La Buca dell'Orafo
Recently, a plugged-in Florentine shared one of his favorite restaurants with us. Just steps from the Ponte Vecchio, in a spot that was formerly occupied by a tourist trap, La Buca dell’Orafo (means goldsmith’s cave) attracts foreigners but is still considered a locals’ haunt. (It’s called a cave because it’s a below-ground space.) The chef prepares Italian comfort food like spaghetti with peas that Italians will swear taste exactly as their grandmother made it, but which you will never find on a restaurant menu. He also prepares some of the best steaks in the city. Many places claim to serve bistecca Fiorentina (Florentine porterhouse) but only a handful are actually allotted the certified steaks, which come from regional cows that are slaughtered at a young age to guarantee tenderness. (The owner here will proudly produce the certificates along side each dish.) Don’t be shocked if they seem cooked only on the outside; that is how they are meant to be enjoyed. It’s a simple place with white tablecloths and kitchen quality china. At lunch time you may be able to...
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