a restaurant with a view
Ristorante l'Lorenzaccio
Florence
Piazza della Signoria, 32-33-34r
50122 Firenze
055-294-553
info@ristorantelorenzaccio.com
Owner: Michelangelo Ricci
Review copyright - Ginda Simpson
Michelangelo, Davide, Lorenzo, Lapo… Old Florentine names for Florentine sons, brothers who have continued to offer the traditional cuisine of their fair city for forty years. In 1968, the Ricci family opened the first pizzeria ever, with a forno a legna, to be located in this famous piazza. From its humble beginning, l’Lorenzaccio has grown into a well-known and well-loved restaurant by both tourists and locals. A better meal or a better view would be hard to find.
From our table for two, we had a pleasing view of Piazza Signoria, the Neptune fountain and the Loggia Gallery. The square was buzzing with activity, which made people-watching a fun part of our meal. We started with an antipasto toscano, a tasty array of cured meats and a caprese salad. Lapo brought us a tasting portion each of ribollita and trippa alla fiorentina, two Tuscan specialties not to be missed. We rounded out our Tuscan meal with what else, but the famed bistecca alla fiorentina, a thick juicy steak of Chianina beef. Rather than choose a hearty red Tuscan wine on this warm summer evening, we preferred the chill of a white wine, a Vernaccia from San Gimignano. We could have sat at our table all evening, and indeed these hospitable brothers would have let us. It was a leisurely, fully satisfying experience to dine here, en plein air, as the evening descended over this timeless scene, painting old stones and marble statuary in a blue-gray wash.
And, yes, they still make pizzas in their wood-burning oven.