The authors of Dissapore are all professional food critics. They have writers throughout Italy, and it is highly reliable. Every now and then they put out an article about a city called, "Ristorante con il megliore rapporto qualita' e prezzo." That is, restaurants with the best relationship between quality and price, or where you get value for your money. They recently did an article the 5 restaurants in Florence with the best rapport between quality and price.
http://www.dissapore.com/grande-noti...ualita-prezzo/
It's a very long article. I won't translate it because of potential copyright issues, but I'll briefly paraphrase and summarize. The full article is at the link above:
Florence is a touristy city where they deceive you with fake "traditional" restaurants around every corner. Enough, just keep walking. But for those who think you can only eat poorly in Florence, it is worth looking at the recommendations of natives who remain deeply attached to the city.
A few restaurants remain authentic and haven't changed over the years. There are bistros, tripe places, and restaurants that are a great value. We put together a group of gourmets, went out for lunch, and cross-referenced their findings. In no particular order;
1. Sant Agostino 23
Average price, 40 euros for a meal.
In the heart of the most colorful little part of Florence, this restaurant takes some liberties with the food. They have gazpacho, falafel, hummus, and oversized hamburgers, but nothing that would indicate that it's fake, like having red checker tablecloths, using wine flasks as decoration, straw mats, and napkins with a picture of a butcher on it. Have no fear, on the menu is also quinto quarto (the waste parts of animals that would be left to the peasants to eat), such as tripe and lampredotto (which is a form of tripe, or cow's stomach). You get real, strong, flavorful food here, meat still on the bone, Ossobucco (a bone marrow dish), cooked in the oven with spices, served with crusty bread to spread it on. Those who can really eat big can challenge themselves by trying the "elephant ear," which is a gigantic cutlet covered with fried potatoes. They have a limited wine list, which is the usual in Florence.
2. Ruggero
Average 30 euros for dinner.
You will have an authentic gastronomic experience and eat like a gourmet in the old style in a restaurant without any frills or pretentiousness, where it is always packed, the tables may be sticky, the bathrooms are cramped, and there is no place to park. But what you will remember is the meat, cut high with the bone, the fresh seasonal vegetables. This is a place for connoisseurs, where even traditional dishes like liver, steak, roast beef, tripe, boiled meats, and on Fridays cod and cuttlefish, all have a unique flavor. You eat as if you were still in, "once upon a time." You eat very well, you eat a lot, and for very little.
3. Il Magazzino
Average price 25 euros
Mission number one is trying to find this place, even though it's just a few steps from Ponte Vecchio. It has the best lampredotto in all of Florence, and it is the high temple for native Florentines when they go out to eat quinto quarto (see above, waste parts) of cows, sheep and pigs, such as tripe, and especially lampredotto. This place is a Florentine institution. You will not believe how light and delicate the lampredotto meatballs are, or the agnoloti (type of pasta) with lampredotto and sauce, squid, or fried tripe. Nice list of wines that can be ordered by the glass.
4. Borgo San Jacopo
Average 70 euros
The first thing you'll notice is the unique style. You'll feel like your in a design magazine. It's a little expensive for a list that is concerned about cost. But we are talking about value. Too bad it's not open for lunch anymore. The freshness, the knowledge that goes into preparation, the beautiful presentation. Not to mention, you will have a panoramic view of one of the most beautiful sites in the world (it looks down on the Arno, and Ponte Vecchio). It has incredibly refined antipasti of red shrimp, spinach pasatelli (type of pasta), calamari, mussels, and other shellfish, crisp vegetables. Desserts to die for, and great wine, with a focus on champagne.
5. Trattoria Mario
An article about food in Florence that doesn't mention Mario is impossible. Expect to wait because Mario is not a secret. It's well known, and they don't take reservations. Here's what to do. Go early, give them your name, then take a walk. We recommend the nearby Central Market and San Lorenzo church of Brunelleschi. The atmosphere is that of a classic Florentine osteria. They'll sit you wherever there's room, chat with the people around you (some communal tables), and maybe even share each other's wine. The menu is what you'd expect, but with an unbeatable price to performance ratio. Potato al pomodoro, ribollita, steak florentine, order it well done only if you are very courageous (It is only eaten rare. It's a breach in etiquette to order it well done, and would anger the chef. There's even a sign on the door that says, "E vietato chiedere la bistec Fiorentina ben cotto," meaning it is forbidden to request steak florentine well done), pork loin, and the beans of the day are impeccable, at a popular price. No frills, quick service, this is a place where they want to turn the tables over quickly, but don't be discouraged. If you've never eaten there before, put Mario in your address book.
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[Crediti | Link: Dissapore, immagini: Eating with Ziggy, Dissapore, Scatti di Gusto]
CITTĄ FIRENZE, LOW-COST, RAPPORTO QUALITĄ PREZZO, RISTORANTI