Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
served beneath a centuries-old red-brick vaulted ceiling at this much-loved trattoria. The
quality of products used is exceptional and service is endearingly old-fashioned.
iO Osteria Personale
( 055 933 13 41;
www.io-osteriapersonale.it
;
Borgo San Frediano 167r; meals €45; dinner Mon-Sat)
Persuade everyone at your table to order the tasting menu to avoid the torture of picking
just one dish - everything on the menu at this fabulously contemporary and creative 'os-
teria' is to die for. Pontedera-born chef Nicolò Baretti uses only seasonal products, natural
ingredients and traditional flavours - to sensational effect.
Imagine sea bass tartare with ricotta cheese, pine kernels and spinach salad; or sweet-
breads with marjoram-scented artichokes. The grand finale is dessert, climaxing with
warm white chocolate and olive oil cream served with lavender slush and passion fruit as-
pic. Culinary heaven on earth. Dinner from 8pm.
MODERN TUSCAN
€€€
Il Guscio
( 055 22 44 21;
www.il-guscio.it
;
Via dell'Orto 49; meals €40; lunch & dinner Mon-Sat)
Excep-
tional dishes come out of the kitchen of this family-run gem in San Frediano. Meat and
fish are given joint billing, with triumphs such as white bean soup with prawns and fish
joining superbly executed mains on the sophisticated menu, including guinea fowl breast
in balsamic vinegar.
TUSCAN
€€€
Momoyama
MAP
JAPANESE
€€€
GOOGLE MAP
( 055 29 18 40;
www.ristorantemomoyama.it
;
Borgo San Frediano 10r; meals €40; 12.30-2.30pm &
7.30pm-2am; 6 & D)
When the urge for a pasta-free evening in a striking minimalist in-
terior kicks in, head here. This thoroughly contemporary, designer noodle bar cooks up
beautifully sculpted platters of sushi, sashami, carpaccio, rolls and a creative selection of
noodle bowls. Late opening hours cater to the chic party set.
