FOOD & DRINK
THE Restaurant Reviews
Osteria Al Ritrovo Del Platano - Barga
Salumeria Verdi – Florence
S
ituated on the road that skirts past Barga on the way to Castelnuovo Garfangana it would be easy to zoom past this quaint restaurant but to
do so would be to miss a real Tuscan treat. The decor is interesting without feeling cluttered and the atmosphere is
that of a genuine food lovers paradise. The first time I dinned there was for business (to write this review!) the
second time was for pleasure and the place was so busy I had to wait for a table (this was lunchtime on a Tuesday, so I would recommend booking) The restaurant is very popular with the locals, which is always a good
sign. I chose the Penne Arrabiata for my first course and it was without doubt the best ‘spicy’ pasta i have tasted in the 10 years I have lived here. Given that the Tuscans are not known for ‘hot and spicy’ foods this was both fiery and flavoursome. For Secondo the ‘cingiali in umido’ was a great example of one of the
region’s most famous dishes, cooked to perfection. The meat was tender and the sauce thick and delicious. After 2 hearty courses I had no room for dessert but my fellow diners seemed to be enjoying the range of largely homemade offerings. The fixed price lunchtime menu for two courses and wine is just €11 and evening meals are in the €25-30 price range. Osteria Al Ritrovo Del Platano
Via Provinciale, Ponte di Campia, Gallicano 0583 689922
O
nce in a while you come across a gem of a place tucked away out of the crowds in Florence. In honesty, I was lucky to be taken to this
delightful salumeria by a friend who had discovered it by chance whilst lost and hungry. The atmosphere is buyant – there are people milling around waiting for
their food, joking, chatting and generally being wonderfully Italian. The staff speak English but this is by no means a touristy spot. Most of the clientele were Italians having their pranzo al lavoro (working lunch). You can choose from superbly stuffed Panini (sandwiches) pasta,
gnocci, lasagne, meat dishes and all manner of delectable morsels from the deli counter. You order, grab a table and wait at the counter for your food. It is wonderfully informal. The meals are cheap, taste wonderful and the experience is definitely
not to be missed. I ate ‘the Turkey Best’ (€3.50) panino which was stuffed full of just
about everything Italian you can think of. It was divine, washed down with an excellent glass of house red (although they hold some superb wines if you wish to spoil yourself).
Salumeria - Gastronomia Verdi Via G. Verdi 36/r 50122 - FIRENZE
Dal Lunedì al Sabato dalle ore 8:00 alle ore 20:00
10 | THE TUSCAN MAGAZINE
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