Florentine steak in Tuscany: the 10 best trattorias where to eat it
The Florentine steak is definitely one of the most famous Tuscany’s typical dishes, known and appreciated all over the world. If you are a meat lover, tasting an authentic Tuscan Florentine is a must, at least once in life.
We have selected for you the best trattorias and osterias where you can eat it around Tuscany … but first a little history!
The origins of the Florentine steak
The history of the Florentine steak, or simply Florentine, is almost as old as the city that gives it its name, Florence, and is linked to the Medici family who, to celebrate San Lorenzo, patron saint of the city, lit up the Florentine squares with large bonfires, around which the citizens gathered to drink good wine and enjoy a succulent veal offered to them by the lords of the city.
Some English merchants present there were so entranced by the goodness of that meat that they began to ask for more, shouting: Beef Steak!
Hence the term Bistecca… alla fiorentina, a key dish of the Tuscan and Italian culinary tradition.
How the perfect Florentine steak should be
There is no Florentine without Chianina. The secret of this Tuscan excellence, in fact, is the beef from the Val di Chiana, one of the most muscular in the world. There are also strict rules to be respected, regarding shape, thickness and flavor, to obtain a Florentine steak worthy of the name:
– The cut must be strictly the loin, to form a perfect heart with a not too thick layer of fat around it
– The steak must be at least 4 centimeters high (the space between one rib and the other of the animal) and weigh no less than 800 grams
– With regard to the flavor, well, it all depends on the maturation of the meet, which takes at least 9 days, and on the cooking, strictly grilled and rare.
The only seasoning allowed? Coarse salt and Extra-virgin olive oil. Nothing else is needed to enhance the flavor of such a delicious meat.
Now that you’ve become an expert judge, are you ready to find out where to eat the best Florentine steak of your life?
List of trattorias divided by province
Firenze
We could not fail to start the guide of the best restaurants (or rather, trattorias) where to eat the Florentine if not with the homeland of this delicious dish.
On the other hand, there is no doubt about where to eat the Florentine steak in Florence: Il Latini is the right place, a real institution in Florence, awarded with the 2020 Michelin Star.
The trattoria was born more than a hundred years ago with Sora Maria’s cuisine and 4 generations later it is still here, delighting us with the delicacies of Tuscan cuisine, thanks to the guide of Torello, one of the last examples of old-fashioned innkeeper in the city.
Here the Florentine steak is a must and is served on a slate plate, with a pinch of coarse salt: a few, simple ingredients for an unforgettable experience, perhaps accompanied by a good wine from their cellar!
You can find it in: Via dei Palchetti, 6/R, 50123, Firenze
Website: Il Latini
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Pisa
In the municipality of Castelfranco di Sotto, in the province of Pisa, there is Trattoria da Benito: a welcoming and typically Tuscan place, characterized by its family atmosphere and genuine cuisine.
Their Florentine steak strictly respects the standards of the perfect Florentine: top quality meat cooked on the grill, thick enough to have a crunchy and tasty crust on the outside and be juicy at the right point inside, seasoned with only a drop Extra-virgin olive oil locally produced.
In addition to the Florentine, Trattoria da Benito offers many dishes that reflect the ancient traditions of Tuscan cuisine, from appetizers to desserts.
You can find it in: Via Martiri della Libertà, 2, 56022, Castelfranco Di Sotto, Pisa
Website: Trattoria da Benito
Siena
–In the heart of the historic center of Montepulciano, we find Osteria Acquacheta which offers a cuisine strongly linked to the territory from which all the ingredients come strictly.
The dishes are simple but full of character, and quality and taste are privileged. Among these, the beloved Florentine, wisely cut by the host at the moment and cooked on the grill in front of your eyes, thanks to the open kitchen.
Special features of the osteria? You can bring your own wine! Montepulciano, in fact, is a land of wines and the osteria cannot have them all, which is why it allows its guests to bring their own wine. Why should you give up a nice steak accompanied by your favorite wine?
You can find it in: Via del Teatro, 22, 53045 Montepulciano, Siena
Website: Osteria Acquacheta
–If you are in Val d’Orcia, in particular in San Quirico d’Orcia, you cannot fail to stop at Trattoria Osenna, where the ancient and real flavor of a cuisine made of recipes handed down from mother to daughter for centuries is staged, to introduce Tuscany and Val d’Orcia through their typical dishes, combining raw materials of the highest quality and km0, the taste of tradition and a pinch of creativity.
