EAT: Trattoria 4 Leoni, Florence

4 Leoni, Piazza della Passera, Florence


Location: Florence, Italy
No of Tables: Circa 30
Cuisine: Italian (Tuscan)
Price: Dishes from £14
Date Visited: June 2012

On our trip to Italy, we found two restaurants, one in Florence and one in Rome, that despite ourselves we returned to. Ordinarily, we would want to try as many different places to eat as possible on a city break, but we felt that we had stumbled across a charm when we ate in Trattoria 4 Leoni.

We had been warned in advance that it was extremely popular with the locals, so our hotel manager made a reservation for us. The restaurant took us a little while to find, as it is hidden in a small square, the Piazza della Passera; this means that it is away from the hoards of tourists that flock the restaurants near the Duomo and the Ponte Vecchio. Due to the Florentine heat, we opted to eat inside the restaurant, but 4 Leoni does have a beautiful terrace area also.

The menu is in Italian and the staff speak little English. This seems to have shocked the tourists on Trip Advisor; they are in uproar that they were unable to dissect the menu or get their waiter to describe every ingredient that goes into the food. To the contrary, I take comfort in menus catering to the locals when I travel, as it reassures me that the food must be good to have local endorsement. This is particularly true in Italy, with the fierce pride that Italians take in their cooking.

On our first visit, we chose one safe option from the menu (gnocchi and antipasto), and one wildcard dish that we couldn't translate. It turns out that I had ordered veal, whilst my boyfriend had gone for a beef Tuscan stew. Both were delicious. Being far from a wine afficionado, I quaffed a good half a bottle of the house white wine alongside my meal, but there is an extensive wine list to choose from if you are more educated than I.

Any restaurant in Florence is expensive and 4 Leoni is not a budget option. However, I felt that for the price we paid, the food was far superior to any restaurant on the main tourist drag, and the secluded location and attentive staff means that should I return to Florence (highly likely - I loved it!), I will spend my first evening in this restaurant.

Find out more here: www.4leoni.com