variety of starters, soups, salads, main dishes, specialty dishes. All the pasta is home made. The food has the reputation of not only being authentic but also finger licking delicious.

The dessert range is also large with many Tuscan traditional pastries, biscuits, cakes, cheeses, ice creams, puddings, ice cream and of course fruit.

Although there is an extensive wine list featuring the best Tuscan reds and whites, Vin Santo is an integral part of every meal at Buca di San Francesco. Make sure you arrive early before the restaurant starts getting crowded or better still make a reservation.

The Osteria della Pergola in Tavernelle, Arezzo is a typical traditional restaurant serving local food through the years. It is situated in the Sovara valley surrounded by cyprus trees and olive groves.

There is a warmth and hospitality which is as typical as the Tuscan dishes offered on the menu. Cooking is done in Tuscan style with traditional fireplaces and local produce sourced from the neighbouring farms.

It goes without saying that at Osteria della Pergola the pastas are home made as are the desserts. The duck with pasta and fruit tarts are highly recommended. The meats are sourced fresh and spit roasted. Everything comes together to provide you with the finest aromas emanating from the goodness of natural and fresh ingredients.

There is a fairly good selection of Tuscan wines. Osteria della Pergola has a rustic authenticity and gives you a unique experience of the enchanting Tuscan countryside.

Osteria della Pergola offers both lunch and dinner. After the tasty and authentic meal maybe you can take a stroll and explore your beautiful surroundings.

Tonino restaurant is an old, established and popular restaurant in Cortona. It is renowned for its authentic Tuscan and Umbrian cuisine. It is also popular as a venue to host receptions, conferences, meetings and public events.

Restaurant Tonino began its culinary journey in the early nineteen fifties when it was part of Hotel Garibaldi. It moved to its own premises in 1962 from where it still functions to cater to the delights of many locals and tourists.

Ristorante Tonino takes pride in being a blend of modernity and tradition. The best and authentic Tuscan dishes including specific Cortona dishes are served within the Cortona valley. It goes without saying that farm fresh local produce form the main ingredients of the dishes.

The menu is fairly extensive at Restaurant Tonino. There are a wide variety of starters or antipasti. They offer a wide range of cold as well as hot starters. The main dishes all have an unmistakable Tuscan and Umbrian flavours. Local as well as other popular Italian desserts round off the meal.

The food, the setting, the ambience and the service all add up to make a visit to Restaurant Tonino almost as important as a visit to the beautiful, romantic and historic town Cortona. The restaurant is among the high priced restaurants but offers a good meal and fantastic views of Val di Chiani. If you like fine dining, good food and a panoramic ambience visit Ristorante Tonino but do make a reservation in advance.

Montespertoli is a lovely and beautiful region in Tuscany with Etruscan origins. It also boasts of one good vegetarian restaurant nearby called La Fonte.

La Fonte provides you with some of the best vegetarian and macrobiotic food in Italy. They can prepare gluten free dishes and also cater to your different needs if you have food allergies. La Fonte has a fairly extensive menu with starters, main courses, second courses and desserts. They also organize parties, special events, theme parties etc.

La Fonte is generally open in the evenings. On Sunday it is open for lunch and dinner.
Many vegetarians highly recommend this restaurant for its food especially the desserts, its ambience and its fairly moderate pricing.

Please make sure you have a reservation before going out into the countryside of Montespertoli to dine to avoid disappointment.

Cafe Rivoire is a lovely café is situated on the Piazza della Signoria offering a lively view throughout the day. It is an excellent place to have your breakfast including a steaming cup of coffee and some delicious hot chocolate with an assortment of rolls or pastries. At Cafe Rivoire the food always tastes fresh and delicious.

Cafe Rivoire was opened to the public in 1872. From then up to date it has been providing Florentines and tourists delicious hot chocolate, cocktails, rolls, aperitifs, salads, sandwiches (with a variety of fillings), confectioneries and light snacks. Although coffee and wine are also available it is still very renowned for its hot chocolate. At Cafe Rivoire they also sell chocolates which are not only mouth watering but also come in unique shapes and designs and are beautifully gift wrapped. The dark chocolate varieties are extremely popular and very delicious.

The food, the ambience and the service at Cafe Rivoire all score high marks from both locals and tourists alike. This café is generally bustling with people. You can sit on one of the tables facing Piazza della Signoria with its priceless sculptures and beautiful fountain, arguably the finest piazza in Florence. Or else you can stand at the bar with the locals and pay lower prices. Wherever you choose to dine if you are a chocolate lover like me don’t miss the opportunity to have a cup of hot chocolate and buy a few chocolates to enjoy at your leisure.

Enoteca Pincchiori is a famous and popular Florence restaurant. It is a Michelin rated one. This highly rated restaurant is a restaurant you love or love to hate since you go in with great expectations and occasionally you may come out disappointed.

Enoteca Pincchiori is situated in a sixteenth century renaissance palace with high ceilings and beautiful frescoes. It is situated in central Florence on Via Ghibellina and is among one of the finest and most elegant Italian restaurants.

The presentation of the meals is excellent as they use the best of silver, crockery and cutlery. The table linen and the cutlery also add to the luxuriant palatial ambience. The service is of the highest standards. The lighting is soft but sufficiently bright for you to see what you are eating.

The menu is very extensive. There are many unique pasta combinations. One of the best loved dishes is the ignudi. It contains ricotta cheese with Spanish dumplings and a fricassee made with lobster and coxcomb. There is a wide variety of breads on offer. There are also many sea food based dishes on the menu. The cheese tray is popular at Enoteca Pincchiori. There is an extensive range of desserts and sorbets.

The prices are high and the servings are small. However the consolation is the extensive and excellent wine list. The service is generally commendable. Although you can visit it as a tourist it pays to go with an Italian friend. You have to book a table in advance and gentlemen have to wear a jacket. You also have the option of choosing dishes from the menu and wines from the wine list in advance when you book your table.

As the name suggests Al Lume di Candela is a quiet and romantic candle lit restaurant situated in Via delle Terme near the Duomo in Florence. Here you can enjoy a romantic dinner by candlelight.

In this intimate little restaurant the food is tasty, the ambience is excellent and the staffs are helpful and friendly. The antipasti or appetizers are tasty morsels. Al Lume di Candela is quite famous for its seafood dishes. The duck is also very succulent and tasty. Many varieties of pasta, rabbit and veal are also highly recommended. The wine list is good and features most of the regional wines.

Al Lume di Candela is a little expensive compared to a few other restaurants but it offers you an elegant ambience, very tasty food and excellent service. It is the ideal romantic getaway for two without leaving the city of Florence. It is a small restaurant hence it is better if you make reservations in advance.

Buon Appetito!