
5

"A stalwart of the Florentine scene, La Leggenda dei Frati feels miles from the bustling city center but is less than a 10-minute uphill walk from the Ponte Vecchio via the winding Costa San Giorgio. The restaurant is attached to Villa Bardini, an art exhibition center and garden billed as an “alternative to Boboli” but deserving of better: Its terrace has unmatched views over the city, with Brunelleschi’s dome and the tip of Santa Croce peeking out below you. In the kitchen, chefs Filippo Saporito and Ombretta Giovannini, partners in life and cuisine, do a healthy amount of experimenting, but ultimately prioritize quality ingredients over innovation. The formula works: Their chicken liver terrine has been on the menu since 2004 and continues to be their checkmate." - Mary Gray