Sergio Pollini Lampredotto — Restaurant in Florence

A Must-Try Florence Food Experience: Lampredotto at Tripperia Pollini

My wife and I have always said we would return and visit Italy again, after watching countless shows, YouTube videos, and Instagram influencers highlight the best places to eat, we finally made it! One show that really inspired us was Tucci in Italy, Season 1, Episode 1 (May 2025), which takes viewers through Tuscany’s rich culinary traditions and the deep pride locals have in their food. Since we were going to be in Florence, we knew we had to experience it ourselves.

In the episode, Tucci visits a classic cucina povera staple—the lampredotto sandwich. This Florentine icon is served at roadside stands like Tripperia Pollini, near the Sant’Ambrogio market, a celebrated street food kiosk known for its lampredotto—a traditional sandwich made from stewed tripe, seasoned with herbs, and topped with salsa verde. For those who don’t know, lampredotto comes from the cow’s fourth stomac, boiled and served on a crusty roll with a garlicky sauce. It’s often called Florence’s original fast food and is a true culinary heritage of the city. I know, you are cringing, but you don't know what your missing.

We arrived at Tripperia Pollini and I/We had the pleasure of meeting Pier Paolo, who told us we could call him Peter Paul. He’s the son of Sergio Pollini, and from the moment we met, he was friendly, funny, and welcoming. I told him we had traveled from Arizona and had watched the Tucci in Italy, which made us want to try the famous dipped lampredotto with a Chianti!

He prepared it right in front of us—and wow, it was incredible. I even had two! 😳 While I ate, Pier Paolo shared the history of their family stand. Sergio Pollini has been part of the Sant’Ambrogio neighborhood for decades. After a long career in clothing, he transitioned to the market trade in the 1990s and took over the lampredotto stand on Via dei Macci, where he and Pier Paolo have been serving locals for nearly 30 years. The stand itself has roots going back around 100 years, making it a true fixture of Florence’s street food scene. Over the years, it’s evolved from a simple setup on an Ape (a three-wheeled vehicle) to a fully equipped trailer.

Talking with Pier Paolo was a highlight. Locals stopped by, chatted briefly, bought their sandwich, and continued on—it’s clear this place is will known Experiencing it firsthand was awesome. I could of died happy right there. So, if you’re in Florence, Sergio Pollini Tripperia Lampredotto is an...

Had to try lampredotto (tripe sandwich) at least once while in Florence and this apparently is one of THE places to do so. It can be a little overwhelming as there's a lot happening in their small little kitchen area and most of it is in very lively/spirited Italian. But the line moves quick enough (I actually thought the time the sandwiches takes to prepare was part of the charm as you can tell he's really taking care of each sandwich).

The sandwich itself isn't really a cut of meat I would choose to order normally but for what it was it was actually quite tasty-fatty and juicy with a well buttered bun. I probably wouldn't eat this type of sandwich again but for the try this was a really solid option.

Small point, I very much appreciated how abundant their napkin station is with such a...

I'm giving Pollini Lampredotto cinque stelle for several reasons: The lampredotto panino was amazing. The Pollini men were really nice. They seem genuinely proud of their product without the least bit of arrogance. During a rare slow moment, they engaged in conversation with me and other customers. I mentioned I'd seen them on TV and they thought it was amazing, because they can't believe people from around the world seek them out in their little food cart. The prices were good, IMO. No shame in a stomach sandwich and a bottle of wine before noon. They...