A meal in Florence that was completely devoured

Restaurant Name: Osteria Vecchio Vicolo In Italy, the hassle of booking or queuing for trendy meals can be quite frustrating, making finding a restaurant a daily mission. To avoid the rush, I only booked a table at the popular restaurant Zaza on the first day. The fried squid there was excellent—fragrant, crispy, fresh, and not greasy. However, the T-bone steak was disappointing, dry and tough even at medium-rare. It was hard to understand why it was so popular, especially seeing other tables leaving food behind. (Another complaint: we were seated in an outdoor glass room with tiny tables, which was a common issue, but it was incredibly noisy, especially with loud American tourists. By the end of the meal, my head was buzzing.)❤️❤️❤️ That said, I stumbled upon this highly-rated place on Google Maps (around 4.7+) while browsing. Initially, I was skeptical because Italian cuisine can feel repetitive after a while. But after reading numerous positive reviews, I was intrigued. Unfortunately, it was closed on Tuesdays, but I was so impressed by the reviews that I decided to book it for dinner the next day.😀😀😀 The restaurant is located near the Ponte Vecchio. Interestingly, the decor mimics an Italian street scene, with clothes hanging on either side, making it feel very unique and cozy. We had noticed it on our way to the Pitti Palace and were pleasantly surprised when we stood in front of it that evening. Florence is a small city, and I love these unexpected delights around every corner.😻😻😻 The restaurant wasn't crowded, and we could walk in directly, although you can also book in advance through Google Maps. We ordered two dishes: mussels and the highly recommended lobster pasta. The mussels were different from those in China, not dry but more succulent and sweet. The lobster was presented to us before being served, and it was as fresh as it looked! The lobster meat was so tender and flavorful that it could be eaten without any utensils. The pasta had a sweet and sour taste, not greasy at all, and the slightly firm texture was just to my liking. Additionally, the T-bone steak from the neighboring table smelled amazing, but after my previous experience, I was determined not to try it again.😍😍😍 The service here was exceptional. In contrast to the popular restaurant where you had to wave your hand multiple times to get the staff's attention, the friendliness of this place left a deep impression on me. I wonder if service quality is inversely proportional to the number of customers. Also, Italians seem to try very hard to be humorous, even if it feels a bit awkward, they want to bring that positive energy to their guests. After paying the bill, we were treated to two glasses of limoncello, which warmed us from the throat to the stomach. We happily found a delicious gelato with a metal lid and ended the wonderful day with the image of the Florence Cathedral in our minds and the sounds of street performances echoing around us. #FlorenceCuisine #SteakRecommendation #CentenaryRestaurant