"Tiny, crowded and noisy, this traditional Florentine haunt is all wood paneling, rustic beams, and memorabilia-stacked walls. The “No pizza, no cappuccino, no ice, no takeaway” notices say it all. This is a place to feast on competently-prepared Florentine classics such as liver-topped crostini, pappardelle pasta with duck sauce, and peposo, a hearty, pepper-centric beef stew. But there are variations; the signature paccheri pasta with zucchini flowers and saffron is delicious, and there is the odd fish option like baccalà alla Livornese (salt cod in tomato sauce). At lunch time, expect a mix of foot-weary tourists (it’s a pigeon’s spit from the Uffizi Gallery) and smartly-dressed functionaries from the Palazzo Vecchio town hall offices. There’s a dearth of good places to eat in this tourist hot-spot, so the top-notch earthy home cooking is much appreciated." - Nicky Swallow
