Buca Mario, which has been in business since 1886

A few weeks ago, I visited a highly sought-after century-old restaurant in Florence (it's actually over a century old). The name is Buca Mario. It's a basement restaurant with a very inconspicuous storefront. I've walked by it many times and could tell at a glance that it serves authentic local cuisine. The windows are also plastered with Michelin stickers. I'd heard that it was difficult to get a reservation, but since I had friends visiting, I managed to secure a table to give it a try.😻😻😻 When making the reservation on Google, there's a non-refundable fee of 30€ per person to prevent no-shows, although I don't recall the exact amount. However, this reservation fee isn't a big deal. If you really can't make it, you can get a refund if you cancel an hour in advance.😍😍😍 Getting back to the main point, the ingredients were very fresh. Generally, popular restaurants like this don't skimp on ingredients due to high turnover. We ordered some basic Italian dishes. The black truffle pasta was very fragrant. I'd recommend that two people share one portion. A couple of bites are enough; otherwise, it can get a bit overwhelming.❤️❤️❤️ We ordered a tomahawk steak medium rare, but it turned out to be a bit tough. It wasn't the best steak I've ever had... It might have had something to do with the particular cut of meat we got. We ordered a single portion to share between two people, which was just right.🐟🐟🐟 Over the past couple of years, I feel like this restaurant has been on a bit of a decline. The dishes are average, and it feels like they're resting on their laurels (their reputation). I think there are other restaurants that are more worth trying. For locals, I'd say it's optional, especially since you'd be competing with tourists for a seat. If you're traveling, I'd give it a medium-high recommendation. It's a decent local Italian restaurant, mainly because the atmosphere and setting make it feel like a genuine century-old establishment. That's about it. 📍 Address: Piazza degli Ottaviani, 16r, 50123 Firenze FI ⏰ Operating hours: Closed on Sundays, open daily from 19:00 to 00:00 💰 Average cost per person: 50-80€ #ItalyTravel #ItalianFood #FlorenceTravel #FlorenceCuisine