Dalla Lola

"Currently my very favorite lunch spot in town — which also happens to be quite affordable! Check it out before Lonely Planet finds it and remember that you heard it here first 😉 Dalla Lola, located in the lively and artsy Oltrarno neighborhood, is a Tuscan restaurant with a punk spirit, and one of the reasons why I love it is that Matilde Pettini, head of operations, gives zero f***s. Specifically she gives zero f***s about what most would consider a proper Tuscan restaurant because, while it might look the part, sitting on a corner just off of piazza Santo Spirito, with its yellow paper placemats and a short, handwritten menu on a blackboard, here Matilde will serve everything and anything she wants, for example tagliolini with zucchini and turmeric (*gasp*) or traditional but obscure dishes like fried frog legs... with Sriracha sauce, just like she had in Thailand. Some favorite dishes ⤵️ - tagliatelle with "sugo finto" - a vegetarian sauce meant to imitate the flavor and intensity of meat ragù, usually made with carrots, celery, onions, red wine, and tomatoes; - tagliolini with zucchini, turmeric and pretty flowers on top; - "trippa finta" - a complex version of a frittata, sliced and cooked with a rich tomato sauce and meant to resemble beef tripe; - "rane fritte" - fried frog legs; - "francesina di lingua" - stewed chopped beef tongue and onions; - "fegatini e cipolle" - chicken livers and onions. Also: her cakes are amazing, and also happen to be 100% gluten-free. Fun facts: - one of the few spots in town with a 6-seat convivial table, where you can sit together with the other locals and make friends - highly recommend; - the placemats at Dalla Lola are actually "carta gialla" ("yellow paper") which has been used to sell food for centuries, for example by butchers to wrap meat in or by street food stalls as a cone for fried foods; - Matilde Pettini studied at Cordon Bleu cooking academy and is the daughter of Maria Chiara Masiero of world-famous Trattoria Cammillo; - go early or book ahead! Tap on the link below for an article I wrote about Matilde and three other women in food in Florence. Open for lunch Tuesday - Saturday and for dinner Wednesday - Friday."

"Dalla Lola è una trattoria accogliente che incarna la tradizione toscana in ogni piatto. L’ambiente rustico ma curato invita a riscoprire i sapori autentici della cucina locale, con un menù che varia secondo le stagioni, privilegiando ingredienti freschi e genuini. Perfetta per chi cerca un pasto semplice ma di qualità in un’atmosfera familiare. Tipo di attività: Trattoria tradizionale Fascia di prezzo: Media (tra 15 e 30 euro) Ideale per: • Pranzi e cene in famiglia o tra amici • Degustare piatti tipici toscani • Un'esperienza culinaria autentica"

"Not a ‘fancy’ restaurant, but definitely a more modern and reinvented version of a traditional Tuscan trattoria. The owner Matilde takes inspiration from classic Florentine dishes (her family owns Trattoria Cammillo), and adds her own touch tot he dishes, changing the menu every couple of days. Dalla Lola was featured in the New York Time’s ’36 hours in Florence’ list, but has managed to maintain its high quality standards and still attracts plenty of locals who enjoy her ever changing menu and laid back style "