Your Chianina steak will be shown to you raw first and in no time at all it will arrive at the table with perfect cooking and served very well.
Also in this case, wine cannot fail to accompany such high quality meat, and we give you a suggestion: get advice from the owner, you can’t go wrong!
You can find it in: Via Dante Alighieri, 42, 53027, San Quirico d’Orcia, Siena
Website: Trattoria Osenna
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Arezzo
In Arezzo, Essenza is certainly worthy of note.
Essenza “Dario e Anna” is born from three generations of passion, study and love for cooking. It all began with Dario Scoscini and Anna Parrini who, in 1964, opened a food shop that soon became a reference point for the city.
The son Luca, with the help of his wife Silvia, carried and passed on the passion of the parents to the children who specialized in wines and distillates, transforming the food shop of the grandparents into Essenza.
Any good wine, however, must accompany an excellent dish, and it’s here that we find the best Florentine in the province, even more exquisite when topped with the splendid view of Piazza Grande enjoyed by the restaurant.
You can find it in: Piazza Grande 16, 52100, Arezzo Italia
Website: Essenza “Dario e Anna“
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Grosseto
In the province of Grosseto, more precisely in Magliano in Toscana, we find Trattoria Cupi, a classic Italian trattoria immersed in the greenery of the Maremma, perfect for taking a break dedicated to good food.
As in any self-respecting trattoria, tradition reigns supreme: at Trattoria Cupi, you will find many traditional Tuscan dishes, all prepared with fresh ingredients of the highest quality, first of all the Florentine, cooked to perfection.
You can find it in: Strada di Cupi, 1, Magliano in Toscana, 58051, Grosseto
Livorno
In Livorno, to eat a Florentine worthy of being called such, you must definitely go to InCarne.
Formerly a grain storage, today the location has been renovated while maintaining that rustic touch typical of the buildings of the past.
It is a journey through time that you will feel like entering the restaurant, thanks to the brick walls, arches and “raw” floor, the perfect combination for a meal of meat and wine.
Reading the name is enough to understand that the preparation of the meat here is a real ritual, from the choice of the highest quality raw material, through the maturation, up to the cooking.
Impossible not to stop to savor the best Florentine steak in the area.
You can find it in: Scali del Monte Pio, 11, 57123, Livorno
Website: InCarne
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Massa-Carrara
In Massa, in the province of Massa-Carrara, there is La Congiura, a small restaurant with an ancient history, engraved in legend. It is said that there was once a greedy sovereign who starved his people to death.
One night, 5 hunters returning from a meager hunting trip sat down at the table and worked out a plan to bring some light back to their hungry kingdom: one of them would steal one of the king’s cows every night, and the others 4 would cook it at the thief’s house, where a secret tavern with no sign and no name was set up.
In the middle of the night, the hungry could secretly enjoy the best grilled meats and legend has it that the travelers, talking to each other, called this secret place “The Cospiracy”.
A real Tuscan Florentine could not be missing from the menu of this restaurant shrouded in history: here, in fact, you can enjoy one of the best steaks of your life, living an unforgettable experience.
La trovate in Via Marina Vecchia 69, Massa, 54100, Massa-Carrara
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Pistoia
We recommend the Florentine steak in Pistoia at Bisteccatoscana, a very special place where you can’t order!
For each person, 600g steaks will be served and, while the steak is cooking, you can enjoy a seasonal appetizer, to fill the wait.
The steak, cooked on sight on wood, will be accompanied by three seasonal side dishes and to finish on a sweet note: homemade biscuits and sweet wine!
You won’t have to think about anything else than enjoying your meal, alone or in company. Experience to try absolutely!
You can find it in: Via Sant’Andrea, 30, 51100, Pistoia
Website: Bisteccatoscana
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Prato
For meat lovers who want to enjoy an excellent Florentine steak in Prato, Che Ciccia Cè comes to the rescue, a restaurant located in the city center where quality and courtesy are the masters.
Let the owners explain the differences between the different types of meat and their origins and accompany your Florentine with the excellent house wine.
However, if you want to enjoy it with your favorite wine, there’s no problem: you can take it with you from home!
What to say? Definitely to try. We are sure you will not be disappointed!
Lo trovate in Piazza del Collegio, 9, 59100, Prato
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