PRICE:
Frommer's Very Highly Recommended

Giovanni Latini comes from one of Florence's best-known culinary clans, whose homonymous eatery on Via del Palchetti is a household name in Florence. In the 1990s, Giovanni left Il Latini to start his own restaurant in the countryside and in 2004 made a triumphant return to his old neighborhood. He bought what was once known as Osteria No. 1 and started offering refined Tuscan cuisine at honest prices. His two half-American daughters -- Caterina, the chef, and Chiara, the sommelier -- practice their crafts while Giovanni attends to his guests. It is a sophisticated but social atmosphere, with well-dressed Italians and tourists sharing either the quiet front room or the more communal back room. For starters, try the insalata tiepida di piccione con spinaci e nocciole (pigeon with spinach and hazelnuts, dressed with a raspberry vinaigrette) or else the sautéed squid with asparagus and cherry tomatoes, and don't miss the involtini di vitello con pecorino fresco, melanzane e funghi (sliced veal wrapped around fresh pecorino, eggplant, and mushrooms). Even if you're on a diet, allow yourself just this once the pleasure of Caterina's tortelli ripieni di radicchio e ricotta con melanzane ed olive (radicchio-stuffed tortelli, with eggplant and olives). Chiara will recommend the perfect digestif to accompany your chocolate mousse.

Copyright: Excerpted from Frommer's Florence, Tuscany & Umbria, 6th Edition, (c) 2008, Wiley Publishing, Inc.

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