Cucina — Restaurant in Florence

Last night we dined at C-ucina, a restaurant on a quiet street just outside the city walls of the Oltrarno. Clean, spacious, attractive with pleasant lighting and, thank goodness, music at a low volume, we enjoyed a memorable meal. My companion tried 'passatelli', an old-fashioned and overlooked dish of delicious mixed-meat broth with made-on-the-spot soft noodles of breadcrumbs, eggs, cheese and seasonings pressed through a ricer and a sprinkling of citron rind. My first course, 'acciugata con puntarelli', an emulsified dip made of anchovies and a light olive oil, was served with crisp chicory shoots. Onwards! Next we shared an ample main course of 'stracotto', a tender pot roast, with polenta taragna - that's polenta made of corn and buckwheat meal. Panna cotta with pear in red wine followed with crunchy 'sbrisolona', cookies made of cornmeal, almonds and butter. It was a wonderful, mellow evening and meal with attentive service by the architect-cook-owners. We will...

What an amazing little place in Florence.!! It is far from the madding crowds in a quiet side street and definitely visited by the tasteful, arty crowd. The decor is very tastefully done and apparently owned by two architects. We visited for lunch on a very hot day and the interior is cool and spacious. There is seating outside and if you didn't know it was there you would walk right past it. The waitress and owner were also very friendly, courteous and helpful. The food is very good and freshly prepared although don't expect pasta at lunchtime. This is not your stereotypical restaurant. I gave 5 stars as they just opened but I do feel that the lunch menu was a bit small (we only had a dish each) Maybe we got the wrong idea but you definitely need to order at least two dishes per person. There was however...

If I could give it ten stars I would. Amazing place. Not very long but extremely interesting menu, with several unusual options, including wild local greens, special cheeses from small producers, meat cooked in a surprising and particular way, wine as it used to be long ago and more. Very pleasant setting - it makes you feel the owners invited you to their place. Mostly local customers, of the artsy and funky kind. I went because of a raving review by my favourite restaurant critic (on sole 24ore, roughly the Italian financial times). I discovered that it is now also recommended by Michelin, though the owner (very nice lady) told me it was a suprise and she is still wondering when the Michelin inspector may...