WHAZHOT · MADE IN FLO' · ONLY IN FLO' · DISCOUNT COUPONS
sections
Booking
.
culture
.
Florence’s famous import Dedicated to the Steak
[Susan Glasspool]
As you navigate your way through the bustling streets of the Centro area, take some time to slow down and enjoy a real Italian dinner. Conveniently located just a few minutes walk from Piazza del Duomo, is a cozy, tourist-friendly restaurant that basks in soft yellow lighting on Via Borgo San Lorenzo.At Ristorante Giannino in San Lorenzo, you’ll be able to enjoy a variety of original Florentine cuisine while nestled in the heart of all the action. Positioned in an old open gallery of the 16th century, this restaurant offers both historic ambiance and an attentive waiter staff.
Born after the 1920s, Giannino’s was once known locally as Old Tavern. In more recent years the restaurant owner, Riccardo Bartoloni, has revamped the menu to prominently feature the house pride and joy: ‘the original Florentine beefsteak’. Carnivores eat your heart out. If you’re in the mood to savor this local specialty we offer you three words of advice: bring your appetite. The average bistecca served at Giannino’s must be an inch thick and complete with its T-bone, tenderloin and filet. Originally known as carbonata or ‘cooked over charcoal’, the name bistecca is derived from the English word beefsteak.
La Bistecca alla Fiorentina is grilled over a fire for just enough time to sear the surface, creating a nice crust and then seasoned with salt and freshly ground pepper. If your mouth isn’t watering yet, this dish is accompanied by a green salad or cannellini beans dressed in oil.
For those looking to enjoy a little lighter meal, the menu also offers an abundance of choices from their zuppe (traditional Italian soups) or prima piatti (first course) sections. Highlights include the Pappa al Pomodoro (a tomato, potato, and bread soup served piping hot), I Ravioli al Burro Fuso e Salvia (spinach and ricotta filled ravioli in a basil and butter sauce), and Gli Gnocchi di Patate ai Funghi Porcini (potato dumplings in a wild mushroom sauce). Ordering something delicious will never be your problem, but deciding what dessert to get may leave some in a quandary. We suggest the Florentine favorite: Lo Zuccotto Fiorentino. This crowd pleaser is vanilla ice cream with a sugary cake shell, served with chocolate and raspberry sauce.
As you leave the restaurant don’t be surprised if you receive a gracious wave from the chef as he takes a break between orders. Although Giannino’s vibrant yellow walls and red table cloths give a feeling of relaxed luxury, one more importantly receives a taste of true Italian hospitality that beckons for another visit.
MORE
http://www.gianninoinflorence.com