Trattoria Enzo e Piero, Via Faenza, Florence

Trattoria Enzo e Piero, Via Faenza, Florence
Wednesday 20 & Thursday 21 September, 2006

What better recommendation do you need than dining there two nights in a row? We stumbled across this little gem in the same street as our hotel and decided to take a chance. It delivered on all counts.

On the first night, Wednesday, we walked in without a reservation and were lucky enough to receive the last available table. The staff spoke perfect English and the menus were so appealing - everything sounded good. The menu also offered some background to the restaurant,

"Our restaurant has been opened since 1932. In 1971 Enzo and Piero took over the helm and started a tradition which has carried on for three generations. Massimo, the son of Enzo, too the place of his father in 1979. In 2004, Massimo's children, Aldo and Francesca replaced Piero and became partners of the trattoria with their father. Today Aldo works in the kitchen to prepare excellent dishes of the Tuscan tradition while Massimo and Francesca welcome and advise their customers. The result is an authentic family restaurant serving excellent food in a friendly and cosy atmosphere."

The decor was intriguing - simple, wooden chairs with raffia covers and interesting oil paintings lining each wall.

The first night we ordered some mozarella and tomatoes, white beans and roast potatoes to share and I ordered the veal scallopini. It didn't take us long to agree unanimously that we would come back the following night. The food was exceptional and we finished off with their specialty - tiramisu - absolutely delicious!

We made a reservation for the following night on our way out - that's how good the food was and we desperately wanted to order what almost every table had - the steak tartare.

On Thursday night we returned with high expectations and the food was faultless. The service, however, was shocking. Tonight we had opted to sit outside and this area was manned by the American girlfriend of the chef. She told us she had come to Florence to study art and met the son. They had fallen in love so she now divides her time between Texas and Florence (what a contrast of locations!). Unfortunately we sat behind a table of smokers and because the restaurant was full we were unable to move - so had to make do with their chain smoking while we ate.

The steak tartare was sensational - it is served rare in thick slices on a bed of lettuce - simple and delicious. We all decided to finish off with the tiramisu (it was that good...).

If we were staying any longer we would have returned for a third night.

Trattoria Enzo e Piero - Via Faenza 105, Florence - 0552 14901

http://www.trattoriaenzoepiero.it/