Experiencing Florence Through Flavors: 5 Unique Restaurants

by Laura Tressel

When you think of Italy, you think of history, natural beauty, artistic masterpieces, and most importantly food. Honestly, I think for a lot of people food is the first thing that they think of when Italy is mentioned. Visions of pizza, pasta, cannoli and gelato tempt tourists to visit and to indulge their taste buds. Food is definitely a huge part of the culture in italy, and especially in Florence, but sometimes it pays to try restaurants off the beaten path. Eating pizza for every meal sounds like a good idea, but in practice, it might not work out so well. Here are a few of my favorite places to go and things to eat, both typically Tuscan and unique.

1. Mostodolce- This pub and restaurant combination is the first place I recommend to people visiting Florence. They serve their own craft beers, produced just outside of Florence, alongside some truly delicious food. Their pizza and burgers are great, but if you go make sure you order the "coccoline"which are little fried balls of pizza-like dough, served with soft cheese and spicy sauce to dip in. The atmosphere is great for a fun and relaxing night out, and the walls are covered with customers' drawings, giving the place a very welcoming and personal atmosphere. Located at Via Nazionale, 114/2.

2. Mercato Centrale- The market, located behind San Lorenzo, in the heart of the leather market, is not exactly a hidden secret of Florence's cuisine. It is well known and often very crowded, but for good reason. The variety of food and the quality of their ingredients is fantastic. There are different stalls lining the walls inside, serving pizza, pasta dishes, vegan options, lampredotto (cow stomach, a Florence specialty), chocolate, and more. There is even a happy old man who walks around with a cart filled with the most savory, fresh mozzarella. The market is made up of two floors. The top floor is where the restaurants are located, and below is the market itself, full of fresh vegetables, fruits, meats and bread. The best part about the food sold in the restaurants is that the dishes are prepared only from the ingredients sold in the market below.

3. Spumantino Verrazzano- If you want to step up the level of class for an evening, this is the place to do it. The tiny restaurant and wine bar is located a few steps away from Ponte Vecchio, and offers an enchanting view and atmosphere. While the focus is on the wine produced at Castello di Verrazzano, my favorite part of the dining experience is the sushi. Living here, surrounded by bread and pasta, you start to crave foods that aren't native to the region, and for me those cravings are for sushi. Though a higher price tag accompanies this restaurant, it is worth it for the unique tastes and exceptional service. The waiters are very friendly and accommodating, adding the the relaxing and romantic atmosphere. Lungarno Acciaiuoli 4/R. 

4. Le Vespe Cafe- This place offers a perfect blend of cultures and flavors in their quirky food and drinks menus. With vegan and vegetarian options, as well as special weekend brunch menus, Le Vespe Cafe is the perfect healthy spot to sit and talk with friends or to work quietly with their free wifi. The owners are from the UK, but their menus offer English, Italian, and Middle Eastern dishes. There is something to please everyone. The quality of the food is exceptional, and the coffee drinks are also fantastic. The inside decor is mismatched and colorful, and board games and magazines fill the shelves, creating a comfortable atmosphere. If you're looking to spend Sunday morning somewhere unique and out of the tourist foot traffic of the central area of Florence, head over to this quaint restaurant a few streets away from Santa Croce, at 76R Via Ghibellina.

5. L'Azdora Piadineria Romagnola- For a quick and authentic lunch experience, this is the place to go. Right across form the entrance to Mercato Centrale, this little one room kitchen makes the best piadina in Florence. A piadina is a flatbread sandwich, originally from Romagna, which is where the owners come from. They use only authentic ingredients and recipes for the bread, which gives it an extraordinary flavor. Their menu has tons of tasty varieties, or you can choose to make your own with your favorite ingredients. The prices are extremely reasonable, especially for the quality of the product you are getting. A piadina is a great alternative to a panino (if you want to change up your diet) and this is definitely the place to get them. Piazza Del Mercato Centrale 14/r 

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Interview with Vincenzo Damiano, Bar Caffeteria Damiano, Via del Parione, 46r

1. Vincenzo, tell us a little bit about yourself ...

My name is Vincenzo Damiano. I'm 47 years old. My starsign is Sagittarius, I'm a bartender, I do it (my work) with love and hope that everyone who comes here feels at home ... and then if you want to know ... I'm married with two beautiful kids ... Andrea and Maria Claudia.

2. Tell us about your Bar Caffetteria Damiano

This bar was created in 2003. It had already been working so much with the students because in front of the bar was a faculty called Faculty of Education that worked with bargirls aged 17 to 18 years.

3. What did you do (and where) before opening the Bar Caffetteria Damiano?

Before starting the bar I went to school. I studied surveying. I came to Florence and I loved the city. And that's when I started working as a bartender. Since then I can not do without this work; it’s like a drug for me. I can not live without this work.

4. What prompted you to start your own business?

The fact is that I love being with people. I love people; the beautiful ones, ugly ones, fat ones, sad ones, and I try in my small way of being able to put everyone at ease in front of me. After almost 25 years in this field of work, one also becomes a bit of a psychologist.

5. Describe a typical day for you

My typical day ... I get up at 7:30am, I come here to the bar ... it's like playing the fool, I get busy, the game, I am the people, laugh, joke ... and then work at the same time. I especially like when I see people who are a bit sad - I try to cheer them up a bit.

6. What is the best thing about working for yourself?

The fact that no one can say anything ... I do not take orders from anyone, but only for myself. This can be a risk though. In practice if you work for someone else and you lose a customer, you won’t lose your job. Whereas when you work for yourself and lose customers, your business may gradually fail.

7. How has business changed since you started?

This is a good question, this activity is now suffering because of the dramatic falls in circulation in this activity as you feel the crisis in all sectors and throughout the world ... but after 25 years of this work I can still enjoy myself because I sincerely make sure I'm really enjoying this job.

8. What is your favourite thing about Florence?

I like the globalism and tourism in Florence; you can talk with somebody from Russia one day, somebody from China another day, somebody from India, America or England another day. Florence is multiethnic: you can meet people from all over the world here.

9. What is your least favourite thing about Florence?

Hypocrisy. In general I do not like hypocrisy, not only in Florence but throughout the world.

10. What advice would you give to young people (who are hoping to start their own business)?

To believe with all their strength so it will have a high power. I wanted to have my own business and with many sacrifices I made it. I think that nothing is impossible; you can live your dreams if you work hard, though you may have to sacrifice a lot.

11. If someone is visiting Florence for a day, what would you recommend they do / see?

One day in Florence is not enough; Florence is such a unique city. But at least visit the Uffizi.